Regional organization to provide gun-marking machine to GOSS
By Isaac Vuni
March 24, 2009 (JUBA) — The Regional Center on Small Arms and Light Weapons (RECSA), an organization formed by a political document signed by 12 countries, will purchase a gun-marking machine for every member state to be able to mark guns for collection and disposal, said Dr. Francis Sang, Executive Secretary of RECSA.
RECSA was formed by the Nairobi declaration signed March 15, 2000, leading to the collection and destruction of 110,000 firearms in RESCA countries. Sang announced that the GOSS Bureau for Community Security and Small Arms Control would be their focal point for South Sudan and pledged to officially handover guns marking machine by April this year.
Speaking at a workshop for legislators organized by the Peace and Reconciliation Committee in collaboration with IKV Pax Christi at the Assembly Building today, Dr. Sang emphasized the importance of strengthening legislators to pass acts to be enacted by the GOSS president.
He further said it would be vital to mark all firearms then create database stockpiles fore both the police and military including legally licensed arms to civilians.
Asked on how to address illicit proliferation of small arms in the 12 RECSA countries, Dr. Sang disclosed that only Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania have got national action plans for control, marking and disposal of arms in the Great Lakes region, yet there are 98 countries producing fire arms sold either directly of indirectly in the world today.
In her inaugural speech, Hon. Lucy Iyaya, deputy chairperson for peace and reconciliation committee of SSLA, on behalf of Speaker James Wani said collection, control and disposal of small arms in South Sudan today has become a greater challenge to entire communities who are reluctant to surrender their guns because they are not sure of any protection from the government.
Nevertheless, Hon. Iyaya urged participants to share experiences and come out with clear and actionable recommendations to benefit people of the greater region.
Dr. Riek Jok Majok, chairman of the South’s bureau for small arms control (CSAC), and former county commissioner of Aweil, said the organization was established in 2008, and he urged GOSS not be overreactive when they are engaged in controlling, collecting and disposing illegal weapons and give priority to voluntarily disarmament despite community resistance especially from youth leaders from cattle camps.
Majok recommended better information-sharing with local government authorities and disclosed that over 110,000 guns were collected from the Murle ethnicity but regretted that 750 people were killed in single day during conflict with this community in Jonglei state.
Meanwhile, Mariam Kundu, programme manager SIPP IKV Pax Christi, said the workshop came at a time when GOSS was developing policy to control flow of illicit arms and appealed to legislators to seriously sensitize communities on danger of illegal arms being used against fellow citizen. She added that IKV Pax Christi organization is fighting illicit flow of arms in 25 countries worldwide including Sudan and is operating in Eastern Equatoria, Jonglei and Upper Nile states of Southern Sudan.
Hon. Stephen Ajong alleged that those guiding cattle camps are private militias of SPLA commanders which ought to be controlled by SPLA authorities.
Hon. Lucy Abba said if cattle raiding are the major causes of killing innocent people, then GOSS has to come up with clear laws for protection of citizens.
Responding to question from Hon. Mrs. Abuor Gordon Nhial, former state minister of social development Aweil in northern Bhar el Ghazal on an accelerated plan for collecting guns, Dr. Sang said peaceful disarmament accompanied by sensitization should be encouraged even though some communities would not accept to be disarmed.
Hon. Martin Monjang said that all the natives of the South are carrying arms today to protect themselves against the common enemy, the National Congress Party. “It seems there is no control along the borders with neighbouring counties who sold guns to the people at ease. The police have not been facilitated for the last four years.”
Hon. Yodo observed that if the government does not provide remedies, the current unfolding situation would return people of the south yet again to another bush fight.
Hon. Paulino Apiny suggested that legislators together with GOSS must enforce the police act and make disciples of religion as sources of respect to humanity while the young people are to be positively recruited for jobs that will keep them busy rather than taking up arms for raiding and looting.
Hon. Abor Gordon Nhial asked how could the border dispute between Kenya and South Sudan be settled in a situation in which guns are used and people killed? Responding, he suggested that lawmakers need to come up with strong legislation to control such persons in their respective countries, through good planning and coordination.
Hon. Riek Bol observed that with the introduction of the new marking machine he hopes that the military will cooperate in the exercise to disarm civilians as ordered by President Salva Kiir Mayardit.
(ST)
Koja Rubi
Regional organization to provide gun-marking machine to GOSS
Marking guns in South Sudan is not enough. What is important is that GOSS must first ensure that all citizens are protected before thinking of any move to mark guns or even disarm citizen.
The scenerio from western equatoria where GOSS failed to protect civilian from the brutal LRA should not report it self. The incident between the murles and the luo Nuer where one community has arms and the other disarmed but not protected by the GOSS brought alot of lose of lives in that part of Southern Sudan. There are weaknesses which are going to cost us greatly in political terms.
Do not rush into doing some thing prematurely, because the war in not over yet.
Take care GOSS!
Take care SPLM/SPLA!
Isaac Treter
Regional organization to provide gun-marking machine to GOSS
Yeah, it would work my people, but the important issue is our Gov,t has to enact some laws to work with this methods and the other question is where do the Civilliam get those arms, my answer could be event within ourselves because we don,t abit by Laws if we are to introduce peaceful disarmament.
Gatwech
Regional organization to provide gun-marking machine to GOSS
What a big lie!!!!!!
Some body must have lied on the number of guns collected from Murle which is said to be 110,000. What a big lie!!! Either the reporter is a liar or he just misquoted Dr. Riek Jok who is in charge of small arm policies.
The estimated guns in Murle land before disarmament is 10,000. Ismael Konyi recently talked of more than 1000 guns already collected in Murle land. So, where did the 110,000 come from? Please don’t exaggerate figures. This number can supply all the SPLA soldiers.
The number you should talk about is 8,000 because 1000 is already collected from the estimated 10,000. What a lie!!
The Lou-Nuer were also the first to be disarmed in 2006. May be they got some guns recently to attack the Murle which was known for being heavily armed even by the Jonglei state government, Kuol Manyang Juuk. So called them unarmed is nonsense!!! Also the reporter should well use his ears to hear correct figures from those who speak on them. 110,000 guns has never been collected from a single tribe, no matter how very big that tribe is. It is just nonsense without any truth. It also contradicts the figure of 1,500 reported by Ismail Konyi over Miraya FM radio recently.