Grief-struck father of slain Alier demands justice, deportation of gang members

The father of Alier Riak, the South Sudanese basketball star who was strangled to death last week in Melbourne, Australia, is calling for justice and the deportation of South Sudanese who have turned to crime.

The deceased and his brother were repeatedly stabbed in the upper shoulder area by a group of 20 or more attackers on Bourke Street in Dockland’s CBD, the Australian media revealed. He consequently died after he was rushed to a nearby hospital in Melbourne.

Alier’s father, James Riak Ajak, who arrived in Melbourne from Perth, said losing a son of Alier’s calibre was the saddest moment for him and his family.

The family has taken a hit.

Mr. Ajak told SBS Dinka news in Melbourne that they were attacked by a group of adolescents in Melbourne state while attempting to celebrate one of his brothers’ birthdays.

 “They stabbed Alier repeatedly till he died. They stabbed Kuol five times, and the youngest son, Ajak, was dragged over the floor until his knees were injured,” he narrated.

He went on to say: “The others were still alive. This is what drew me to Melbourne in the first place: I wanted to see what was going on and whether Melbourne is a city where visitors are attacked.”

In South Sudanese culture, a visitor is greeted kindly and asked where he came from and where he is going, he added.

‘‘If he is travelling a long distance, he will be offered a place to stay the night so that he can continue his journey the next day. As for Jieng and possibly other people around the world, “this is our culture,’’ he added.

He revealed his trip to Melbourne was to question the government on whether residents of the city are subject to any laws, and that if they are, the law should bear the expense.

“I am not sure if someone who comes as a visitor to Melbourne is attacked, which is why I came so that I could look into it because this place has a law.

‘‘I came here to learn about the legal system in this nation and what happens if someone kills an innocent person with a knife.”

He described his late son as a well-mannered person who loved everyone and always had a smile on his face, and a person who never quarrelled with any of his brothers, saying the late understood that nothing in the world was easy and that being happy with people was essential.

“He was respectful to all of his brothers, both older and younger, as well as everyone at home. He was a big, attractive guy who was also quite honest. Until he moved to Australia, I schooled him. He returned with two degrees, “he narrated.

He revealed that Alier had just graduated in public relations and mass communication.

‘‘Public relations is not a straightforward course; it requires someone who can effectively communicate with others.” It also reflects his modesty,’’ he said.

‘‘They were envious of his 6.9-meter height, which made him a tall and powerful man. He was a straightforward individual who could not be dispatched by anyone. If you asked him to do something for you, he would gladly oblige,’’ he said of his son.

He proceeded to say: ‘‘He did not claim to be an educated or famous person; he had been doing menial labour. Even when he was studying, he would come to see us throughout the holidays. I’m at a loss for words since my motivation for coming here was to teach these youngsters so that they might be prepared to be the future leaders of our country, which had been decimated by war.’’

He advised the South Sudanese community, and other Africans, to deport their children if they have embraced a different culture and which are unable to govern them outside some people’s country.

Ajak added that it is preferable to go hungry and die in your nation.

“Second, if dogs are wild in South Sudan, there is a procedure for dealing with them. Why can’t people in Melbourne be imprisoned and deported if they’re acting erratically? If they enjoy fighting, they will join the army or police in South Sudan to defend the country rather than stabbing youngsters in class or on the streets.”

He said parents who have left their children uncontrolled, lingering around the streets, should reconsider deporting them saying this should not be allowed to continue if my son is a victim.