November
24, 2008 (ADDIS ABABA) – Special police forces surprised two villages in
southwestern Ethiopia on Saturday as the inhabitants slept, launching an attack
that burned all the houses, killed nine civilians and wounded 23 others, said
an official in Gambella region who requested not to
be identified by name. Two attackers were also slain during the events.
A
federal official in
The
regional government was apparently trying to force the villagers of Laare and Puldeng into a new
area, but they refused to move out until the dry season, by the end of January
or February.
A
mixed force of Anyua, Nuer
and highlander police attacked the villagers, many of whom were Sudanese Nuer who had joined Jikany kin in
the area.
The
Gambella official estimated that some 600 cattle were
stolen and more than 200 cattle and 1000 goats and sheep were killed—many of
them burned in the houses where they were kept. Thirty men, women and children
are still missing, and the villagers fled to the bush.
The
official accused of ordering the attack, regional council member Goaner Yer, has now ordered some
police forces to protect his faction from retaliation by mobilizing around the Ciechany section in Lol-gungjang.
Two
attackers were killed: Bol Malual,
a Gajiok/Ciequick (Nuer)
and James Omot, an Anyua.
At least six other attackers were wounded.
Thohl
Muon Reath of the Cienuol sub-clan, aged approximately 67 years, was killed
in the attack. Two children, Duoth Gal Chan and Nyedak Machduel Put, aged eight
and thirteen, respectively, were killed, and a four-year-old child from the Ciedup sub-clan was wounded in the attack.
The
deceased also include Deng Gatluak Zuor, Kech Chuol
Diew, Duit Bol Biliew, Wiyual
Chol Wuol, Biel Gach Tuach
and Reath Dak Thoan.
Source: Sudan Tribune