Chief's role in disarmament in Lakes State
RUMBEK, Sudan, March 14 (Gurtong) – Civilian disarmament is an ongoing
process in Lakes State. Like the disarmament of the Lou Nuer groups in Upper
Nile State last year which resulted in heavy casualties within the Lou Nuer
and the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Army (SPLA), this is a process of forced
disarmament. Community-led, voluntary disarmament is ongoing in Pochalla of
Jongeli State currently with the help of the United Nations Development Programme
and other international agencies. UNDP are also currently assisting the Government
of Southern Sudan (GOSS) to write a policy paper on civilian disarmament an
initial list of commitments from the Vice President of Southern Sudan do not
include a promise for community voluntary disarmament.
Some 4,000 guns have been successfully collected and registered said the State
Minister for Local Government and Law Enforcement, Gordon Maker.
Below is the experience of, William Mangol Matet a chief from Yirol East, also
a town court president attending the Forum of Traditional Leaders in Rumbek,
the capital of Lakes State, this week.
“Before the guns were collected people used to hunt themselves like animals
and kill themselves. It was October the time the new governor came. He announced
that the guns were to be taken.
“When the people had guns they would go and loot cattle and if their
cattle were being stolen rush out to the rescue and in this way they would get
into fights. The people are now in peace.
“The Governor is strong and that also gave us strength. We committed
ourselves by signing documents. That all guns being carried by the people will
be handed in.
“It is true. We the chiefs had responsibility, if it happens that a person
is found in your area with a gun and you know about it, then you the chief have
to be punished. But no one has been punished in this way and you know this is
still going on, people are still giving us guns.
“What kind of punishment? That is up to the government to do what it
must! (laughs).
“In my experience, if I know very well that there are people with guns
I could not wait until the government comes and maybe punishes me, I must find
the guns and surrender them.
“You know, we were also threatened by this issue of guns in the youth,
we are part of the government, we team up with them, they knew our position,
it was the chiefs that reported to the government.
“That we should take these guns away and hand them to you.
“I am the Town Court President so I do not know the exact number of guns
taken from my community, which is the executive chief’s job. I know that
my son had four he handed in and my nephews another four.
“Nobody can refuse, there is a system, there was a design in the collection,
the sub chiefs know who in their communities has guns so they write the name
of the person down, and then reports to a higher chief.
“In my area no one refused so no one was punished. Are the youth afraid
of the SPLA, or of our authority? They have that fear of the government SPLM/A.
“But because we don’t have guns we have problems with the Nuer
who are rustling our cattle, this is like a daily thing that is being reported
to the commissioner. Now we are disarmed, those not under the same authority,
they are killing people and taking cows.”
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