Rumbek — The newly elected chairman of the Lakes State Youth Union (LSYU), Apuk Deng Reech. has called upon the state's eight counties to preach peace and reconciliation among the respective clans of Lakes state.

The new youth chairman made this call on Sunday after a two day peace and reconciliation conference, in Abiriu payam of Cueibet County, which was the scene of fighting between the Waat and Ayuel communities in July leaving 24 dead, several wounded, and many cattle looted.

"Time for peace and reconciliation now - it is time now to support our government and ask our government to offer jobs opportunity to youth of Lakes state across its eight counties" said Reech.

The government of Lakes State has the capacity to combat insecurity when information about insecurity is communicated to the police and army by local people, the new youth leader said.

Security would be improved by establishing community police that work either aide of Counties and Payam [district] borders.

Reech was elected on 21 July 2012 in a hotly contested election held in Rumbek at Akon Buoi Hall. He won the election with 22 votes out of 57.

His urge the entire of youth of Lakes state to immediately stop spreading divisive propaganda and urge them to join government to improve law and order by handing over illegal weapons to the police and army.

Voluntary disarmament would only work if young people participated, Reech said.

Lakes State Governor Chol Tong Mayay promised to empower youth across Lakes state during 2010 Sudan General election campaign. In recent clashes in Cueibet County, the Governor told the youth to reconcile their differences and join the state government in building a better state based on peace and hope.

Rumbek North commissioner called for peace conference

The Commissioner of Rumbek North County of Lakes state, Stephen Mathiang Deng Monydit, has called upon UN Agencies and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan to support the upcoming inter-state peace conference. Lakes and Warrap States have traded raids and counter raids over cattle in recent years.

Speaking to press in Rumbek, Mathiang the commissioner of Rumbek North (Maper) County called upon youth leaders of neighbouring Warrap to merge into peace conference so that their dissimilarity are iron into peace space.

"I called upon the United Nations Mission in South Sudan to support two states in term of transporting all of participants in conference venue - others UN Agencies have rights to prepare medical and safe drinking water" said Mathiang. Commissioner Mathiang did not disclosed the venue of conference.

This is second inter-state peace conference between Warrap and Lakes state. The first conference was held in May 2011 in Wunlit located at Eastern part of Warrap state. Mathiang noted that youth across his county had rearmed themselves to such an extent that he feared for the safety of citizens as he feared the police would be outgunned.

"Now youth have rearmed themselves heavily. This is difficult stage to be deal by police because youth armed themselves beyond police capacity" said Mathiang.

Lakes state has experienced cattle raids and road robbery in last year. Mathiang called upon non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to adopt preaching peace in their program.

"I need all UN counterparts to involve preaching peace in their program - we can bring peace if all Agencies and government daily tell story of peace to people of Lakes state" he said.

The Commissioner of Cueibet County of Lakes state Isaac Mayom Malek, also said that he county will join Inter-state Peace Conference planned to be held soon. Commissioner Malek accused politician for having hand inside community by causing instability.

This upcoming inter-state peace conference will be attended by Warrap State counties that border neighboring Lakes state. Lakes State's Rumbek North and Cueibet will participate.

Lakes state's Youth Union Leader, Apuk Deng Reech denied allegation leveled against youth by the Rumbek North County commissioner that youth have rearmed themselves.

Reech said that "youth in Rumbek North County were disarmed and now youth are powerless to defend themselves incase of any attack" . He urge state government and County authority to ensured the protection of citizens in fully fulfill by government who disarmed civilians.

"It is now government duty to protect those civilians whose their arms were disarmed by government troops level few month ago" he said.