Giant_and_Dwarf-FIN

Giant and DwarfThis bloody feud appears to have its roots ingrained somewhere deep in the history ofboth tribes. In the vicious circle of violence and robberies, raids by pastoral warriors on theterritory of other tribes are revenged by the killing of captured men, the rape and abductionof women and children, and of course, the stealing of cattle. Cattle are the key element in“the game” not only because they are a major source of livelihood, but also because owningcattle is an unavoidable precondition for young men in both feuding tribes if they want tomarry. A dowry for a bride can consist of a few dozen cows. As the need for brides in thisdemographically young population is bigger than the ability of cattle to multiply and grow,the one remaining option for brave young men desiring love is to steal cows. The stealingof cattle occurs within tribes, but in order to prevent intra-tribal violence, tribe eldersprefer to give their blessing to the theft of cattle from neighbours. Of course, there is alsoanother option—one can steal a woman. Stealing people into slavery has never ceased tobe a part of life in Sudan. It typically does not take long for previously attacked and robbedtribe to undertake a retaliatory expedition into unprotected settlements of the formeraggressor. In the spirit of the toughest vendetta laws, besides which the Sicilian vendetta isjust a diluted civilized decoction, previous raiders pay the price. And the life—of course, ofthose who survive—goes on. Jonglei State with an area the same as former Czechoslovakiaprovides enough space for all the necessary maneuvers. The eternal fight can continue.Already in August 2011 the news about the jubilant declaration of South Sudan’s independencewas overshadowed by rumors of the massacre of at least 600 people and theinjury of thousands by Nuers raids on the Murle “youth” in the town of Pieri and villages inits vicinity. The town was burned and the victorious Murle rushed back home with 38,000stolen cows! 67 What great wedding perspectives! Murle had to wait only a few months forretaliation. In January 2012 around 6,000 armed Lou Nuer youngsters marched into thetown of Pibor, the main center of the Murle tribe: killing about 3,000 members of the Murletribe. Military reinforcements were hastily called to Pibor and the United Nation Missionin South Sudan—(UNMISS) sent 1,000 peacekeepers: this small town and cattle vendettaabsorbed half of the UNMISS forces. Despite these forces Pibor was plundered and a portionof the town was burned to ashes including the only clinic in the region led by theorganization Doctors Without Borders. 68 Several days later a group of Muerle youth raidedsome of the weakened Lou Nuer villages, while the Lou Nuer youth were busy killing androbbing Pibor. They killed 57 women and children, wounded dozens more, kidnapped eightchildren and took numerous cattle.The picture of South Sudan is a picture of a collapsing state, though it has only justemerged. The newly created state is unable to ensure even the most basic functions, includingan elementary level of security and justice. It completely lacks the capacity for more67 South Sudan attacks leave 600 dead. BBC, 2011-08-23. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14595368.68 South Sudan horror at deadly cattle vendetta. BBC, 2012-01-16. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/worldafrica-16575153.82