Ethnic clashes: South Sudan to forcibly disarm civilians
In Summary
Better than nothing. Previous forced disarmament exercises were bloody and human rights groups criticised the process but officials now say it is better for a few to die during disarmament than for women and children to continue living in danger.
South Sudan said on Thursday it will use force to get disarm civilians despite fears that the move could trigger more bloodshed.
Previous voluntary disarmament exercises have been resisted and communities that responded to the call later rearmed to protect themselves from their armed neighbours.
“They are killing themselves with these guns. So we will force those who don’t want to surrender the guns to do so,” SPLA spokesman Col. Philip Aguer said on Thursday.
“We expect little resistance because they know that these guns are taking their lives. We will collect the guns from all the communities and guarantee their protection,” he added.
This comes in the wake of bloody clashes between rival groups in Jonglei state, where thousands have been killed in series of ethnic raiding and counter-raiding this year.
According to Jonglei state governor Kuol Manyang Juuk, the exercise takes as priority the warring Murle, Lou-Nuer communities and Dinka Bor.
“Without taking these guns by involving force where possible, we cannot realise peace in this state,” Manyang said.
He said the disarmaments done in 2009 provided the conducive atmosphere for 2010 general elections and the referendum last year.
“The rebels have armed them and we should decide between owning arms to fight each other and peace,” Manyang said, adding that the exercise begins at the end of the month in Pibor, home of the marauding Murle youths accused of killing and abducting children and women from their neighbours.
However, previous forced disarmament exercises were bloody and human rights groups criticised the process, saying the ensuing fighting was abusing human rights than it could solve.
Deng Dau Deng, the chairman for the War Disabled Commission, said the exercise, even if conducted by force, would save lives of innocent children and women.
“We better save the children than the criminals who would want to fight the government,” he said.
Since independence in July, South Sudan has witnessed waves of violence worsened by the presence of arms in the hands of civilians.
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