Ethnic clashes: South Sudan to forcibly disarm civilians
6 min readIn 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.
http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/World/-/688340/1310542/-/120r6gh/-/
Ethnic clashes: South Sudan to forcibly disarm civilians
Daily Monitor
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 …
South Sudan Struggles in Its Infancy
Voice of America
January 19, 2012 South Sudan Struggles in Its Infancy Nico Colombant Six months after the exuberance of independence, South Sudan is struggling with major challenges, including recurring internal violence, large scale corruption, daunting security …
South Sudan: The Need for the Youth to Travel Home for Cultivation
AllAfrica.com
There are quite a big number of young men and women in our towns who do manual work for survival. Many of them could be seen, washing cars, driving boda-boda and sucking shisha in the shades all around the city of Juba and in other state capitals. …
South Sudan: What Is the Image Our Army Wants to Project?
AllAfrica.com
Every citizen in South Sudan knows that we have a problem with our armed forces, especially military and the police. The fact that our peace and independence need to be defended has necessitated that the department of defense takes the biggest share of …
South Sudan seeks Ethiopia premier’s help over oil row
Sudan Tribune
By Tesfa-Alem Tekle January 19, 2012 (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudan has asked the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) chairman, Ethiopian Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, to play a role in resolving its oil pipeline dispute with Khartoum. …
| South Sudan: Juba Insists Khartoum Involved in Oil Theft AllAfrica.com Addis ababa — South Sudan adopted a hardened stance as it entered crucial oil talks in Addis Ababa meant to defuse increasingly frosty relations with neighbour Sudan, accusing Khartoum of stealing its oil and President Omar al-Bashir of being “a … |
| South Sudan – Press Statement By the Negotiation team of the GoS with regards … Borglobe The negotiating team of the Government of the Sudan (GoS) on post- secession issues with the Government of the Republic of South Sudan has been following the statements and allegations made by representatives of the Government of South Sudan (GoRSS) … |
South Sudan: President Kiir Receives Report On Human Rights Abuse At Rajaf …
AllAfrica.com
Juba — The President of the Republic HE General Salva Kiir Mayardit today received a full report on the alleged human rights abuse which took place at the Dr. John Garang Unified Police Training Center in Rajaf West, Central Equastoria state. …
South Sudan Struggles in Its Infancy
Voice of America
January 19, 2012 South Sudan Struggles in Its Infancy Nico Colombant Six months after the exuberance of independence, South Sudan is struggling with major challenges, including recurring internal violence, large scale corruption, daunting security …
Ethnic clashes: South Sudan to forcibly disarm civilians
Daily Monitor
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 …
| South Sudan: Koko Alan, EnerPub Raiders from North Sudan are rustling cattle and killing people in South Sudan. Approximately 140 people are dead. by IRIN Koko and his wife Akuer Alan lost everything in the recent dramatic escalation of ethnic violence in newly independent South … |
Unchartered Territory: South Sudan
Varsity Online
by Kiki Winter The Republic of South Sudan was founded on 9th July 2011 after decades of civil war and millions of deaths. It is officially the world’s newest country. Cruel and constant warfare has resulted in countless casualties. …
Dozens killed in South Sudan tribal violence
Link TV
However, the Sudanese envoy to the UN denied that a humanitarian crisis is looming in the region and accused South Sudan and western countries of aiding the rebels in violation of the peace agreements. The Sudanese envoy estimated the number of rebels …
Mosaic News – 01/18/12: Deadly Tribal Violence in South Sudan
linktv
Dozens killed in South Sudan tribal violence, Israel launches deadly air strike on Gaza, Bahraini troops attack anti-regime protest in Manama, and more. Today’s headlines in full: Dozens killed in South Sudan tribal violence Al-Alam, …
| South Sudan: UN urges redoubling of efforts to end cycle of deadly ethnic violence UN News Centre The top United Nations envoy in South Sudan today urged an immediate end to the cycle of ethnic violence in the newly independent nation, and called on the Government to hold the perpetrators to account and to deploy more forces to key areas to avert … |
South Sudan: Is Russia to blame for the most recent massacre?
GlobalPost (blog)
People stand around an helicotper provided by the UN Mission in South Sudan for the World Food Program in Pibor, South Sudan’s Jonglei state, on January 12, 2012. (Hannah Mcneish/AFP/Getty Images) NAIROBI, Kenya — Over the New Year there was a …
| South Sudan: Why Is the Government Failing to Curb Tribal Violence in Jonglei … AllAfrica.com With tribal wars across South Sudan, citizens need new thinking if we are to get out from the current conflicts across the country in general and Jonglei State in particular. I want the leadership of our country to know that we need to understand … |
| SES: First emergency.lu Disaster Communications Terminals Deployed in South Sudan MarketWatch (press release) The communication terminals deployed in South Sudan provide vital connectivity for ongoing humanitarian operations of the United Nations. In addition to the infrastructure already operational in Bentiu and Maban, another emergency.lu communication … |
| SOUTH SUDAN: Koko Alan, “I saw many people, women and children, being killed” Reuters AlertNet Koko and his wife Akuer Alan lost everything in the recent dramatic escalation of ethnic violence in newly independent South Sudan. Up to 8000 armed Lou Nuer youths came to his village of Tangyang, near Gumuruk, killing civilians and taking cows, … |
About Post Author
