An SPLM-IO parliamentarian in Eastern Equatoria State representing Torit County over the weekend raised an alarm over two illegal checkpoints in Himodonge Payam.
According to Vitale Ofire Raphael, two secret checkpoints on the Torit-Imotong Road and Torit-Katire Road are illegal and defy the resolutions of the recently concluded 8th Governors’ Forum that banned all illegal checkpoints across the country.
In late December, the Government of Eastern Equatoria State removed all illegal checkpoints but the legislator now says there are still two secret illegal checkpoints operating in Himodonge Payam where soldiers collect money and food items from poor civilians.
“The soldiers who are at Torit-Imotong junction extort money from the poor women and youth who are struggling to put food on the table for their families amidst this economic hardship,” he charged. “This checkpoint is an activation of the Sherikat checkpoint that was already removed and the same soldiers now moved it to Himodonge. This has affected the poor citizens as we all know Katire, Imotong, and Himodonge areas are the breadbasket of Torit Town.”
Ofire added: “The unlawful taxation is the reason why goods in the markets in Torit are getting very expensive every day.”
He called for the immediate removal of the illegal checkpoints, saying they threaten security and free movement of people.
“I would like to categorically call on the government to remove that illegal checkpoint because it is causing insecurity in that area. As the area MP, I am raising this alarm that the residents of Keberek, after the youth from Imilai burned their homes and removed iron sheets, are now living in their gardens,” he said. “The youth of Imilai Boma of Ikotos County are doing patrol in keberek which is the territory of Torit County under the protection of state government which claims they are protecting loggers at that checkpoint.”
Ofire faulted Minister of Local Government and Law Enforcement Agencies Peter Lokeng Lotone for supporting the deployment of youths from Ikotos County to annex Keberek Boma of Himodonge Payam to Ikotos County.
“Local Government Minister Peter Lokeng Lotone who hails from Ikotos County and is in charge of implementing the order to remove the illegal checkpoints, is the one protecting that Keberek checkpoint and annexing it to Ikotos County by force despite several complaints from the Himodonge Community,” Ofire said. “We do not know what their interest in Himodonge is because no state government or minister has the power to annex a boma or a payam to another county or even to change the map of South Sudan. I call upon the government to remove those illegal checkpoints, withdraw Imilai youth from patrolling in Himodonge territory, and allow Keberek citizens to return home.”
“I also call for the arrest of the Imilai youths who burnt and looted properties from keberek inhabitants so the people in the area live in peace,” he added.
However, Local Government Minister Lokeng denied the presence of illegal checkpoints in the State but said the state only established roadblocks to curb illegal logging. He said the checkpoint in Himodonge is an SSPDF outpost aimed at providing security.
“The checkpoints of Shirikat and Himodonge were not established to collect money but are outposts of the army,” he clarified. “The checkpoints we all know are the ones with the rate collector of the local government where receipts are issued. There is no checkpoint controlled by security forces in the area because we have removed all checkpoints.”
A resident of Himodonge who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, however, intimated that the forces deployed at the two checkpoints demand fees ranging from SSP 3,000 to 5,000 from locals and unspecified amounts from vehicles and trucks.
“It has even happened on my watch and they collect money from any motorbike and even vehicles moving along the road. If you have a bag, they remove and check it and we do not know why this is happening. As a citizen of this nation, why are people being checked?” he narrated. “Even those carrying bamboos are being checked and this has been happening but it was not there before roadblocks were removed. Why was the Shirikat roadblock removed and taken to Himodonge? They charge travelers between SSP 3,000 and 5,000. I witness this with my eyes.” Radio Tamazuj
