Police and military forces deployed heavily yesterday in Torit town to block an attempted demonstration by members of the Ma’di community.
The combined security forces occupied Torit’s Freedom Square armed with batons and guns, scaring residents.Security forces were also deployed along the road to UNMISS, the UN Mission in South Sudan-Torit offices.
Radio Emmanuel learnt that the Ma’di community attempted to stage a peaceful rally to show solidarity with families who lost loved ones in an ongoing land conflict in Magwi County.
The procession was planned to start from Freedom Squire towards UNMISS headquarters to present a petition to the Human Rights Affairs department.
Catholic Bishop Akio Johnson Mutek of Torit urged members from Ma’di and Acholi communities to return to their homesteads to a peaceful co-existence as they are living together and intermarrying for decades.
The Bishop called upon the two communities to manage the conflict over the ownership of Ame Junction locally and rebuild their relationship.