NAS condemns SSPDF’s kidnap and murder of 10-year-old Sunday-school boy, a parish priest, a chief and a local elder
Following the kidnap on Sunday, May 31 2021 of 4 locals from Gumberi village of Lainya Payam in Central Equatoria State (CES) and their subsequent murder in cold blood on Monday, June 1, the Leadership of the National Salvation Front (NAS) has yet again voiced its condemnation of the recurring barbaric war crimes by Salva Kiir’s forces against innocent across the country in general and, more recently, against innocent civilians particularly in the Equatorias.
NAS voiced its condemnation in a press release issued on Thursday, June 3 2021 by its spokesman Mr Suba Samuel. Similar concerns about the increase of human rights violations and crimes against humanity committed by the same criminal were raised a few days ago.
On Tuesday, June 1, the Bishop of Diocese of Lainya Most Reverend Paul Benjamin Yugusuk released a video message announcing the unfortunate news of what had befallen in one of their own dioceses.
I regret to inform you that today, the first day of June 2021, the South Sudan People Defence Forces (SSPDF) killed in cold blood Reverend Cosmos Kwaje Matayo
“I regret to inform you that today, the first day of June 2021, the South Sudan People Defence Forces (SSPDF) killed in cold blood Reverend Cosmos Kwaje Matayo, the parish priest of Gumbiri Parish; Simon Taban Elekima, a 10-year-old Sunday-school boy; Moses Wani Daniel, a church elder and sub-chief; and Benjamin Laki Jibidayo, a headman,” the bishop stated.
According to reports, the victims were dragged out and kidnapped by SSPDF operatives from a church during Sunday service. Their butchered bodies were found the following day.
According to the press release, these crimes are neither new nor are they isolated.
“Since 2013 the regime of Salva Kiir has been killing innocent civilians in Juba, Malakal, Bentiu and Wau, and now they are continuing it with impunity in Lainya, Yei and Kajo-Keji counties respectively
“[These] systematic ethnic-inspired killings, rapings, lootings, mass displacement and destruction of civilian property have become the hallmark of Kiir’s oppressive regime. These atrocities (being committed in the full knowledge of everyone including the international community) amount to genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing,” Mr Suba noted.
He went on to assure that these crimes will not go unpunished.
“NAS is profiling all the details of these atrocities including the names of the perpetrators behind this genocide acts, and on top of them is President Salva Kiir himself, the SSPFD leader and some collaborators in the government of Central Equatoria State (CES)
It is a matter of time these ethnic-inspired criminals (and on top of them is President Salva Kiir himself, the SSPFD leader and some collaborators in the government of CES) will face the wrath of the law and justice
“It is a matter of time these ethnic-inspired criminals will face the wrath of the law and justice,” he affirmed.
In the same press release, NAS leadership also extended their condolences to “the entire communities of Lainya, Yei and Kajo-Keji Counties and the leadership of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and families of all those fallen martyrs who lost their livers under the hands of the Salva Kiir’s forces”.
