Western Equatoria governor defends imposition of curfew in Yambio town
September 28, 2015 (JUBA) – The caretaker governor of South Sudan’s Western Equatoria state has defended a decision behind imposition of curfew in Yambio, capital of the state.
Governor Patrick Raphael Zamoi explained during an exclusive interview with Sudan Tribune on Monday that he had a two-pronged plan for keeping the peace: a voluntary curfew and an information blackout.
The new caretaker governor who is only two months old in the office said the move was to identify the culprits and their targets.
“We want to know who these people who kill people are. We want to know at what hours they are active. We want to know how they move, what or who they target, is it shops, is it government institutions and who or what exactly they are up to,” Zamoi said.
“To get information about these banditry activities, there must be a coordinated strategy and proper planned security system in place,” he said.
He said imposition of curfew would not only be a way to get those involved in capital crimes and banditry activities but also ensuring control of law and order for the residents of the town.
“When the curfew was announced, we informed the residents and message was passed. That message was simple and straight. It tells all the residents not to go out at night, and to pay attention to their safety,” he said, although most of those killed were reportedly murdered in their homes.
He said there were no witnesses for any of the attacks and the residents themselves didn’t have much information to tell to security personnel, adding the less people know about the activities the less they will be concerned about their safety and properties.
The top state executive officer explained that he had now called for a leadership meeting which would gather all the county secretaries of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) from all the ten counties along with county commissioners, traditional leaders, youth and women groups.
This meeting, he said, will be held in Yambio, capital of the state. It will be occasion at which important decisions and resolutions about how to manage the affairs of the area will be discussed.
This, he added, will chart a way forward in creating peaceful, stable and conducive environment for developmental activities in the state as well as peaceful coexistence between and among communities.
(ST)