16 March 2012- A team of Jonglei state legislators and UNMISS staff met with residents ofDuk Padiet payam today prior to the start of a civilian disarmament exercise there.

State legislators representing constituencies located in Duk County joined the team to help promote awareness about the civilian disarmament campaign, which was formally launched by President Salva Kiir Mayardit in the state capital of Bor on 12 March.

Lawmakers urged residents of Duk Padiet to cooperate with government security forces during the campaign and encouraged them to surrender their firearms peacefully.

"We need you to be ready and cooperate fully with our government forces and to give your guns voluntarily, not by force," said Jonglei Legislative Assembly member Rachael Athiak Ruei. "When the government comes to disarm the community, you have to know that it will provide necessary security to all of you."

Her fellow legislator Abiel Chan Anyang warned the population of Duk Padiet about the potentially lethal hazards of storing guns at their residences.

"When you keep guns at home all the time, there is high possibility for you to commit a mistake and to kill even your own brothers," he said. "We need you to be free and to hand over these dangerous guns to the government."

The UNMISS component of the monitoring team was drawn from the Civil Affairs section, the Demobilization, Disarmament and Reintegration unit, UN Police, UN military liaison officers, the UN Department of Secruity and Safety and the UN Military Contingent.

UNMISS Civil Affairs Officer Ousmane Abdou informed the gathering that the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) had been instructed to provide security to Jonglei citizens and echoed the lawmakers' call on community members to cooperate with the campaign in order to promote peace and stability in their state.

Duk Padiet payam administrator Omot Awow Okuch told members of the monitoring team that local residents were prepared to turn in their weapons provided that government officials and the SPLA take the necessary steps to guarantee their security.

"We want to make sure that we have enough security from the government before we hand over our guns," said Mr. Okuch, adding that armed men from the Murle ethnic group were believed to be present in the vicinity of Duk Padiet.

Communities in Duk Padiet payam were attacked by armed men believed to be of Murle origin last January. According to local residents, 157 people were killed in the raids, 38 were wounded and over 50 cattle were stolen.

A local chief told the monitoring team that residents of the payam had previously taken part in three similar disarmament exercises and stressed the need to simultaneously disarm all civilian populations across Jonglei.

"Guns are the enemies of all, and we do not have any interest to keep them with us indefinitely," said Chie Rial Chol Deng. "But we also need the other community to hand over their guns as well."