Two SSPDF soldiers arrested over harassment of parish priest

By Makur Adut.

Two SSPDF soldiers have been arrested over harrasment of parish priest in Rumbek East, Lakes State, the County Commissioner has confirmed.

According to Rumbek East County Commissioner, Zechariah Malual Anyuon, the soldiers from the Mabor duang military, were arrested on Tuesday evening after a parish priest from the Pacong Payam Catholic Church launched a complaint of torture and harrasment.

The priest said he was on his way to Thonaduel County headquarters when he met the two soldiers, who forcefuly grabbed his biretta from his head, while mocking him. The incident, he added, later turned violent.

” I was going to Thonaduel to visit a bishop. On the way, I met two soldiers from Mabor-duong military barrack at Bahr el Naam. They started mocking me while calling me all sorts of names including criminal. They made fun of my religious attire, then started beating me up,” said Stephen Mangar Machar, the parish priest.

The priest was saved by a motorist who reminded the officers of his identity as a cleric.

However, responding on the incident, Commissioner Malual condemned such acts and urged the public and officers to respect and protect clerics and humanitarian workers.

“Bishops, priests, doctors and humanitarian workers are not supposed to be beaten. People should desist from violence and attacks on each other,” he said, confirming that the two soldiers had been detained at the Mabor-duong military barrack undergoing investigations.

“It is not good to abuse or attack somebody,” he added.

Meanwhile, civil society activist, Daniel Laat Kon regretted the incident an condemned the attack, saying priests should be protected. He urged the state authorities to address the matter and ensure it is brought to book.

“As CEPO (a local civil rights organization), we condemned the incident and call for speedy investigations and accountability.”