Collo Community Press Release to the People of South Sudan in General and Padang Dinka Community in particular

RE: Attacks or threats of Violence intended to terrorize the Collo Civilian Population

We, the Collo Community, would like to convey this message to Collo families who have the right to know about the fate of their relatives during the recent ambush by the "Padang armed youth" in Lul area, Fashoda County in Upper Nile State. The Collo people want to encourage and promote respect for diversity of South Sudanese, cultural heritage, values and beliefs. We are appealing for peaceful coexistence among the Dongjol Dinka and the Collo people who are in-laws and nephews and vice versa.

Condolences

We, the Collo Community, felt saddened and distressed by the death of General James Bwogo and other Collo Commanding officers who passed away in the same attack of an ambush at Lul Bridge in Fashoda County on the eastern side of the Nile. The untimely death is regrettable and it is a big loss for the Collo Community in particular and South Sudan at large.

The Area of Conflict

We, the Collo Community, write in response to the Dozens feared dead in Akoka inter-tribal clashes published in the Juba Telegraph Newspaper on Tuesday April 7, 2015, Vol -1, Issue No. 167. These inter-tribal clashes were in Lul, but not in Akoka as claimed by that Newspaper.

We really agree with Dr. James Thuc Arieu that the state and national government are very slow in response and should bring about peaceful solution to the clashes before it intensifies into tribal war. The Collo Community is asking their youth to be calm and maintain peace in the Upper Nile State. We do not want any problems with our neighbours, the Dongjol Dinka, since we have lived there for centuries in the same state without any clashes between us. Why do the Padang Dinka Community judge before the military committee of the fact-finding can give its report? It is a one sided judgment.

To the South Sudanese Citizens

The Area of the conflict is Lul in Fashoda County for the knowledge of the Padang Community who do not know the question of history. "Is there any area called Lul in Akoka County?" The Dinka communities of Padang want to grab the Collo land by force. Since the establishment of Akoka County in 2013, there was no warrant of establishment to fix the boundaries of Akoka County but it was a political move for its establishment.

Dongjol Dinka are scattered over the area encompassed by a triangle formed nearly by Khor Adar in the Northeast, Sobat River in the South and the Collo Kingdom to the West. It should be noted here that the Akoka Dinka do not reside within 20 miles radius of Malakal Town. Similarly, they are a distance from the banks of the White Nile and the Sobat Rivers.

The boundary line between Collo People and Dongjol Dinka is Khor Wool. For the fact finding, let us dig up the graves of Lul if we can find the remains of Dinka Padang there. On the other hand, Ruweng Dinka are scattered over the inland which is approximately bounded by the line drawn from Khor Fullus mouth of Jebel Zefaf to the south and by Khor Atar to the north. General Johnson Olony Thubo is now protecting the Dinka of Atar in Panyikang County and Makal County despite the killing of General James Bwogo. None of these Atar Dinka have been subjected to abuse or torture.

Therefore, the accusation that General Johnson Olony has 'continuously provoked, intimidated and threatened the lives of members of Padang Jieng in several incidences in which some have lost their lives in cold blood" is a white lie. Are the Dinka of Atar not members of the Padang Dinka? If the readers are not aware at the present, the Dinka of Padang of Atar are now being protected by us the Collo areas of Tonga, Obay and WadaJwok. They are not being harassed at all. Emanating from their humane nature, the Collo people received and accommodated the Atar Dinka community in their midst. If the Collo people do not want the Dinka Padang, they would have closed their doors not to receive any body. Are the Dinka White Army militia fighting on behalf of the opposition who were pushed out of Malakal Town in the Upper Nile State or on whose behalf? What Padang Community are saying is dangerously misleading the public and this cannot be entertained by anybody who known the geography of South since the 1st January 1956.

Secondly, they should ask themselves that "When did they reach the place where they settled now?" History tells us that the Akoka Dinka arrived in the area during Radh (King) Tugo who established Fashoda as the Royal Capital. The Collo Kingdom was established in the year 1545. It is about 470 years since the establishment. We, the Collo people, are very much concerned about our nation and we continue to ask the Padang community to behave themselves responsibly.

For Media Consumption or Public Awareness

Padang Community are not telling the truth to the South Sudan Communities. Lul is a district of Fashoda County where the ambush to the late General James Bwogo and other officers took place and killed in cold blood. Padang Jieng did not know that Johnson Olony and his colleagues integrated into national army on November 25, 2013. Why the Allied Forces of the Padang Dinka are fighting the Government and no response to them when they are not yet integrated?

We do not understand whether some Ministers and State Government are part of this confusion which is happening in the Upper Nile State. Therefore, if they are not taking part in the conflict why they have not condemned the acts. So, if you keep quiet it means that you are encouraging the bad habits of the Padang Dinka Community. The State Government must gain strong foothold in the territory under its jurisdiction.

We, Collo Community, also would like to respond to Padang condemnation of General Johnson Olany's continuous aggression that was published on Tuesday April 7, 2015, Vol-9, issue No.22. As stated earlier, General Olony is protecting the State and its civilian population from the Nuer aggression including the Dinka of Atar who are members of Padang Community in the Collo land. So the Padang Community condemnation of General Olony is unfounded. But it is they who are aggressive to the Collo community because Padang communities want to chase the Collo community from the eastern side of the Nile to the western side. But they will not succeed in doing so.

Although the death of General James Bwogo and other officers who were murdered in an ambush by the Padang Dinka community is painful, we demand for peace because war is very destructive. This killing took place in Fashoda County. The conflict can displace the innocent civilian population and they can lose their properties. We strongly advise Padang Dinka Community to refrain from their negative attitudes and we call for peaceful coexistence within ourselves.

We strongly disapprove of the battle and blame the people who started this uncalled for contention. The contention is not commendable. Let us calm the situation from its escalation. We know who we are in the Upper Nile State. We are also warning the union's president Ramadan Chan who should have paid condolences to the families who lost their dearest ones as a priest. The duty of the priest is to preach for peace but not encouraging the conflict between the communities. Ramadan Chan is behaving like the Nuer Priests who took upon themselves the machine guns and leading the war in the Upper Nile State. Although not all the Nuer Priests behaved so.

The Dongjol Dinka if God Almighty did not give them water resources, they can go to Melut and Renk instead of grabbing Collo land. We hope this message should be reflected on the entire Padang Dinka community whether elites or illiterate. To sum up, we pray for peace in the state. For Padang community should know that if the name of Lul is amicable for them, we suggest that they should build school in Akoka County and name that school "Lul" but not Lul of Collo Community which was established on 11th February 1901 in Fashoda District before it was named Kodok District in 1903.

We ultimately condemn the Padang Dinka community for their barbarous acts or ruthless acts in the Fashoda County. Our boundary line with Akoka Country is "Khor Wool". After all, Akoka County has not been given warrant of the establishment. We, Collo community, appeal to our neighbors the Padang Dinka Community to seek peace rather than looking for problems which will be bad for them. Let them note this statement that says "The enemy of your enemy is your friend".

On Behalf
Signed by the Collo Community
Daniel Thabo Nyibong