By Mac Madol Agorok
September 2, 2012, Guymon OK (Borglobe) - the way leaders have been taking laws on omission and impose collective punishments on civil populations is a continuation of the same wrongs in Jonglei. It used to happen during the post civil war that if a member of one's family hid to avoid a mandatory enlistment in the rebel army then his extended family stood liable to be punished, or had their livestock confiscated. Did it end there? Absolutely not!
The same thing is happening now in Bor. Cattle rustlers stole cattle from Kothchar village of Murle. After the report came to the Governor Kuol Manyang and Commissioner Maker Lual in Bor main town. Throng of government soldiers sent to get hold of lawbreakers. The culture of the cattle keepers remains the same that cattle can be bought or stolen. The SPLA soldiers encountered the culprits on their way back home. Two cattle rustlers riddled with multiple bullets, collected and rushed to the jail. It is the time they will know one can be found guilty of cattle rustling.
Few hours later the stolen cattle were to be returned to the Murle community in Pibor. A source involved in the investigation said Murle owners claim more than 400 heads of cattle disappeared from Kothchar village. However the cattle are nowhere to be found. The argument is interesting between the SPLA soldiers and the culprits in custody. The cattle rustlers counted their number to be four individual persons. They also admitted to have taken about 80 heads of cows, but when they were caught up in a surprise attack under the SPLA soldiers. They dispersed among the trees, leaving SPLA soldiers with stolen cows.
The SPLA soldiers disputed that the stolen cattle ran in random directions at that time while the fighting was in progress. Others said another gang of cattle rustlers attacked them and took the cattle. There was no report of injuries on their side. Although it is not clear whether or not the second group overwhelmed the national army so they made a strategic evacuation. Only the court should settle this argument.
However Jonglei Government clings to old belief that a crime committed by an individual is considered to be perpetuated by the whole village to which that individual belongs. So government soldiers seized cattle belong to the villages where cattle rustlers originate. This gubernatorial action causes an uproar in Anyidi, Makuach and Kolnyang. Because rural families without government services are innocently affected. They could not provide milk for their kids and elderly villagers after a forceful collection of 418 heads of cows.
The governor and the commissioner have taken the role of the court. Judges should make decisions regarding such cases. Let cattle rustlers go to court. So the Murle cattle owners get fair compensations. Collective punishments infringe on individual property rights if we live under a bedrock of constitution in Jonglei State.
Mac Madol Agorok resides in North America, a contributor and member of The Bor Globe Network Team. He can be reached via email: macmadol2@gmail.com