By Manyang Mayom
January 19, 2010 (RUMBEK) - The Lakes state pastoralists have again resumed clashes over cattle, engaging in a deadly fight in Pandit at Cueijuona cattle camp on Sunday morning. Two pastoralists were killed and an unidentified number of cattle were looted by attackers, said a county official.
The fight took place between Yirol East County and Yirol West County. There attackers reportedly were aiming only to take cattle, resulting in a fewer number of casualties than have occurred in incidents elsewhere.
A few cows were rescued by SPLA soldiers and now the county authorities are investigating to identify how many cows were looted.
Yirol West County Commissioner Agok Manyiel Dhieu commented, "I really don't understand why these youth are fighting themselves over cattle issues - we are pushing the election and more voters are slipping away just by killing one another - people are disappointed everywhere in Lakes state because of these youth who make the state an unhealthy one."
On Saturday, unknown armed men had attacked a government official's car between Aluakluak and Akot. The armed man opened fire on the car wounding the minister's bodyguard.
Another similar incident happened between Aluakluak Gadim and Adu on the same date. In a hold-up, commodities were looted from a businessman's truck. One soldier on leave was at gunpoint of a hijacker and was set free after paying 2000 pounds to the hijacker. SPLA soldiers on leave are not allowed to carry guns. (ST)