Machar summons politicians from Jonglei state over insecurity

February 4, 2012 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s Vice President, Riek Machar, has summoned politicians from the troubled state of Jonglei over the continuous insecurity situation in the state.

On Saturday the Vice President called for an urgent meeting with the Juba-based national ministers from Jonglei state as well as members of both the national legislative assembly, who represent all the respective counties of the state, and the Council of States.

Machar briefed the ministers and MPs on the government’s proposed actions in addressing the situation, saying he was seeking the views of the politicians on the best way forward.

The meeting was also attended by the national ministers in the security sector including the minister for national security, Oyai Deng Ajak, and the minister of interior, Alison Manani Magaya.

Concerns were raised over suspected mobilisation and aggressive movements of armed youths from the Lou-Nuer, Dinka and Murle communities, which may develop into further inter-communal violence.

Machar briefed the Jonglei state politicians on the government’s plan to disarm the civilian populations in the state and asked for their opinion on how to effectively bring to an end the recurring violence.

He urged the MPs to go to the grassroots and enlighten the populations about the possible disarmament of the civil populations and the importance of voluntarily surrendering their guns to the authorities in order to avoid forceful disarmament.

South Sudan’s army and police forces have already deployed thousands of extra personnel but it was too late and not enough to stop 140,000 people being affected by the violence.

The recent upsurge was triggered by a Luo-Nuer offensive into Murle territory in December, which was in response to a Murle cattle raid in August. That attack, the Murle say was in response a previous attack in June.

Before the December attack over 1,000 people have died in the attacks in the state. The number of casualties in the Luo Nuer attacks and Murle counter raids is not clear although hundreds, maybe thousands are thought to have died.

The meeting stressed the importance deploying more forces to successfully disarm all the rival tribes in the state.

Machar also urged them to advise the population in their constituencies not to target the organised forces or become involved into direct confrontations with the military.

This week a police force was reportedly attacked by armed youth from Murle community, three kilometers away from Lilkwangole payam in Pibor county while moving to Akobo county. Three of them were killed and four others wounded.

The seven-hour long meeting exhaustively deliberated on the inter-communal violence and how to stop it.

According to the Vice President’s Press Secretary, James Gatdet Dak, the meeting recommended that a government-led peace committee should to pursue peace and reconciliation among the communities.

It also called for formation of an investigation committee to address the root causes of the conflict and ascertain the number of casualties incurred in the violence.

(ST)