The commissioner of police in Western Bahr el Ghazal State has warned the soldiers and civilians against discharging their weapons in the air tomorrow 16 May to celebrate SPLA Day.
On 16 May 1983, the SPLM/A took up arms against the then Sudanese government in Khartoum and after South Sudan’s independence in July 2011, the day is commemorated and marked as a public holiday.
Major General Samuel Ajuong Chwar, while addressing the press in his office in Wau on Monday, said any soldier who shoots a bullet will face the law and if they resist arrest, they will be shot.
“Our people in Wau are good understanding people and every year when we celebrate, they do not even beat tins and if someone shoots a gun, this person looking for a problem or creating insecurity,” he said. “I am urging everyone to continue with the spirit of not shooting guns. We will be patrolling from today up to 18 May to ensure that all locations are secure and we will deploy in all residential areas.”
“I also call on all the Special Forces to give us a chance to deal with criminals who intend to cause havoc in the state and to all armed forces, if you are drunk, do not fire your weapon,” Gen. Ajuong added.
The police boss also said that he is concerned about the practice of armed opposition forces entering Wau town at night which he says causes insecurity.
“There are so many weapons entering the town at night which we do not know about and we want these weapons to be returned to where they came from,” Gen. Ajuong said. “Those who are yet to go for training have entered the town with guns. I am telling them to go back to their barracks with their guns. We are not preventing people from entering the town but we do not want them to come with guns.”
Commenting on the SPLA Day celebrations, the coordinator of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization in Western Bahr el Ghazal, Stephen Robo Musa, said the day is a reminder of the struggle for independence by the people of South Sudan.
“16 May for South Sudanese, especially the leaders, and particularly the SPLM members, to recommit to their moral responsibility and to remember the commitments they made during the struggle,” he said. “Those who died during the struggle have to be remembered and appreciated.”
Robo urged the leadership to address current challenges faced by the country.