South Sudan sets to issue firearms numerical control mark

By Ngor Arol Garang

March 24, 2010 (RENK) — The southern Sudan government said will soon embark on the new technological method marking of all firearms and light weapons in the region to mitigate illegal ownership of arms.

Minister of internal Affairs General Gier Chuang Aluong in an interview with Sudan Tribune from Juba said illegal ownership of firearms will be mitigated through the marking, as the arms will easily be identified.

“There are a lot of firearms in the hands of local populations that needs to be removed through systematic disarmament including marking of firearms possessed by legitimate groups,” the general said.

He added they will also put specific marks such as badge on uniforms and other police equipments for easy identification across the region, declining to comment on whether SPLA are part of the upcoming proposal.

The influential minister said officers from the regional police service will be asked to mark their own weapons using a pin-marking machine to differentiate them for those held by ordinary people in rural town and villages.

“Officers are expected to stockpile and manage small arms and light weapons with the aid of a pin-marking machine. All firearms in the region are going to be engraved with special numbers. This will help in the identification of firearms in terms of their origin and ownership,” he said.

The minister, who reiterated impartiality of security forces to all political parties in the upcoming elections due in three weeks, said the region’s security will be in danger if the ownership of small firearms and light weapons is not controlled.

General Chuang said the uncontrolled ownership of arms could lead to an unhealthy environment for economic development.

He however disclosed that this programme to mark firearms and light weapons has not yet been discussed with cooperating partners. “It is just a proposal that is being discussed within the parameters of ministry and relevant authorities before being conducted,” Gier said.

Once it is discussed and approved by all relevant authorities, the concerned authorities will give it a test in the regional capital of Juba before extending it to all ten states of southern Sudan. The reason for trying it first in the capital is to see it effects as it will be the first time of the execution of it, the General said.

He continued to add that the beginning of marking arms and weapons signifies the strides Government has made in preventing, controlling and reducing the proliferation of weapons in the region.

He said South Sudan is responsible to implement international protocols related or with the jurisdiction of preventing, combating and eradicating illicit trade in small arms and light weapons.

The minister further stated that the semi autonomous Government of south Sudan is fully aware of being a neighbor to hostile countries which recently came out of civil war like Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Congo just to name but few.

The regional government has also in the recent past, accused Khartoum government of being the source of weapons being used by tribes fighting over territorial boundaries and reprisal attacks for cattle theft in the south. The region which emerged out of the two decade long civil war experienced proliferation of small firearms and light weapons highly probable.

Peter Gatwick, South Sudan’s coordinator for DDR programs, based in Upper Nile State town of Malakal, during an interview said freedom fighters and civilians in the war ravaged region of South Sudan hid firearms underground, fearing that region’s freedom was temporary and would have to unearth the arms later.

Similarly, Renk county commissioner Deng Akueny in an interview with Sudan Tribune at his residence has said heard of reports that there are people who have once buried their arms to avoid being disarmed are currently digging the firearms out for use in criminal activities.

This is what one heard people talking about it on the street but no official reports have been brought to my attention, he said stressing he is seeking alternative to proof these allegations.
“I have talked to security forces in the county to follow these allegations in suspected villages,” he said.

He also said he will send security forces under an officer from his office to the area to investigate the matter adding he called upon police commissioner in the state, who is the focal point for the control of the proliferation of small firearms and light weapons in the state a, to embark on a state wide sensitization programme of the arms marking programme being speculated by the regional authorities in Juba.

Commissioner said the programme is critical because people need to know what is happening and that lack of knowledge has proved to be a challenge to directives made by the regional authorities that people illegally owning firearms can surrender them to the region without being detected and punished.

He also warned that police will not rest until people trading illegally in firearms and light weapons are dealt with.

“I warn those people who are involved in illegal trade and ownership of small arms and light weapons that the South Sudan Police and other law enforcement agencies will not rest.”

“Those that hide these weapons in sacks and pack them in their pickup vans as if they are carrying goods should know that the police will soon catch up with them,” he said.

Earlier, General Gier pointed out that the records generated in the process of arms marking will ease tractability and identification of the sources and end users of arms within the region.

(ST)