Erkolano Ladu Tombe, Catholic Bishop of Yei Diocese says that the government SPLA soldiers in Yei have prevented him to go and see his parishes for Sunday service. The bishop said he was warned and not to move out because the area is controlled by rebels and it is ‘condemned’.
“I cannot go just three months out in the parish – the army say it is a condemned area,” the bishop said.
Government officials in Juba including President Salva Kiir have hinted at plans for a dry season offensive in the Yei area.
Bishop Erkolano explained that he was blocked from going to areas around Yei: “Our difficulties to move out are more from within the government soldiers… The problem is these people ‘army’ who are inside are the preventing us from going out – not those armed groups in the bush there. They had no problem with people and the church,” he stressed.
The bishop said that the security situation in Yei town is not improved due to the mistreatment of the civilians by SPLA government soldiers in the town. The bishop said due to that people fled Yei town into the bush.
He added, “You see people around the town now, in the evening you will not see people because they are afraid to stay and want to hide. Insecurity is going on in our villages around, because the contact between the army and civilians is not yet cordial. There is still aspect of mistreatment by the army.”