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Kenya: Mt Elgon Militia Surrenders
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The East African Standard (Nairobi)
23 March 2008
Posted to the web 24 March 2008
Stephen Makabila And Allan Kisia
Nairobi
The odds are now against the dreaded Sabaot Land Defence Force (SLDF). The militia group has ruled the slopes of the border mountain for the last 18 months and, seemingly, their days are numbered.
With 237 suspected SLDF members charged in court, many more arrested and arms recovered in the operation, which is now enjoying massive support from residents, the militiamen seem to be on the run but their hiding places are fewer.
Last week, 17 SLDF members surrendered to the security personnel. Each of them handed over his AK-47 rifle.
Human rights groups have indicated that the ragtag army has killed about 600 people and displaced more than 40,000 in the last one and a half years.
The ongoing security operation to root out the SLDF started more than two weeks ago and more than 320 suspects have been arrested and three shot dead.
Western PC, Mr Abdul Mwaserah, says 75 suspects were released after interrogation while others were taken to court.
The military has erected roadblocks at various points. They have also sealed off the Kenya-Uganda border.
On Monday, 152 suspects were charged with promoting war-like activities.
The little known Sirisia Law Courts, that has in the past been associated with customary cases, was turned into a mini-barrack when the suspects were brought in four lorries amid tight security.
The law court grounds and the courtroom were cordoned off from 11am when the suspects arrived, until 1.30pm when they left.
Lawyers representing some of the suspects and wananchi were denied entry despite pleas from the Law Society of Kenya Western Kenya branch chairman, Mr Laban Akula Anzia.
The suspects, who pleaded not guilty, appeared before Resident Magistrate, R O Oigara.
The prosecution, led by Inspector George Rachena, said the suspects committed the offence between July 2006 and March 3, 2008.
The prosecution opposed issuing bonds to the suspects since more serious charges were likely to be preferred against them.
The suspects were remanded at the Bungoma GK Prison. Their case will be mentioned in the same court on April 7.
Two days later, a second group of 85 suspected SLDF militiamen was charged with promoting war-like activities.
Some of the militiamen seem to be surrendering after a one-week amnesty by Mt Elgon DC, Mr Mohamed Birik.
On Tuesday, two AK-47 rifles were surrendered to Birik at Cheptonon trading centre. The following day, 17 militiamen surrendered and handed over their AK-47 rifles.
The DC said SLDF members had up to yesterday to surrender. He said the amnesty will not be extended.
He hailed residents for cooperating with security officers, noting that those who give vital information will be rewarded.
The residents had a few days back cornered five suspected SLDF members and handed them over to the police.
But there are still those within the SLDF ranks who feel the security operation cannot achieve much in dismantling them.
A radio interview with one of the alleged leaders on Tuesday threw security operations into a spin.
Security officers conducting the operation were clearly taken aback by the interview Mr John Kanai gave to West FM, which covers Western and North Rift regions.
In the interview, Kanai said the Government should not bombard civilian areas without using professional methods to identify the real militia.
"Hao watu wanatafuta kile hawawezi kuona. Kwa nini wanaumiza raia? (The security officers are looking for something they cannot find. Why are they hurting civilians?)," he said.
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Kanai, who has been on the police most-wanted list, also accused the Government of using unconventional methods in their operations in Cheptais and Kopsiro divisions.
He lamented that security officers were committing serious human rights violations in the hunt for the militia.
The self-styled leader called on the Government to halt military operations and allow elders to continue with a peace process initiated early in the year. He said normalcy was returning in the troubled district as a result of the peace initiative.
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