Kiir commissions 453 police officers

By Isaac Vuni

May 30, 2009 (JUBA) — The president of the Government of Southern Sudan on Saturday commissioned 453 police officers, 405 male and 48 female to enforce laws and order in Southern Sudan.

This is the third batch of police who have undergone post-conflict training since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, starting November 15, 2008 to February 28, 2009.

The graduating class comprises demobilized former SPLA fighters and other armed forces. The educational backgrounds of the recruits vary from bachelor’s degree, diploma, senior and basic education certificates and long service experience, explained Brigadier General Jackson Elia.

Addressing graduates at Buluk peace square ceremony, the First Vice President of the Republic of Sudan and President of Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS), Salva Kiir Mayardit cautioned grandaunts to be careful of being lured into accepting bribes while performing their duties.

Kiir advised graduates to be careful of over-exercising implementation of laws and order. He further advised them to refrain from heavy drinking as general elections approach and said it would be the responsibility of police to safeguard and ensure level ground for transformation to democracy for all parties.

He added that what is much needed from police is quality rather than quantity of people who do not know how to work effectively. GOSS Minister of Internal Affairs Paul Mayom Akech observed that women have been under-represented as stipulated in SPLM’s policy of affirmative action at all levels. The ministry is working to establish an academy at Ramcel for conducting police training and other causes.

Minister Mayom advised those seeking to purchase guns to first obtain official approval from the government. Then he thanked President Kiir and NGOs for assisting in capacity-building of organized forces including by providing vehicles for their mobility.

The director of training, Major General Makur Marol disclosed that 14 graduates come from Kordofan and urged all southerners to cooperate with their police officers in identifying criminals. He thanked all those who supported financially and materially in training police officers.

Marol said this third batch of officers are the first highly educated police in the history of the south and appealed to GOSS and sponsoring agencies for more police training in Southern Sudan.

The major general said the majority of officers come from Eastern, Central and Western Equatoria, Jonglei state, Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Unity state while other states have few officers but their deployment would be the entire work of police affairs department.

He explained that the training is based on crime-prevention techniques and handling crime scenes professionally in accordance with local and international standards including domestic laws, human rights and community policing processes.

The best students were given swords for leading the historic parade, Albino Opi Jakir for being first in law, Tut Jacob for demonstrating best behaviour, Nyal Agoto for being first in filed and Florence Francor being first in physical education.

Meanwhile the training institution also gave honorary gifts to Kiir, Mayom, Michael Makwei Lueth, Minister Nhial Deng Nhial, Central Equatoria Governor Clement Wani Kong, and Makwi Deng Majok.

The directorate of training for police non-commissioned officers and constables in the southern region was established in 1957 soon after Sudan sought independence on January 1, 1956 with some under ten officers, but the first batch of less than 40 southern police officers did not graduate until 1983.

Since the CPA was signed, the first round of training in 2006 was for 35 brigadier generals.

The occasion was well organized with all police working like bees and was attended by thousands of jubilant inhabitants of Juba city along with diplomatic dignitaries.

(ST)