SPLA soldiers to launch disarmament campaign in Rumbek
By Manyang Mayom
March 31, 2008 (RUMBEK) — The governor of Lakes state Lt. General Daniel Awet Akot revealed that there are 1,000 Sudan People Liberation Army (SPLA) soldiers on their way to Rumbek to carry out disarmament in this territory of Eastern county.
Akot who was addressing the opening ceremony of Pacong trinity parish in Rumbek, said the SPLA units were needed because there are about 18,000 machine guns in the hand of cattle keepers.
The governor praised the church and recounted the difficulties facing the religious institution during the civil war years.
“In 1995 we opened 25 churches built with grass while there was still fighting with enemy going on in other part of the church, so church had not been so easy to us” he said.
“Well done Good Samaritan purse people for building this first concrete church in Pacong, this church will play a great role to this Pacong community. There is more land for you Good Samaritan purse to build more churches and we are still giving you land to build as well as enough” Akot added.
The Lakes State official called on churches to play a role of awareness to cattle keepers, so that they disarmament could take place smoothly in an area which was marked to be the centre of insecurity in the state.
He also issued a stern warning to those who resist the SPLA disarmament.
“The coming of 1,000 SPLA soldiers into this county is destruction into violence and ignorance by those who do not give their gun to the soldiers” he said.
Akot also noted that the completion of disarmament in Rumbek East County will allow the local government to collect taxes on 3.5 million head of cattle at a rate of one pound monthly. He said this will help fulfill their obligations to the chiefs.
The governor addressed the people of Rumbek East County describing them as the “most educated people”.
“You have a position of minister of defense in government of Southern Sudan being carried by Paul Mayom Akec and John Wol Makec as president of Supreme Court of Southern Sudan and yet you are still making thing difficult. The insecurity between Pacong and Akot has been so difficult to handle” he said.
On Friday afternoon, Governor Akot concluded the workshop attended by over 260 chiefs and during the mid-day, they were brought into the state house for a photo opportunity with the executives and 4,000 guns that where displayed.
He also had a gift for the chiefs.
“I am very happy today to give you 16 motorbikes and by the end of April I will provide to all chiefs of Lakes state some motorbikes that will make movement easy among the chiefs” he said.
Among 260 chiefs attending the four days workshop, there was one woman Chief Mrs. Akoi Mabeny who said that she is facing difficulties in her court because most of her powers are taken by men.
She also alleged that her decisions are being undermined by men decision making and that man made laws are the key reason why they are ignoring women rights in a court.
The four days workshop of the traditional authority leaders was challenged by demands from chiefs asking for their payments, by saying that since the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was signed their demands were not heeded by the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS).
The chiefs also stressed that during the civil they contributed their “children to carry on the struggle which led to the CPA”.
The SPLM signed a peace deal in January 2005 with the government of the National Congress Party in January 2005 ending two decades of civil war in Southern Sudan. The peace deal made the SPLM, the ruling party in the south and the NCP the ruling party in the north.
In 2011, southerners will be asked to vote in a referendum on whether they want to be independent or remain part of Sudan.
(ST)