BARI in USA Condemn the Attack on Kworijik Village

BARI COMMUNITY IN USA (PARARA-USA) CONDEMNS THE RECENT MUNDARI CATTLEMEN ASSAULT ON KWÖRIJIK LURI VILLAGE

January 22nd, 2015

The Bari Community in United States of America (Parara-USA) unanimously and strongly condemns the recent unprovoked, ruthless and coldblooded assault that led to the killing; abduction of children and women; cattle theft; displacement; and destruction of farms and properties in KwÖrijik Luri village in Northern Bari Payam of Juba County that occurred on the 18th-19th, January 2015. The indiscriminate brutal attack by the lawless and heavily armed Mundari paramilitary left Bari men, women and children dead. Houses and crops are burnt down to ashes. Bari children and women are abducted to be sold out and enslaved. Numerous heads of cattle are looted.

It is worth mentioning that it is not the first time that the same paramilitary Mundari cattlemen attacked the peaceful Bari population of the Northern Bari Payam since the signing of Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005. On April 23, 2009 similar armed Munadri militia launched an unprovoked violent assault on the village of NyarkÖnyi (Jebel Ladu) that led to similar casualties to life and property.

Based on the abovementioned pattern and frequency of events, it has become evident that the Mundari cattlemen have ill intentions towards the Bari people in general and the indigenous Bari people of Northern Bari Payam in particular. The level of armament and skill in operating advanced military-grade weaponry indicate that Mundari cattlemen actions are intentional and premeditated aiming to annihilate the Bari population through occupation of their native land; abduction of their children and women; and seizure of their wealth—all of which are in utter violation of human rights and rule of law.  

Therefore, we demand the government of Central Equatoria State (CES) of South Sudan as part of its leadership responsibilities to partake the following:

  • Provide and continue to provide humanitarian assistance to the displaced families as a sign of its leadership responsibility.
  • Identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
  • Urgently prosecute the perpetrators through the legal system.
  • Immediately work to return the abducted children and women
  • Return all of the stolen livestock and other properties to their rightful owners
  • Compensate the impacted Bari communities for the damages inflicted upon them due to lack of CES law enforcement agents timely response.
  • Permanently relocate and evacuate the Mundari cattlemen out of the entire Northern Bari Payam areas.
  • Station permanent CES police contingents in the affected area.