Security first and development will follow – Rumbek North Commissioner

July 10, 2012 (RUMBEK) – The Commissioner of Rumbek North (Maper) County of Lakes State, Stephen Mathiang Deng Monydit, said during the celebration of South Sudan’s first anniversary of independence on Monday that he would focus on development projects once security had been improved.

Mathiang said that his administration will not allow cattle raiding, pledging that all those involved in stealing cows would be arrested and charged.

Those caught “will face consequences in court”.

He also urged Rumbek’s residence to cultivate their farms in this rainy season to fight food shortages.

“Sitting idle and talking aimless politics” has brought hunger into his county and across Lakes State. Farmers who cultivate the most land will be offered a gift by state government, he said.

The 75-year-old Pakam paramount chief, Kuclong Marial Wol, said at the celebrations on Monday that independence from Khartoum had brought positive changes, such as feeder roads and the deployment of security forces along insecure areas.

This was the first time any government had brought forces to police the area, the chief said.

“Let us leave bad practices and join our hand with President Salva Kiir Mayardit to help him fight corruption and to build the nation” said Kuclong.

Rumbek North County’s official spokesman, Peter Makuei Tinyjok, said that security along the border of Cueibet and Rumbek North has reduced since the army had been deployed along the suspected areas of cattle banditry.

Makuei said that for the last three these days there have been reports of violent incidents between the two counties. This was due to the intervention of South Sudan’s armed forces (SPLA), he said.

Independence celebrations did not take place in Cueibet County on 9 July due to insecurity.

(ST)