March 2011 TO ADVERTISE THE PEOPLE’S VOICE IN PEOPLE’s VOICE EDITORIAL TEAM INVITES CALL We are not a militia, say Southern Sudan's 'Arrow Boys' COMMENTS, OPINIONS AND LETTERS. THE EDITORIAL TEAM RESERVES 0924875595 By Phillip Mbugo William government's help,” said Peni. Peni wishers. We also need motivation cooperation and coordination THE RIGHT TO PUBLICATION. said the name “Arrow Boys” because we are supplementing the b e t w e e n A r r o w B o y s a n d was a borrowed from government's efforts in protecting G o v e r n m e n t fo rc e s . Wa n d e Northern Uganda where the the people,” said Pee. He added: “We cautioned against reference to the March 2011 Issue 3, Volume 0 001 Produced by UJOSS Free Copy LRA originated in 1986 to assure the SPLA soldiers of our Arrows Boys as militia, explaining that fight the Government of cooperation as we struggle to give they were just Home Guards or Uganda. Arrow boys or Rhino support to our communities.” vigilantes. “The Arrow Boys are not a Groups were formed at T h e O f f i c i a l G o v e r n m e n t creation of the government. Chiefs community level in Gulu, spokesperson who is the State are responsible for their operations Teso in order to protect Minister of Information and because they are directly under YAMBIO STATE HOSPITAL CRIES OUT FOR HELP civilians against attacks from Communications WES, Gibson Bullen them,” he said. By Gift Friday W e s t e r n more facilities at the hospital, which is the LRA. Led by charismatic Wande, stated that there was strong Equatoria over located in Western Equatoria. The Joseph Kony, the LRA has It is a tale of a medical facility the past few hospitals' Matron, Teresa Dabi, said, the killed thousands of people, MAN STABS HIMSELF OVER WIT CHCRAFT ALLEGATIONS in an Intensive Care Unit. years is less than state hospital's security remained raped women and abducted By Agele Benson Amos While it is expected to save 0.4 % which has hundreds of children, many the lives of people living in the never happened poor since it had no fence, putting the Heavily armed arrow boys hunt for LRA raiders of whom are either turned In the remote villages of Yei River problem, Francis rushed to his kitchen expansive Yambio state, the anywhere. There lives of staff and patients at risk. “To make into wives or drafted as fighters. In County, in Southern Sudan, superstition and grabbed a knife which he violently Yambio State Hospital is itself were about 455 matters worse, the whole hospital does still runs deep in the blood of the local plunged into his stomach. But death did They are youthful and daring. Western Equatorial state the rebels i n d i r e n e e d o f a m a j o r n ot have stretchers, shelter for patients, residents. Here, a mention of the word not come as quickly as he wished and he Villagers who have borne the brunt of have caused untold suffering to the comprehensive facelift to operations done no emergency ward, and no ambulance” witchcraft sends shivers down the was rushed to hospital by friends and m e e t s t a n d a r d s f o r the attacks of the Ugandan rebels – locals, besides the many killings and i n t h e s t a t e she said. Teresa who has worked at spines of many residents. Traditional relatives. But while he denied ever operations. the Lords Resistant Army (LRA) – see abductions. Their attacks have hospital, and no Mulago Hospital in Kampala, in Khartoum medicine men instil fear into practicing witch craft, Francis admitted The facility is faced by an acute them as their saviours. Armed with continued to hinder post civil war superstitious villagers, some of whom his 'careless' utterances after drinking single death was and many parts of Sudan said that unlike shortage of vital facilities and traditionally made bows and arrows, reconstruction of the rich agricultural part with huge amounts of money to local brews made the neighbours brand r e c o r d e d in other hospitals, doctors working in can hardly cope with the high d e s p i t e W estern Equatoria had no risk the Arrow Boys, as locals call them, state, with most farmers staying away appease these 'doctors'. But the him a witch. “It is true I sometimes utter number of patients. It has only working with allowances. She stated that the hospital have successfully protected their from their arable land in fear of being 'doctors' are loathed because it is bad words when drunk. People decided believed they cause suffering to to judge me by what I say and what I do,” four functional departments, Patients lying outside Yambio hospital waiting to be attended to. l i m i t e d has a capacity of only 120 beds – a very villages in Southern Sudan's Western abducted or maimed. innocent people. This perhaps is what he said sadly. He said that just before he according to a senior doctor at resources.” The small number for a state hospital. A Equatorial State against attacks by the high mortality rates. “In 2010 we made Peni said that there is no specific drove a 35 year old man to attempt to kill stabbed himself, a friend had told him the facility, Dr Munadil Atif. He doctor said that over 40,000 people were doctor working with the MSF, Dr LRA. The Arrow Boys, a rag tag 422 deliveries in Yambio state hospital, of number of Arrow boys because himself after he was branded a witch that security officials were planning to disclosed that only the treated at the hospital last year. Francisco Bartalomer, said his team community policing outfit, was which there were severe complications households were expected to doctor. Francis Likambo, a resident of arrest him. Francis' elder sister, Betty Surgical Department with two He asked the Government of Southern decided to help the hospital after seeing with 69 but, no single mother died” he formed to fight off the LRA that had contribute volunteers to join the Mahad area in Payam stabbed himself Kiden, defends her brother, saying he theaters, the pediatric Sudan to post more doctors and deliver its deplorable condition. He said MSF was set up a base at Nabanga-Rikuangba group. He said that although the LRA in the stomach following allegations he had never bewitched anyone. “I am department, the maternity said. He added: “The mortality rate in along the border of South Sudan and has been bewitching his neighbours and challenging his accusers to show me a attacks had reduced after the rebels and medical departments are Cont. p2 Northern Congo. The base was set up scattered deep into the Congo forest, is now in hospital in a critical condition. single grave of any of his victims, if truly functional. The health facility, The incident occurred at his elder he was a witch,” he said angrily. She at the time when peace talks were the Arrow Boys still need help he said, has only 6 general sister's home on Sunday 23rd January added: “Witchcraft is inherited and going on in Juba between the doctors and practitioners, and because the rebels could return to 2011. none of my forefathers practised SOUTH SUDAN'S VETERAN FEMALE JOURNALIST PASSES ON Government of Uganda and LRA. The molest the people. “We are urging Francis told reporters that he left his witchcraft.” A military officer and a 43 nurses among whom only talks later broke down after LRA four are certified and well–wishers to support the Arrow village in Bura in Mugwo payam because neighbour to Francis, Abdu Jima Timiyan By Paul Jimbo the World Bank's premises along Southern Sudan (UJOSS). At the time of leaders refused to continue with registered. “We lack buildings boys with food and communication of allegations of witch craft against him defended him, saying he was an Ministries Road in Juba. her death, Apollonia was the Executive peace negotiations. Besides bows and by many residents. “I had to move to innocent man. “I have known him for to accommodate medical th equipment to help them prepare for It was on Friday 18 March 2011 when Apollonia, according to eye witnesses, Director of the Association of Media arrows, the Arrow Boys also use home Mahad where I lived with my wife and many years. We often eat together. He personnel, specialists and any future attacks against the the ugly and greedy face of death met her death after a truck lost control, Women in Southern Sudan (AMWISS) made guns, known as “Fabri Casio” villages,” he added. five children because I could not stand has not bewitched anyone,” said consultants, forcing us to refer the false accusations any more,” he said. Timiyan. The Criminal Investigation snatched the life of South Sudanese veered of the road and crashed into the besides working at South Sudan's which cannot match the fire power of Peni said the Arrow Boys also needed many cases to the Juba But the accusations followed him even Department director for Yei civil police, s e a s o n e d j o u r n a l i s t motorcycle that World Bank Micro-finance investment the LRA rebels who use sophisticated teaching Hospital,” he said.