November 24, 2008 (ADDIS ABABA) – Special police forces surprised two villages in southwestern Ethiopia on Saturday as the inhabitants slept, launching an attack that burned all the houses, killed nine civilians and wounded 23 others, said an official in Gambella region who requested not to be identified by name. Two attackers were also slain during the events.

A federal official in Addis Ababa, originally from the Gambella region, confirmed reports of the attacks.

The regional government was apparently trying to force the villagers of Laare and Puldeng into a new area, but they refused to move out until the dry season, by the end of January or February.

A mixed force of Anyua, Nuer and highlander police attacked the villagers, many of whom were Sudanese Nuer who had joined Jikany kin in the area.

The Gambella official estimated that some 600 cattle were stolen and more than 200 cattle and 1000 goats and sheep were killed—many of them burned in the houses where they were kept. Thirty men, women and children are still missing, and the villagers fled to the bush.

The official accused of ordering the attack, regional council member Goaner Yer, has now ordered some police forces to protect his faction from retaliation by mobilizing around the Ciechany section in Lol-gungjang.

Two attackers were killed: Bol Malual, a Gajiok/Ciequick (Nuer) and James Omot, an Anyua. At least six other attackers were wounded.

Thohl Muon Reath of the Cienuol sub-clan, aged approximately 67 years, was killed in the attack. Two children, Duoth Gal Chan and Nyedak Machduel Put, aged eight and thirteen, respectively, were killed, and a four-year-old child from the Ciedup sub-clan was wounded in the attack.

The deceased also include Deng Gatluak Zuor, Kech Chuol Diew, Duit Bol Biliew, Wiyual Chol Wuol, Biel Gach Tuach and Reath Dak Thoan.

(ST)