South Sudan army embarks on disarmament operation in Lakes state
September 10, 2011 (JUBA) – The Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), which became the official army of the newly established Republic of South Sudan in July, said on Saturday it has begun disarming civilians in Lakes state.
Governor Mayay’s order is a response to a presidential directive ordering disarmament of the civilian population across the country, which became independent on July 9. Provisional Order No.2 gives the regular army the authority to conduct the exercise within a period of three months across all eight counties of Lakes state, which suffers from chronic insecurity caused by banditry, cattle raiding and revenge attacks.
The statement obtained by Sudan Tribune contains six instructions outlining how the disarmament processes would be carried out by South Sudan’s army in collaboration with local authorities and directs civilians possessing arms to voluntarily surrender their weapons to either chiefs or police.
While it authorised county commissioners to supervise and oversee the disarmament process and report to him, it equally defines and limits the role given to the SPLA to searching areas requested by a county commissioner.
“All the rifles collected are to be assembled in every county headquarters under the control of the SPLA forces, which shall later bring them to the state headquarters where they shall be dispatched to a place determined by the SPLA General headquarters”, reads part of the statement.
The spokesman of South Sudan’s army Colonel Philip Aguer, told Sudan Tribune on Saturday that the army is asking all civilians who have arms to voluntarily surrender them to their respective chiefs or the police.
“The civil population disarmament process had begun in Lakes state. This is a response to an order issued by the state governor and the role of the SPLA is to supervise the process, which is a peaceful exercise”, Aguer told Sudan Tribune in Juba, South Sudan’s capital.
He said fears about vulnerability to raiding and attacks are being addressed by the authorities of neighboring states.
“There are talks between Unity and Warrap with Lakes state. Adequate security will be provided to civil population which has been disarmed. This is being discussed and will be addressed,” said the senior military officer.
Disarmament campaigns have been taken advantage of in South Sudan, with neighbouring groups taking the opportunity to attack or raid areas that have recently been disarmed.
The SPLA officer remarked that one of the biggest challenges for the new government is insecurity and violence, which has continued to blight South Sudan, despite a 2005 peace deal with Khartoum.
He affirmed the SPLA’s commitment to provide adequate security and military intervention, if required, should the communities that have been disarmed come under attack.
PEACEFUL PROCESS SO FAR
So far the disarmament campaign in Lakes state, which began on September 7 has passed off peacefully, despite some dissatisfaction among some youth groups.
The counties of Rumbek Central, Rumbek East and Cueibet collected more than 708 guns from within the first three days according to officials. The commissioner for Rumbek East David Marial Gumke said that his county was saying goodbye to guns.
However, the commissioner of Rumbek Central County Matur Majok Magol urged his Gelweng youth members to speed up surrendering their weapons to their respective chiefs. Failure to do so would mean the SPLA would have to force them to disarm, he said.
According to the SPLA commander in charge of disarmament in Rumbek North and Cueibet counties of Lakes state, the army has been instructed to protect civilians after they have been disarmed.
Colonel Makeng Makur said: “My message to [all] civilians is that bring all your guns so that we remain in a peaceful atmosphere. We [are] now a new country. We will be responsible to protect you from both internal and external security threats”.
The commissioner of Cueibet County Isaac Mayom Malek, said that poor roads were hindering the process. He said that his county will surrender 95% of guns by themselves without force being needed – so far around 300 have been handed in.
Meanwhile, commissioner of Rumbek East County Marial Gumke said that young men were handing in their guns voluntarily, even dancing as they were handed over to local chiefs and SPLA representatives.
Disarmament has gone ahead without any abuse being reported in Rumbek Central County according to commissioner Matur Majok, warning that “any failure will lead to danger”.
YOUTH GROUPS ACCUSE GOVERNMENT OF RESELLING WEAPONS
Philip Agar Manuer, a youth representative of the Gelweng community said that the government must take responsibility for the number of firearms in South Sudan.
“We have not [a] factory of weapon[s]. It[‘s] you, [the] government who have that factory. It[‘s] you, [the] government who sell us guns and it is you [the] government again [who] turn to beat us.
“We are tired of guns and many of our brothers [have] died because of guns. Today take all your guns but don’t let guns come back to us.”
In Lakes state’s last disarmament campaign in 2007, the SPLA were accused of reselling weapons to some groups. An allegation denied by the military.
Manuer said he was happy South Sudan had gained independence but said “we must protect his new baby and we must stand up for accountability”.
Mau-chol Maker, another youth member said: “We have respected our chiefs and this is why you see us surrendering our arms to our chiefs. It is because we respect them.”
He said that some young men were selling cows to buy traditional weapons like spears to protect themselves.
“The governments always blame Gelweng as the cause of insecurity but this is wrong, we are not the troublemakers. It is [the] government itself making things difficult”, he said.
He said that despite handing over the guns he suspected that some people in the government would then try and sell the guns back to them.
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George Bol
South Sudan army embarks on disarmament operation in Lakes state
Please you need not to mix topics. Spla will deal with those food lovers in an attempt to go to Murle land.
Malou Manyiel
South Sudan army embarks on disarmament operation in Lakes state
I some times wonder when shall we stop pointing accusing fingers to Khartoum government even when we have possibility of stopping it and establish our own security. I would agree with one of Gelweng youth leader that it is the same soldiers collecting guns that resell guns back to them again. It’s has been several times that guns were collected from civilians but yet within a short while, you can see new weapons again in the hands of civilians. This is so stupid indeed for the government to have such reputation then to stop it at once.
Anyway, lets wait and see what will happen after this disarmament.
Isaac Khamis
South Sudan army embarks on disarmament operation in Lakes state
The fighting will not stop in Lakes State unless you take away the following persons and prevent them not to enter the state and they are:
1. Daniel Awet Akot
2. Daniel Deng Monydit
3. Matur Chuot Dhol
4. John Lat Zacharai
5. Ayual Makoi
these people are the prime suspect of what is going on in the that state.
Thonkiir
South Sudan army embarks on disarmament operation in Lakes state
Please Issach Khamis take Ayual Makoi out from that list. They rest will remaining the same because they are troublemakers and root cause of state failure or big mess. Fool who don’t stand by themselves they are only do what their husband Salva Kiir told them but they don’t make their own action plans. They doesn’t realised too being depends on other men is a bad thing to adapt/adopt in Dinka culture.
Second it is a bad idea also to start disarment from one state only and leave they rest did they not heard deadly killing or attack carry out in Warrap state by the youth of Unity state which result of 28 livies lost and 18 people were injuries about 100000 thousand cows been taken. I don’t know what this weaker government thinking why not learn from the past!
Andrew Ojok
South Sudan army embarks on disarmament operation in Lakes state
Well pleasures to Gelweng, well done for the jobs you boths sacrifices. I and the rest of Southernese ‘ll be focuse to the new Government reforms not for being acuse against if the artiliries fire weapon will not turn back again by GOSS and my challenges will turn back to those who’s they being pointing someones not even know what’s going on in the States of origins plse can you zip your mouths if you have nothing to says to the tops commanders? Now is time to challenges ourselves on part of developments we so behind, we have so much many jobs that needs us friends indeed.