Disruption in Unity State as Kiir Campaigns in Bentiu

16 March 2010 - (Bentiu) - One person has been admitted to Bentiu Teaching Hospital in Unity state with serious injuries sustained when an election campaign became violent in Unity state.

Violence erupted on Monday when the SPLM presidential candidate Salva Kiir arrived in Bentiu to speak at a campaign rally.

A reporter for the NGO SUDANVOTES, Boniface Taban, spoke to our producer Koang Pal by phone from Bentiu on Tuesday.

[Boniface Taban]: “You know what happened yesterday, the president of the Government of Southern Sudan was coming to Unity state to launch his campaign. During the campaign, the SPLM divided itself into two groups. One group was supporting governor Taban and another group was supporting Dr. Monytuil. Monytuil is the SPLM chairman in the state. Monytuil was responsible for launching the president's campaign but at the start there were people calling for change, who said they want changes in the government of Unity state.”

[Koang Pal]: Were the independent candidates trying to disrupt the president’s campaign?

[Boniface Taban]: “They were not disrupting the presidential campaign because they are the same citizens who are going to vote for the President of the Government of Southern Sudan. Even they support Angelina; they will be the same people to vote for the independent candidates and also for the President of the Government of Southern Sudan.”

[Koang Pal]: Then what happened? What prevented the president from going there?

[Boniface Taban]: Actually, the president came to Bentiu but when the chairperson of the SPLM in the state, Dr. Joseph Munytuil, was trying to convince the supporters of Brigadier Taban, the Minister of Education in Unity state begun chasing the supporters of Angelina out and Joseph said that they should be allowed to enter. The two exchanged blows and that was how it happened.”

In Leer county, Unity state, Peter Gatkuoth, an SPLM campaign manager, also complained of harassment by officials he believes to be from the SPLM.

[Peter Gatkuoth]: “The county authorities ordered the police to arrest us and the police in Leer are still looking for us to arrest us. I don’t know the reason behind this; I don’t know what’s wrong with the SPLA executive, because the current county authority is part of the SPLM executive. This morning, the assistant secretary for Mayardit was on his way to Leer. As he was passing the police station he was told to stop and his motorcycle was nearly confiscated by the police authorities. Some weeks ago, they arrested two people but after UNMIS came they were released.”
Peter Gatkuoth was speaking to SRS from Leer on Tuesday.