Arresting of Culprits is the answer to insecurity in Lakes: says official
Jean-Francois Darcq
a Lakes State official has expressed that the answer to the rampant
insecurity in the state is to arrest the culprits and let them face
the law.03 August 2010 By Manyang Mayom
RUMBEK, August 3, 2010 (Gurtong) - The Commissioner of Rumbek North
(Maper) County of Lakes state, Isaac Mayek Noah, has concerns that
insecurity across Lakes state counties has become a big problem, a
matter he believes to be politically motivated by National Congress
party (NCP) by supplying weapons and ammunitions to cattle raiders.
“This insecurity in Lakes State may be politically motivated, with the
aim to interrupt the upcoming Referendum registration in Lakes state
across eight Counties, hindering the registration process “he noted.
Noah told Catholic Radio that some of the arms in the hands of
Southern civilians originate from Northern Sudan, affirming that there
is an effort to destabilize the South in what he described as
“cultivating crisis in our society” to interfere with the process of
registration of Southerners for the referendum.
His also noted that there is access of ammunitions from the North into
the South, confirming that this practice of arming Southerners has
affected the disarmament process in some parts of states of South
Sudan. Comrade Isaac Mayek, accused northern traders of having
cooperated with Sudanese Army Forces (SAF) to supply ammunitions as
biscuits into Southern Sudan territory.
Noah said that some of the arms are hidden and brought in other forms,
citing the example of round of bullets packed as biscuits in one of
the businessman’s trucks.
Last week, two girls were killed by cattle raiders in Rumbek North
County by raiders believed to be Nuer natives while in another related
incident, there were clashes between Cueibet and Rumbek North Counties
at Chiloc cattle camp in which five people were killed.
The commissioner said that he was shocked by these incidences and
assured that the government is doing the best to protect its people.
In a bid to curb insecurity, the three Counties of Lakes State
(Cueibet, Rumbek central and Rumbek North) held Traditional Chiefs
Conference in June in Rumbek Central County.the conference resolved to
minimize insecurity by arresting culprits.
speaking on phone to Gurtong, the Cueibet County Commissioner,
Madhang Majok Mayen, expressed concerns that the current ongoing
insecurity in Lakes State manifests failure to implement the
resolution to arrest culprits reached during the June Traditional
chiefs Rumbek Peace Conference.
Majok urged his counterparts in Rumbek North and Rumbek Central County
to arrest those involved in criminal acts and acts of revenge,
suggesting that arrest of culprits will help improve the security
situation in Lakes State.
The Commissioner of Rumbek North County, Mr. Isaac Mayek expressed the
same view of arresting culprits, adding that the security forces are
already involved in what he described as “fishing out criminals”
known to the people.
I response to this situation, Rumbek Central County commissioner, Col.
Dut Makoi Kuok, on his part issued an order of arrest warrant of
criminals, adding that police officers had apprehended five people
already who are currently under custody.
Lakes State is experiencing many incidences of insecurity despite the
efforts on the part of the government to keep security situation under
control.
Posted in: Home, Governance, Sudan Referendum
Comments04/08/2010, 8:14 AM - Posted by Meen GorWith exception of
Rumbek Central County’s commissioner who have so far apprehended five
perpetrators, the rest of the commissioners mentioned in this report
are doing nothing, but making unnecessary noise. The issue of cattle
rustling among the said counties does predate even the North-South
conflict, and as such, it has becomes a source of livelihood and a
means of enhancing one’s social and economic status in those
communities. So, as the saying goes "habit is a second nature" so does
equally this practice too. Therefore, what these commissioners needed
to do is not only emphasizing and over relying on deterrence factors,
but also give equal weight to attitudinal change, largely brought
about by well targeted awareness and peace building capacity among
stakeholders. Sadly, the commissioners are always
handpicked-appointees and ill equipped, resulting in to inability to
discharge their duties responsibly. They are often torn apart by their
desires to serve the will of their masters and the will of communities
that provides them with their daily bread. These dilemmas are further
compounded by tragic illiteracy level of the "yes appointees’ boys",
often manifested by their tireless hunt for scapegoats whenever an
episode within their jurisdiction do occurred. Some do call this
situation "leadership deficiency" but I call it ignorance, bad thing
is they are both faces of the same coin.