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SUDAN / VOTING LRA
STORY: SUDAN / VOTING LRA
TRT: 2:43
SOURCE: UNMIS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ARABIC / BAKA / ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 9 JANUARY 2011, MARIDI, SUDAN
1. Med shot, people at a food distribution site
2. Med shot, women waiting for food rations
3. Wide shot, people receiving food
4. Med shot, man pouring grain from a bag
5. SOUNDBITE (Baka) Soburu Katas, Displaced Resident of Mboroko Village:
“We all left our homes and are now in town as a result of the LRA attacks. We have nothing to feed our children and came here to get some food from the UN. We now live in fear because we have seen the people that the LRA killed.”
6. Wide shot, people lining up at a polling centre
7. Close up, Arrow Boy holding arrows
8. Wide shot, man with bow and arrows
9. Med shot, observers watching the process
10. Wide shot, Arrow Boys seated under a tree
11. Med shot, men with bow and arrow and AK47
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Charles Adam, Commander of the Home Guards or Arrow boys:
“I also deployed more and more “Home Guards” around this place in order to maintain the security for out people, for our community to determine their future in this referendum voting so that they can not be afraid, they will be free. If they see that the Home Guards are deployed many people will come to vote during this referendum voting.”
13. Wide shot, LRA victim voting
14. Close up, man’s face
15. Close up, registration book
16. Wide shot, LRA victim voting
17. Med shot, man finger being inked
18. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) John Bashir, LRA Victim:
“He hit me twice, on my side and on my hand then I fell down, he thought I was dead.”
19. Wide shot, Arrow Boys keeping guard
20. Med shot, man with bow and arrow
21. Close up, hand with bow and arrow
22. Wide shot, Arrow boys marching away
A brutal attack on residents of Mboroko village in the Western Equatoria state of Southern Sudan, just three weeks before the Southern Sudan’s historic referendum, brought renewed fears of the notorious Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).
On 21 December the LRA attacked Mboroko and forced the entire village population to Maridi town, the Maridi County headquarters for safety. Many left without anything, their fields ready for harvest, and now rely on aid agencies for food.
Soburu Katas is one of the hundreds who fled the attacks. She says going back is not an option for now.
SOUNDBITE (Baka) Soburu Katas, Displaced Resident of Mboroko Village:
“We all left our homes and are now in town as a result of the LRA attacks. We have nothing to feed our children and came here to get some food from the UN. We now live in fear because we have seen the people that the LRA killed.”
Following the attack by the LRA, the Mboroko Polling Centre, one of the 25 centres in Maridi County, was relocated to Maridi. Out of the over 27,000 voters registered in all centres, 417 voters were expected to vote in Mboroko. There were 419 registered voters before LRA killed two of them.
As polls opened on the 9 January, the residents of Maridi came out to vote knowing that they live under the shadows of the LRA, which has plagued the region for years.
A group of traditional fighters known as Arrow Boys or Home Guards were out to show strength and support the organised forces in providing security for the polling centres and their neighbourhoods. Armed with AK47 and traditional bow and arrows, these men and women have become the protectors of many here.
SOUNDBITE (English) Charles Adam, Commander of the Home Guards or Arrow boys:
“I also deployed more and more “Home Guards” around this place in order to maintain the security for out people, for our community to determine their future in this referendum voting so that they can not be afraid, they will be free. If they see that the Home Guards are deployed many people will come to vote during this referendum voting.”
The LRA rebels, initially from Uganda, now roam the borders between Sudan, Central African Republic and Democratic Republic of Congo.
John Bashir was resting in his house when someone tried to open his door, when he asked who it was; a man with a gun forced his way into the house and attacked him.
SOUNDBITE (Arabic) John Bashir, LRA Victim:
“He hit me twice, on my side and on my hand, then I fell down, he thought I was dead”
As southern Sudan votes on independence, the LRA remains a real threat to the safety and security of the people of southern Sudan.
Many for the residents of Western Equatoria state know too well the havoc that the LRA has caused in their area.
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