Over 2,000 firearms collected in Lakes state, South Sudan
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September 23, 2011 (JUBA) - The Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA)
division six commander in charge of disarmament in Lakes and Unity
states, Marial Chanuong Yol, told press that disarmament is moving
ahead peacefully.
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SPLA MG Marial Chanuong receiving a file of collected arms, Cueibet,
South Sudan (ST)
Yol said that 2,201 firearms have been collected in Lakes state since
the disarmament campaign began on 7 September and the “surrendering of
arms is still going on.”
Lakes state has suffered cattle raids, robbery and inter-clan disputes
as well inter-state conflict since the signing of the Comprehensive
Peace Agreement (CPA) which ended more than two decades of civil war
between North and South Sudan in 2005.
The problem has continued unabated since the independence of South
Sudan was declared on 9 July 2011.
The Lakes state capital, Rumbek, has recently witnessed aspate of
cattle raiding and road robberies. There has been speculation that
this is partly due to marriageable men returning to their homeland,
requiring cattle for the family of their prospective wives. This has
lead to a hike in cattle costs, which has priced some out of the
market, leading them to resort to cattle raiding.
The governor of Lakes state, Chol Tong Mayay, has issued a provisional
order commanding a comprehensive disarmament of all the civil
population in the state .The orders are to be implemented by SPLA
forces and County Commissioners for duration of 3 months with effect
from 7 September.
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Collected arms stored in Mayom Payam, Rumbek, South Sudan (ST)
The civil population are asked to voluntarily surrender their arms to
traditional chiefs or police officers.
All the arms collected are to be assembled in every county
headquarters under the control of SPLA forces. It will then be brought
to the state headquarters and taken to an undisclosed location by SPLA
central command.
In June, over 6,000 SPLA forces were deployed across Lakes state to
tackle insecurity issues.
Last week, the Lakes state Police Commissioner described allegations
by an anonymous source that he had been responsible for selling arms
to civilians during 2010 as “baseless” and concocted in order to
besmirch him.
Civilian sources say that the an AK47 can generally be exchanged for
two cows or 2,000 SDG (US$750) in the region.
(ST)
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