Jonglei snare motorcycles to upshot child’s right
By Philip Thon Aleu
June 25, 2008 (BOR TOWN) – In an effort to reduce the number of children involved in risky businesses, police forces flocked over hundred motorcycles and discharge self-claimed commentators children here on Tuesday and continued through Wednesday.
Jonglei government promised incessant grooming on the African Child Day with the Governor instructing Traffic police force to screen the motorists and drivers and possibly eradicating under-aged people involved in such businesses.
“The State Ministry of Interior and the Traffic Police in particular should impose the laws and stop children from buses and motorcycles,” Gen. Kuol Manyang told a rally on June 16 (African Child Day).
The number of children, majority of between age 9-16 years, earning money as mini-bus commentators and motorists in Jonglei capital Bor Town have been alarming and became foremost issue the public criticize state authorities. According to people on the streets, police forces have been reluctant to combat children’s risks and their effects to the public. The speedy young motorists have been accused for causing lot accidents each day.
USUAL OPERATION
The children however, challenged the government for not holding to her words. “They (police) always carry out this operation and at the end of the day; your motorcycle is released,” a young boy below 14 years told Sudan Tribune when contacted to tell his part of story. According to him, there has been no concrete decision to end their business no matter how much it is risky. “After taking motorcycles and asked you to come with the owner (if it is not yours) or come with your license and plate number confidential, yours is released,” he said preferring anonymity.
Young boys shouting in the names of their buses destination sprinted into nearby corners of the park to avoid been apprehended by the National Security Police force that carries out the operation but returned after assuring “safety” which was lost when police resumed operation on Wednesday.
JOB GOOD FOR TRAFFIC
Traffic Policer at the bus park told Sudan Tribune that the operation was supposed to be carried out by his force but suprised that National Security Forces are doing their job.
“These children come to ask me to rectify their plate numbers but I do not know how comes that National Security forces are the one doing State Traffic’s work,” he said. According to this officer who refused seeing his name in the media, the National Security forces work under governor’s directives a “job better done by Traffic Police.” On the other hand, public accused the Security forces of been very harsh and mishandle civil population, an allegation governor says it is response to people attitute toward police forces.
“I heard your complains that Millitary police is very harsh, but you do not respect law; the civil police. What can we do?” Gen. Kuol responded to an alleged mistreatment of town residents by the Security forces he brough in January, 2008. According to the governor, the National Security forces “will only leave” when people begin to “respect police uniform but not the physical strength in the police.”
SENDING CHILDREN TO SCHOOL
According to the government, these children will be sent by joint efforts of the government, Non-Governmental Organizations and parents. “It is our responsibility to build these children by sending them to schools and become good citizens. That is why we fought for 21 years. It is to assure quality services and protecting human’s rights,” Governor Kuol told a thunderstorm applauding rally on The Africa Child Day at Bor Town Freedom Square.
In a related development, police ordered closure of shops aligning the roads from the Town centre to Nigel (a distance spanning about 1 mile). The Police bestowed traders ten days earlier to seek for shops to hire or transfer to other suitable places. The traders took vending alongside after markets have been closed at the Nile River bank over a week ago.
(ST)