Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Nairobi (Fides Service)- Following massacres in Turbi north west Kenya (see Fides 13 July 2005) there has been an act of retaliation on the part of the tribe whose members were massacred. At least 10 Gabra were killed when the Land Rover belonging to the Sololo Catholic Mission Hospital driven by Philippines Comboni missionary Fr Aldrin Talacios was ambushed on the road to Marsabit by men of the Borana tribe. “Having heard of the massacres by Gabra men at Turbi the missionary was trying to take these people to safety. On the road the car was stopped by armed men who killed the passengers and injured the missionary” a local source in Marsabit diocese told Fides. The ten passengers killed included 4 women and 4 children under 10 years old.
In the meantime the dimensions of the Turbi massacres are beginning to appear. At least 76 people are reported dead and according to Marsabit diocese the number of assailants was 200 not 300 to 500 as previously reported. “However they were well oganised and well armed” the source told Fides. “This was not the usual dispute between Gabra and Borana over land and water reserves. The assailants reportedly come from a place 50-60 km from Turbi and the reasons for the massacres are said to be political”.
“It should be remembered that these people inter-marry and mixed marriages represent 30 % of the total, so despite tension they not completely hostile to each other” the source told Fides. “There has always been rivalry but nothing like these massacres in which the victims were mainly women and children. The motivation is still unclear but people fear some local leader may want to blow on the embers of unrest to strengthen his own political position”.
The only institutions present in this arid and semi-desert region to provide schooling, healthcare, water and food supplies and other services are the local Catholic Church, other Christian and Muslim missionaries and NGOs. “Where is the government? People are being killed” said James Jirma Galgalo of CISA news agency in Nairobi and Marsabit diocese development coordinator. Galgalo said “all they did was to send Turbi 15 policemen” and he voiced his concern for the increasing insecurity in the region home to people of various ethnic groups.
The government has annoucned that it sent three helicopters and contingents of troops to search for the perpetrators of the massacres at Turbi. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 14/7/2005 righe 41 parole 475)
