Jonglei pastorals warn of rearmament if government fails to provide security

By Philip Thon Aleu

February 22, 2010 (BOR) – Jonglei youth leaders say rearmament is possible should “government fails to complete comprehensive disarmament and provides protection” and security to disarmed tribal communities.

Speaking exclusively to the Sudan Tribune at the end of 5-day workshop on peace and cattle conflict resolution, youth leaders from 7 counties of Jonglei state also pledge to cooperate with government on areas of tribal amicable coexistence, disarmament and reunion of abducted children with biological parents.

The Liberty Hotel peace conference give chance to youths leaders to trade direct accusation against each other for causing tribal conflicts.

The youths’ threat to rearm comes at a time southern Sudan forces, the SPLA, are retrieving guns in Jonglei counties of Pibor, Akobo and Pigi after Duk, Ayod, Twic East, Bor, Nyirol and Uror are already disarmed.

The disarmament will also cover Pochala and Fangak counties which are considered ‘last aggressive’ based on trend of tribal attacks so far.

The disarmed pastorals youths call for better protection and complete disarmament is prompted by periodic raiding and children abducted allegedly by armed neighbors.

“If other communities [neighboring us] are not disarmed and government fails to protect us, we shall rearm,” said Tutnyang Gatkal, a youth leader from Uror. Asked where he can buy new riffles, Mr. Gatkal forced a smiled briefly and folds his face saying that “I will sell some bulls and move to [areas] where disarmament never covered.”

Mr. Gatkal spoke through a translator about 2006’s disarmament exercise that covered greater Akobo (Uror, Nyirol & Akobo counties) and Ayod leaving them vulnerable to armed neighbors of Murle and Dinka. He added that “a comprehensive disarmament should be completed for stable Jonglei.”

A Bor county cattle head youth, Alier Chol, told the Sudan Tribune that the workshop educated him on peaceful resolution of conflicts – and pledged to extend it to cattle camps. Mr. Chol says he is ready to cooperate with the government in apprehending “criminals who steal cattle from neighborhood” should the government exchange the same assistance by providing adequate security.

Bor County was covered during the recent disarmament. Alier noted that local youth are yearning for development but cattle raiding in the state hinder progress. Asked what had increased tribal conflicts when peace was expected after the 2005’s accord, the CPA, Mr. Chol stressed that illegal arms littering in villages then and lack of protection from police and army makes stability unattainable.

PIBOR APOLOGIZS

Pibor youth leader Chacha Arok told the Sudan Tribune that the causes of cattle rustling as outlined during the workshop had been blamed on Pibor youths by neighbors, a behaviors he says disarmament will halt.

Mr. Chacha says “I am very sorry that all counties are blaming Pibor.” Asked what role he played as a youth leader to discourage child abduction and cattle raiding blame by neighbors on his youths, Mr. Chacha says all children reunited with parents last year (2009) were collected by youth leaders and handed over to the government. He also stressed that like other counties, not every youth in Pibor is a child abductor or a raider.

Lack of roads and poor telephone communication networks are some of the reasons Mr. Chacha says challenged their efforts to maintain order in Jonglei’s vast county. Commenting on the ongoing disarmament in Pibor, Mr. Chacha says “youths are cooperating. There will be no more problems after this [disarmament].”

The workshop, facilitated by Upper Nile Youth Mobilization for peace and development agencies and funded by PACT Sudan and UNMIS, outlined competition over grazing land, water points, disputes over land borders and child abduction, among others as causes of tribal conflicts.

Dialogue among cattle keeping youths, drilling of more boreholes and comprehensive disarmament are some recommendation outlined.

This workshop is one of many workshops already organized in Jonglei, and broadly southern Sudan, to read the causes of tribal conflicts from grassroots but implementation is another task. However, the youth gathering during elections campaigns to share ideas and understand validity of roundtable resolution of conflicts would serves as added advantage to lifting this conference above being a labeled as ‘a Hotel tribal peace’ that does exist on ground.

Jonglei suffered series of tribal clashes in 2009 where over 1,800 people were killed and thousands more displaced. Politicians say the conflict is a mere competition over resources but not a tribal based one. Use of riffles acquired by civilians during the north – south helped to increase death tolls. A little spelt peace is expected at the end of 2010 disarmament if made comprehensive.

(ST)