Fresh clashes between government and opposition forces on Monday in Parajok of Imatong State have led to deaths, injuries and massive displacement of civilians, according to local residents, while both parties trade accusations over who started the attack as the number of casualties remains unknown.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Monday, SPLA-IO military spokesman Lam Paul Gabriel accused the government forces of attacking their base at Liro area, claiming that the government forces also burned down houses and looted civilians’ properties.
Lam pointed out that at least four civilians died in crossfire. “This morning [Monday], we clashed with government forces and when we repulsed them, they decided to go to Parajok and started burning houses of the civilians and looting cars, they even looted the main hospital. They are looting a lot of properties of civilians,” said Gabriel.
He claimed that they inflicted heavy casualties on the government forces and captured government ammunition during the clashes.
For his part, the SPLA deputy spokesperson Santo Domic said the opposition forces attacked their base in Parajok, with the aim of looting properties. He further said government forces drove them out of the area.
“The rebel forces attacked our position in Parajok and attacked the civilians with the aim of looting their food and other properties. They don’t have a good relationship with the civilians in the area. So, they are left with no option and they are casualties among civilians. Our forces went to Lurtong and reinforced their presence and chased the rebels away,” he said.
Domic also confirmed that civilians died in the clashes, but said he did not have concrete information as to how many people had died and how many were injured.
A resident of Liro, who spoke to radio Tamazuj while fleeing his home, said he knew of two people who died in the clashes and about 500 people displaced especially women and children now living in the bush.
Photo: (Retrieved from Google map)