Two communities of Buya and Didinga of Budi County in Eastern Equatoria have refuted allegations linking criminal activities in the area to rebel forces of renegade George Athor.
Lotyang Peter Bosco, an area Member of Parliament in the Eastern Equatoria Assembly is one of the community leaders protesting against the rebel allegations levied on the Didinga-Buya people, Emmanuel Radi reported.The daily Citizen newspaper last month published an article, allegedly quoting SPLA spokesperson, Col Philip Aguer Panyang, saying the Buya and Didinga were loyal to renegade George Athor.
Mr. Lotyang explained that the case in question stemmed from a conflict between the army and the community last month over the killing of an SPLA soldier by an unknown criminal.
He said the army retaliated by killing over 200 heads of cattle and four civilians.
The MP revealed that the Buya community accepted responsibility that they were provoked by the killing of their animals to ambush an SPLA lorry, killing a number of soldiers while others were left wounded.
However, eleven elite members of the two communities have written a four gape position letter to distance their people from rebel activities sparking of in Upper Nile state.
The members stated that the Buya Ð Didinga people supported the SPLA struggle and could therefore not turn against a legitimate government.