May 6, 2012 (Pochalla) - This situation must come to an end by today said the Pochalla youth Association chairman. Speaking at the meeting held today at 9:00 am, in Youth centre Mr. Peter Ongeli said the acting commissioner must take a serious action by today before dawn. Since the arrival of newly allocated police men to Pochalla, nothing good happened, he said, only massive beating of the civilians, curfew and unnecessary movement of police men with their guns within the community.

Pochalla youth and acting commissioner's meeting to discuss current crisis on ground: Photo by: Peter Owar Okello

The current policemen are not here to protect us but they came to arras our women by eating their food, drink their wines for free and do a lot of an pleasing activities randomly. We are not happy said one of the youth. How can they practically do these things in our land? More over all of them are from Nuer. Where they brought here to liberate our land. The whole of South know very well that Anyuak people are peaceful and God fearing human being. They love peace and living in harmony with any Southerner whom happened to reside in their land.

Our voice and our decisions need to be respected said Moa Omot, one of the Pochalla youth activist. We had been living peacefully in our land with other people for years and nothing whatsoever one day is heard that we the Anyuak people attack any group or stole any person belongings. What is happening here today is totally an acceptable. We as youth will not sit down and watch something bad is being done to our people. What happens in Egypt, Syria and other part of the world was done by the youth activist but we will do anything if these situations do not come to an end.

What we are doing now is only a peaceful meeting before we conduct any demonstration. In the meeting, Pochalla acting commissioner, Hon: Martin Baliew said that I was not aware of what the police were trying to do to the civilians. I will take an action from today on ward, he said. The new police commissioner had just heard about this situation and He and I will take strong step seriously. Don’t worry; he said everything is in control. This is a simple case. I will stop these police men from taking alcohol and massive beating of the civilians in the street. The police know that there are laws which govern them wherever they are.

The acting commissioner vehemently said that the police are brought to protect the civilians not to miss behave with them. Without the civilians he continued, the police will not be here in Pochalla. Otherwise let’s be keen to understand that we work together and live together. This problem is now solved and no more alcoholic abuse by police and an necessary movement of police men with guns in the community unless those who are on duty at night. At the end, he sum up by saying that “the work of policemen is to keep laws and orders and to protect the civilians from the criminals and of course to teach those criminals how the laws are being carried out effectively. I am happy that you youth came to my office and inform me about what is affecting your mothers and fathers. I will take a quick action as you said and I believe that the police will know their duties and learn to respect the civilians.”

This will ends the meeting and hopefully you youth will go back to the public and inform them that the situation is now calm down and hotels, work places must be open again work continue smoothly. The meeting between the Pochalla youth and the acting commissioner ends peacefully but as say goes “Only God knows what will happen tomorrow”, but otherwise everything is in position as Acting Pochalla commissioner putted it.