Over 2,000 firearms collected in Lakes state, South Sudan
September 23, 2011 (JUBA) – The Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) division six commander in charge of disarmament in Lakes and Unity states, Marial Chanuong Yol, told press that disarmament is moving ahead peacefully.
Lakes state has suffered cattle raids, robbery and inter-clan disputes as well inter-state conflict since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) which ended more than two decades of civil war between North and South Sudan in 2005.
The problem has continued unabated since the independence of South Sudan was declared on 9 July 2011.
The Lakes state capital, Rumbek, has recently witnessed a spate of cattle raiding and road robberies. There has been speculation that this is partly due to marriageable men returning to their homeland, requiring cattle for the family of their prospective wives. This has lead to a hike in cattle costs, which has priced some out of the market, leading them to resort to cattle raiding.
The governor of Lakes state, Chol Tong Mayay, has issued a provisional order commanding a comprehensive disarmament of all the civil population in the state .The orders are to be implemented by SPLA forces and County Commissioners for duration of 3 months with effect from 7 September.
All the arms collected are to be assembled in every county headquarters under the control of SPLA forces. It will then be brought to the state headquarters and taken to an undisclosed location by SPLA central command.
In June, over 6,000 SPLA forces were deployed across Lakes state to tackle insecurity issues.
Last week, the Lakes state Police Commissioner described allegations by an anonymous source that he had been responsible for selling arms to civilians during 2010 as “baseless” and concocted in order to besmirch him.
Civilian sources say that the an AK47 can generally be exchanged for two cows or 2,000 SDG (US$750) in the region.
(ST)
MINDED.DUDE
Over 2,000 firearms collected in Lakes state, South Sudan
Juba government have to provide maximum security protection to the citizens of lake state. Failure to do this is a crime committed by Juba government against civilians..
we do not want to see lake state children,women,and elder killed or their properties have been taken by other communities.
Mike Mike
Over 2,000 firearms collected in Lakes state, South Sudan
Those like Marial have eaten SPLM/ A alot while no proper effort exerted during the time of liberation. That was the first time for me to see this villager of yirol guy doing a meaningful mission in his homeland every since the beginning of the SPLM/A movement. Please do that mission with the whole of your heart in order to rescue the life of your people in greater lakes state. The people of Lakes has never tast the sweetness of peace since CPA was signed in 2005. There were alot of reports about death from cattles rustlers throughout the year in Lakes in which all these accusation of death should be blaimed on the sons of Lakes whom have high ranks in the SPLA.
belle loboi
Over 2,000 firearms collected in Lakes state, South Sudan
look at the way he look, he cannot read and write like Kiir.
blind men is leading intellectual people to wrong direction for not cause.
belle loboi
Over 2,000 firearms collected in Lakes state, South Sudan
Minded,
today you talk like man.
Bush
Over 2,000 firearms collected in Lakes state, South Sudan
And how many were collected from the other notorious states?
the same should be done to them so that Lakes State doesn’t look venerable in eyes of predators.
whatsayyou
Over 2,000 firearms collected in Lakes state, South Sudan
Mr minded Dude
you have totaly change today your way of commenting. I say thanks you very much. this is how men comment.
whatsayyou
Over 2,000 firearms collected in Lakes state, South Sudan
All of you heard the collection in lakes state, it is true those guns have been collected because they are very organise in which every executive chief can know by name those with guns under his authority.But i doubt the rest of states will not do the same specially in greater equatoria ,unity and uppernile who have communities that can stay in unknown places of which their own chief can not assess them.
Akolde Nhiak Jinub
Over 2,000 firearms collected in Lakes state, South Sudan
Yes, this is good news to Lakes state communities.
A once peaceful state of the South Sudan region.
Petty issues were magnified by few selfish individuals in various communities of this great state, hence had seen the entire state communities inter-locked in brotherly bloodshd for the last five years after CPA signing which should have been enjoyed in harmony and everlasting peace across to other regions.
Now that all guns are being collected from the civilians, I am applying to ROSS in Juba to have had protection mechanisms to guard against communities who have voluntarily surrendered their weapons.
Many of these weapons were issued to civilians to protect themselves and their wealth (cattle) across South Sudan after SPLM/A spilt of 1991, when Drs: Traitor Lam Akol and our beloved then misled ROSS Vice President Riek Machar to wage unfound struggle against today’s freedom fighters and steady SPLM of South Sudan, which has crossed us to promised land – South Sudan Oyee! Never again!!
The turn should now be Warrap state. I am angry with cattle keepers of this state for their recent seizure of cattle from Western Upper State – Bentiu and killed over 40 fellow South Sudanese during a time worth peace and harmony! I urge the ROSS in Juba to instruct all chiefs and the Government of Warrap to give these cattle back to Western Upper state of Bentiu just in a month!
Comrade MG Marial, please, you need to have a committee along your disarmament process to investigate the recent incidents of Athoi sections fight in 2011 and unacceptable killings of innocent children with their mothers between Cueibet and Rumbek centre counties. These incidents were and are uncultural to Lakes state communities.
The Athoi sections feuds since Sept. 2001 has genesis from one of your army comrade, in fact this figure has the same ranks as yours within the SPLA and he comes from one of these sections. This MG has contributed to this unrest both materially, weapons and ammunitions and morally (advice and plans). He should be held accountable for the atrocities committed therein. Tolerance of these incidents increase chances of reacquiring of weapons. And from my latest source of information, this MG section has not handed in enough weapons compare to their rivalry which has handed in over 83 AK47.
Thank you.
jonglei
Over 2,000 firearms collected in Lakes state, South Sudan
comrade! Marial and other marial! Who is now in the jail, ‘re very dangerous within splm, the corrupt during the war and do alot of atracities! To spla soldiers and civilians even sold some of the guns