General Athor links integration of his forces to reaching political consensus with Juba

By Ngor Arol Garang

November 23, 2010 (ABYEI) – General George Athor Deng Dut, formerly one of the top military officers in the Sudan People’s Liberation Army, the SPLA, said Sunday that he would only accept integration of his forces and return to Juba if a political consensus has been reached between him and the government of South Sudan.

The General was one of over 340 senior members of the SPLM who contested April’s general elections as an independent candidate after failing to secure approval from the SPLM’s political bureau, the highest body in the structure of the south’s ruling party.

Having lost the gubernatorial contest in Jonglei state, Athor has waged an armed rebellion against Southern Sudan government accusing regional officials of electoral fraud, intimidation at polling centers and vote rigging.

He became the leader of a renegade group following a clash at an SPLA military postin the Doleib Hills area bordering the southern states of Jonglei State and Upper Nile, on 30 April 2010.

Officials from the south’s regional government in Juba accused Athor of being behind the fighting, a charge he has always denied saying that it was an internal dispute within the southern army.

Despite repeated clashes, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 58, the SPLA have failed to put an end to the rebellion.

Speaking to Sudan Tribune from his base in Khorfolus on Monday, Athor said, he would accept integration of his forces and return to Juba if an agreement is reached between him and president of the semi-autonomous regional government of south Sudan.

“I have already welcomed presidential order by the south Sudan president. It has also been accepted by those who fall under my direct command. We and those covered by this order accepted it because our people need peace and stability which is their right. We recognize and respect their demands and this was why we have made it clear in recent statements that we are committed to peaceful dialogue and other arrangements in order to complement [the] presidential order,” said Athor.

The General said his forces would be merged with SPLA forces if an agreement detailing processes of integration is reached. “Our forces have completed all processes of organizations and are only waiting directives on integration processes which will be implemented after reaching final agreement with authorities from Juba,” he said.

Athor said discussions on integrations and his return to Juba are in progress. “Our representatives went to Juba and met with authorities there. They presented our demands on all processes,” he said.

Speaking from Renk county, Upper Nile state, Abiel Riing, a one of the representatives negotiating on behalf of Athor, told Sudan Tribune on Monday that discussions are in good progress but interrupted by the Muslim holiday Eid El Dhaya.

“The talks between us and authorities from the government of south Sudan started well and remain in good progress but we could not continue because of Eid El Dhay. We will resume them soon,” said Riing.

Riing said he is now in Renk preparing to leave for Juba through Malakal so that they go and resume discussions after returned in Juba with officials from the government of south Sudan.

“I am now in Renk for Eid but preparing to leave for Juba through Malakal so that we go and resume discussions with officials from the government of south Sudan on remaining issues before the delegation leave Juba for meeting with General Athor and signature of the final agreement,” explained Riing

He also said peace talks between them and the government of the south Sudan are being shared with intellectuals, traditional and religious leaders from within and outside Jonglei state. Diaspora groups had also participated through teleconferences Riing said.

Colonel Philip Aguer Panyang, official Spokesman of the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Army, said they are waiting official directives from the commander in chief of the SPLA, South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit, on the details of the integration process for the two forces.

“We do not have official directives on the integration processes. We are still waiting directives to come from the office of president of the government of south Sudan,” said Panyang

In October, President Kiir issued an executive order, pardoning senior army officers who had rebelled and fought against the SPLA forces before and after April’s elections.

The order was also extended to Major General Gabriel Tanginye and two other armed groups including Colonel Gatluak Gai who rebelled in Unity state. It urged them to rejoin the rank and file of the SPLA forces and move freely in the South but under the condition that it come into effect once the three officers unconditionally lay down their arms and rejoin the SPLA.

Panyang said the southern government was attempting to stagger the integration process of the armed groups.

“The government of south Sudan has developed plans for integration of forces belonging to General Athor and Gabriel Tanyige to be done in stages. The first part of this integration was grant them amnesty so that they are able to move freely in the locations. The other part of it is to discuss modalities of integration. This is the part which being discussed and we are not part at the moment,” said the spokesperson.

The SPLA’s reconciliation attempts come as the south approaches a referendum that could see the region vote to become a fully independent country.

(ST)