The police in Melut County of South Sudan’s Upper Nile State arrested 10 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Dim Tima IDP camp last week for violating a ban on public gatherings.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj Tuesday, Albino Awan, Melut County Director of Police, said the 10 are members of a group calling itself the Ngok Lual Yak Community.
He said the security committee in the county installed a ban on public gatherings to contain political differences between members of the group causing public disturbances and creating political tensions.
James Mentur, head of the Dim Tima-1 camp told Radio Tamazuj, “A group calling itself, ‘Ngok Lual Yak community’ insisted on calling citizens for a public meeting, which led to the intervention of the security authorities and they were arrested.”
For his part, Deng Joh Agok, Melut County Commissioner said authorities had ordered the detention of nine members of the Ngok Lual Yak community following the violation of the ban.
“Our duty is to ensure security protocols are followed and prevent any security breaches in the camps for IDPs from Baliet County,” he added.
Commissioner Agok said the 10 arrested will be presented before a court of law after investigations are concluded.
He urged the other members of the Ngok Lual Yak community in Melut to resolve their political differences through dialogue and respect the host community.