Jonglei police commissioner positive about disarmament
April 2, 2012 (JUBA) – Jonglei State’s police commissioner, Kothea Kedit Muortat, has welcomed the on-going civil population disarmament in the region saying that it will bring lasting peace to the state’s inhabitants.
Muortat called upon the Jonglei population to remain peaceful and to handover all their remaining weapons to South Sudan’s police and military.
He predicted that disarming the Luo Nuer, Murle and Dinka ethnic groups, whose cattle raiding and revenge attacks have caused a security and humanitarian crisis in Jonglei, “is going to be very successful.”
In December and January around 6,000 armed Luo Nuer men invaded Pibor County in an attempt to disarm Murle raiders, retrieve stolen and cattle and repatriate abducted women and children from previous raids.
A group calling itself the the Nuer White Army (NWA) claimed responsibility for organising the offensive. The NWA have appointed themselves protectors of Nuer civilians in Jonglei in the face of, what they see as, insufficient support from Juba. They claim that previous disarmament programmes were imbalanced – leaving them vulnerable to attack from the Murle; hence their opposition to the current programme.
As the campaign went on those releasing press releases on behalf of the NWA toned down its language, having originally threatened what amounted to ethnic cleansing.
After pulling out of Pibor the NWA said they planned to form a ring around Murle territory to “quarantine” them and prevent cattle raids. South Sudan’s government has accused Sudan of arming civilians in Jonglei via the rebel groups operating in region. Khartoum denies this.
The South Sudan Liberation Army/Movement (SSLA/M) rebels, claim they will militarily support the NWA to oppose the disarmament.
The SSLA/M were led by Peter Gadet until he signed a peace deal with the Juba in August 2011. The deal was rejected by the remaining leadership who renounced Gadet as a traitor and continued their armed insurrection.
Gadet is now the second in command of the Jonglei disarmament campaign, which is being carried out by the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and South Sudan police.
On 30 April the commander in charge of disarmament in Jonglei, Kuol Deim Kuol announced that over 9,326 guns had been collected.
The main resistance to the process has been from a Nuer spiritual leader – known as the spear master (spiritual leader) and his followers. He is now said to be heading towards the border with Ethiopia to evade the SPLA.
Kuol has warned that non-lethal force will be used if groups or individuals attempt to avoid handing over the weapons. Last week he said that the SPLA would shoot people in the leg if they ran away.
In January the UN estimated 120,000 people had been displaced by the conflict in Jonglei.
Muortat also announced that Jonglei police forces have arrested two people suspected of cattle raiding; one in Duk and another in Jale. The suspects will be taken to court to face charges before the end of this month.
He said that the disarmament programme will reduce the instances of child abduction and cattle rustling.
(ST)