Over 70 Ex-Athor Forces Surrender Arms In Jonglei Over 70 forces formerly loyal to the late renegade George Athor Deng, finally laid down their arms in Ayod County of Jonglei State, witnessed by a high level government delegation in what they termed as response to the amnesty declared by President Salva Kiir.20 January 2012 Mr. Gabriel Duop Lam the Jonglei Law Enforcement Minister pose after briefing the governor on his visit to Ayod County [©Gurtong]By Pow James Raeth BOR, 20th January 2012 [Gurtong] - Over 70 forces formerly loyal to the late renegade George Athor Deng, finally laid down their arms in Ayod County of Jonglei State, witnessed by a high level government delegation in what they termed as response to the amnesty declared by President Salva Kiir.
According to Mr. Gabriel Duop Lam, Jonglei's Law Enforcement Minister and head of the government delegation during the occasion, the ex-rebels were adhering to the President’s amnesty offer announced 6 months ago on the eve of Independence Day. The government delegation present were the National Deputy Minister of Housing and Planning Ms Mary Nyaulang, State Minister of Physical Infrastructure, Manawa Peter Gatkouth Gual, MPs from Ayod, Duk and Ayod Commissioner while the ex- rebels were headed by a Brig. General whose name remained undisclosed. The forces were given ultimate choice to either be disarmed and reintegrate in to the civil population or join the National army (SPLA). The head of the rebels said that there are more than 400 of them ready to lay down their arms but some fear prosecutions or imprisonment. Thomas Chot, a Member of Parliament who is also the deputy chairperson of security and defence at the National Assembly told reporters that, “it’s a sign of peace returning to Ayod County and Jonglei State at large.” The former rebels were highly welcomed by the local community and relatives in a beautiful occasion that was characterised by dancing, feasting together and singing joyful songs that they sang together many years ago. Ayod County is one of the three Counties that were hideouts for the late George Athor rebels which killed thousands of people in Jonglei State. Today Ayod is becoming the safe haven for displaced persons from Duk and Uror Counties due to the ongoing tribal conflicts among the Dinka Bor, Lou Nuer and the Murle of Jonglei State. Posted in: Home -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/SouthSudanKob?hl=en.
