The commissioner of Lakes State’s Rumbek North County on Monday issued an order banning the distillation of alcoholic spirits and smoking of shisha, saying they fuel conflicts.
Moses Maker Magok told Radio Tamazuj on Monday that the ban will mitigate crime, conflicts and cyclic revenge killings. He however said local brews made out of sorghum, locally referred to as white beer, will continue because it is not as harmful.
“Alcohol has been creating problems in the county because the youth have been consuming it, getting drunk, and failing to control themselves. I would like to thank the local leaders, chiefs, women, and youth in Malueth Payam because they have done a lot to stop alcohol consumption and it is now calm,” he said. “Coming to the county headquarters in Maper where I sit, I issued orders to all the payam administrators, including the headquarters where we have our town clerk to stop the making of spirits and smoking of shisha.”
“Commissioner Maker added: “I have instructed County Police Chief Inspector Brigadier General Majak Ador, the deputy commander of the army, and the rest of the organized forces to enforce the order.”
For his part, John Machiek Kuclong, a local youth leader, lauded the commissioner for instituting the ban, saying that alcohol has killed many youth.
“Alcohol has brought us many problems in our communities, so, we appreciate this ban and as youth, we will cooperate with the commissioner,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Martha Alook Bol, a women leader, said the ban will create peace among the communities in Rumbek North County.
“I know many women have been relying on distilling alcoholic spirits to survive and support their families and that it has now been stopped,” she said. “These spirits make some of the youths steal cattle, carry out revenge attacks, and create conflict. The women have now stopped it and there will hopefully be peace.”
Relatedly, Mathiang Ater Chier, the paramount chief of Malueth Payam, said that he successfully apprehended a man identified as Marek Malual Machar who orchestrated a revenge attack that led to the death of four people.
“A man’s brother was killed and he planned a revenge attack in which four people died from both sides on the spot,” he disclosed. “I arrested the main suspect identified as Marek Malual Machar, handed him over to the commissioner and he is now in prison from where he will be taken to court.”