UNMISS destroys weapons seized in displaced camps

December 9, 2014 (JUBA) – The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has destroyed hundreds of weapons confiscated from internally displaced people (IDPs) living at its protection sites in the capital, Juba.

The weapons haul, which included AK-47 assault rifles, iron bars, as well as and hundreds of knives and machetes, were publicly destroyed at the Tomping compound on Tuesday in the presence of foreign diplomats and media.

Members of the United Nations Mine Action Service fed the weapons into a weapons-shearing machine, slicing them into small, unusable pieces.

Over 1,500 rounds of ammunition recovered from IDPs are also expected to be detonated near the community of Nyolo south of Juba on Wednesday.

Similar events are planned later this month at UNMISS bases in Malakal, Nassir, Wau, Bentiu and Bor, where weapons and ammunition has also been seized.

“In order to reassure all concerned parties that the weapons and ammunition will never be used to commit any acts of violence, including human rights violations, UNMISS has decided to destroy these items in full public view,” said UNMISS head Margrethe Loej.

“These measures will maintain the civilian character of UNMISS protection sites,” she added.

?Loej noted that since the crisis erupted in South Sudan last December all civilians and former combatants seeking shelter at the mission’s compounds have undergone thorough security checks and surrendered all weapons in their possession before being admitted to the sites.

Loej has also dismissed “baseless” rumours that some displaced people had stolen the weapons after breaking into containers used to store seized items.

She maintains that UNMISS has kept a careful inventory of the items seized, adding that all weapons had been securely stored.

UNMISS police and military personnel also continue to conduct periodic searches in order to protect the civilian character of the sites.

“These arms and ammunition have been recovered from civilians and ex-combatants regardless of their political loyalties or ethnic backgrounds,” said Loej. ?

“We hope that the destruction of all confiscated weapons and ammunition in the mission’s custody will help foster an environment that is conducive to the silencing of the guns and the restoration of peace to the world’s youngest nation-state,” she added.

Government representatives were absent from Tuesday’s public event. However, UNMISS maintains the weapons are being destroyed with the “full support of the government” in Juba.

“I can assure you that this event, and the series of events that will follow, involving destruction of weapons and ammunition recovered from internationally displaced persons, is being done with complete support of the ministry of defence and the rest of the South Sudanese government,” UNMISS spokesman Joe Contreras told reporters in Juba when asked if the government was aware of the exercise.

President Salva Kiir said in the past that UNMISS had refused requests to handover the seized weapons to the government.

Tens of thousands of civilians sought refuge at various UNMISS bases across the country after a political dispute within the ruling party (SPLM) turned violent.

Ongoing fighting between government and rebel forces had killed thousands, including women and children.

UN and human rights groups say both sides are responsible for committing grave human rights violations that in some cases may amount to war crimes.

The US government has supported the findings and called on the warring parties to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.

(ST)