The SPLM Party secretary in Lafon County in Eastern Equatoria State, Andrew Galla, was severely beaten by a group of youth for allegedly blocking the removal of the county commissioner.
A few months ago, Lafon County Commissioner Mengistu Ukachi Agweri was also beaten by the youth who wanted him out of office.
Galla said his beating follows accusations by the youth of the Tar area that he is an obstacle in the removal of Commissioner Ukachi and that no arrests were made due to a shortage of police in the area.
“The youth from Burgillo in Tar attacked and beat me thoroughly. I do not know why they beat me because I was just moving outside my compound and going to the latrine at around 7 p.m.,” he narrated. “I got two guys, identified one of them, and they asked where I going. I replied that I was going to ease myself in the latrine and they told me not to go because it was not safe on that side. I did not know that they were taking me where there was a big group of youth.”
Galla added: “I was then beaten at the local government compound and they have not been arrested because there are no police officers here.”
The local party official said the assault on him almost sparked violence between his community and the Tar Community before he pleaded for a peaceful resolution of the matter.
“I think the attack was politically motivated because you remember they said they wanted the commissioner changed and it did not happen. They said I am the obstacle but I told them it is not my role and asked how I can work for my chairperson to be removed,” he said. “When the commissioner is removed, I will sit with the councilors to look for a capable replacement. They took it negatively that they have been denied their rights to lead the people yet they led several times.”
For his part, the Eastern Equatoria State SPLM Party spokesperson, Ewak Siro Silvio, condemned the attack which he said was intended to intimidate a party carder, and urged the police to arrest the perpetrators.
“The SPLM Party state secretariat strongly condemns the beating of the party’s secretary in Lafon, Comrade Andrew Galla, who has served in the position since 2010,” he stated. “Galla was strolling from his house in the evening of Thursday 12 December to the local government compound in Lafon center, he was reported to be going for a long call at around 7:58 p.m. when a group of unknown youth surrounded and beat him, leaving him unconscious.”
“The SPLM state secretariat is calling upon the government security apparatus to arrest the perpetrators to face the law and urge the youth to avoid taking the law into their hands,” Siro added.
Meanwhile, Lafon County Commissioner Ukach confirmed the incident and said he has little information about the incident because he is out of the county.
“The attack happened when I was in Torit and I do not have clear information about what happened and I have not called Galla,” he said