Disarmament must be conducted in payams hiding weapons: official

November 7, 2013 (RUMBEK) – Authorities in Lakes state’s Yirol West county of reported that a series of firearms have been discovered in remote cattle camps occupied by pastoralist youth from the Apaak community.

Colonel Majak Ruei Angong warned that surprise disarmament could be ordered in all suspected payams and bomas (districts) around Yirol West county at “anytime”.

He said intelligence currently being gathered, as well as information already obtained, confirms that pastoralist youth are arming themselves within their respective cattle camps.

“Anytime; disarmament must be launched and consequences for anyone resisting disarmament will be massive”, he said.

Majak was referring to a recent meeting held in Aluakluak payam in Yirol West county with seven permanent chiefs of the Geer and Apaak communities, in which youth signalled their intention to accumulate more arms.

“On Thursday, 31 [October], I discovered that 19 AK47s were being hidden by suspected youth of Awan and Acok”, he said, noting that Awan youth were in possession of 13 firearms, while the Acok had six.

“I need all those guns disarmed because they are illegal to be carried by those pastoralist youth”, he said.

Majak insisted that Apaak paramount chief Malak Alony Malak had not been dismissed as was previously reported in the media. He clarified that Malak’s child was suffering from malaria which had forced the chief to remain at home.

(ST)