JUBA – A row has broken out between the residents of Kator-Kassaba Village in Kator Payam and the Administration of St. Theresa Catholic Church over land ownership despite demolition of the area last year.
The residents of three blocks in Kassaba village rallied yesterday west of River Nile claiming that the Village was owned by their ancestors under Tokiman Chieftainship that was before the 1st World War of (1914-18) and urged Church Priests not to preach about them grabbing the land which belongs to the Church.
“There is no church without the people, this Church was built after the people acquired land and the Church was given a part of the land around 1950-1961 so that people will have a place to worship, but now the Church administration claims the land. What will they do with the Church if there are no people praying inside?” The residents asked during a rally that was attended by hundreds of people including children.
The Citizen could not reach St. Theresa Catholic Church administration for comments as they were in a wedding ceremony yesterday.
In March 2011, the demolition Committee in Juba broke down some parts of Kassaba west of River Nile block A but the Payam Administration denied knowledge about the demolition and directed the residents to ask Central Equatoria State Ministry of Housing and Physical Infrastructure to find out who ordered the demolition, but the residents said the State Ministry denied demolition.
According to the Chairman of Kassaba Popular Committee in Kator Payam, Jada Ben, the residents after establishing that the area was not supposed to be demolished, one of the residents who was in the Village since 1947 sued the demolition Committee while at the trials one Catholic Priest appeared before the Judge claiming that the demolished part of Kassaba (block A) belongs to Catholic Church of St. Theresa.
Following this the Residents accused the Church administration of being behind the demolition of their houses and therefore formed a Committee to investigate the demolition of their area and to find legal means of getting back their land and compensation from the Church.
“Many people asked why the Kassaba Residents dispute over land with the Church, but the simplest answer given was that the People in Kassaba form the Church while the Church wants to cut one of its branches, the people away which is block A,” the Chairman said adding that they will seek the truth to set them free.
After this the Committee formed by Kassaba Residents filed a case against the Church Administration and alert themselves to be ready for a court hearing any time.
A representative from Payam administration Joseph Loro Tombe said that the Payam was not informed about demolition and would stand besides the residents.
All the Residents who attended the rally expressed their concern and assured that they would not give up in getting their land back.
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