Police deny report on radio explosions in south Sudan

Oct 6, 2006 (JUBA) — Southern Sudan police denied reports on radio explosions killing four people in Lainya, west of Juba. Last week. The allegations of explosives in radios are false, officials said.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police in southern Sudan, Maj-Gen David Akwier, and director of police, northern division in Juba, Col Philip Madut Tong, have refuted the allegations that there are radios in Juba that are laden with explosives, the Juba post reported.

The two also deny any casualties as a result of such explosive radios. “We heard of such rumours but our investigation finds no evidence of such explosives,” says Col Philip Madut. However, he says he did receive some radios in his office with some substance wrapped into a nylon paper, and sent them for analysis at the explosives unit in the military.

The deputy Inspector-General of police, in southern Sudan, Maj-Gen David Akwier says the report of the explosive unit of the military indicate that the substance found in such model of radios is actually a mixture of cement and sand, and there is no explosive substance in it. He says the manufacturers probably put this material in the radio in order to add weight and balance the radio.

In addition, the senior medical officer, Juba Teaching Hospital, Dr Salah Lado, and police superintendent at the medical police unit, Sergeant Major Emmanuel Lado, denied any cases of explosives victims at the hospital. Some media cited police officer, Capt Daniel Barnaba saying he was able to detect some TNT from 10 small radio receivers and tape recorders. Col Philip Madut says they do not know who this police officer is.

A UN release, confirms the police denial of explosives. “UN inspected the radios and established that the unknown substance was small pieces of concrete that are used in the manufacturing process to balance the radio,” says the report.

Last Saturday 30 September, Reuters reported from Juba that Four people have been killed in south Sudan when explosives-laden radios and electronic equipment blew up. According to the report Police patrols discovered 10 more electronic devices containing explosives in Juba’s markets. “We were able to detect some TNT from 10 small radio receivers and tape recorders,” Captain Daniel Barnaba, who commanded the patrols, told Reuters.

(Juba Post/ST)