Police withdraw from Lakes state hotspots

November 11, 2014 (RUMBEK) – Police in South Sudan’s Lakes state were deployed in the capital, Rumbek to quell down insecurity threats have withdrawn from all hotspots.

An officer, who withdrew from Ayat military base, said the organised forces withdrew due to poor relations between the public and authorities.

“We are moving out. We experienced a very poor relationship between us and the host community of Rumbek. Our soldiers were killed and community around refuse to share with us any information related to security,” he said on condition of anonymity.

An eyewitness told Sudan Tribune that a number of soldiers were moving out of their bases with bags in numbers of between 5-10.

“Majority of those soldiers were moving towards Warrap state, Western Bahr El Ghazal state, Aweil and some already crossed Wulu county into Western Equatoria state,” a witness said.

Lakes state military caretaker, governor Matur Chut Dhuol made no comment when asked to comment on the pull-out of these forces.

There have been repeated calls from civil society activists, intellectuals, lawmakers and traditional leaders for president Salva Kiir to relieve the caretaker governor, but these calls have been ignored.

Dhuol was appointed in January 2013 to replace elected governor Chol Tong Mayay.

(ST).