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Sudan Tribune

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Gen. Athor vows reprisal attacks after fresh clashes with South Sudan army

By Ngor Arol Garang

May 7, 2010 (WUNROK) — Former SPLA Deputy Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant General George Athor Deng, today, said his troops fought again with the southern Sudan army and vowed to hit back if his forces are attacked.

SPLA_soldiers_train.jpgToday’s statements mark a new escalation in the tension between the former Independent candidate for Jonglei Governor and southern Sudan government in Juba.

Following accusation of attack on a SPLA base in Doleib Hills area on April 30, Athor said his partisans in the army refused to arrest him and mutinied against orders from Juba. He however rejected calls to move to Juba asking amnesty to his followers and removal of Jonglei elect governor.

In a telephone interview the renegade general disclosed failure of talks with the President of southern Sudan government and said his troops Saturday clashed with the SPLA troops deployed in the area and alleged killing over 50 soldiers.

General Athor said his forces clashed with SPLA forces at Golliet, 12 miles from Khorfulus. “Our troops met SPLA forces yesterday (Thursday) and exchanged fire at the reconnaissance site. The SPLA forces saw them and quickly started opening firing on our troops,” he said, adding that they are missing three soldiers.

“I have a report that three of our soldiers have gone missing. We do not know whether they are dead or alive because they did not return with their colleagues,” he said stressing he cannot confirm their death because their bodies have not been discovered.

“I cannot confirm their death because we are still looking for them. They might still be alive,” Athor said revealing that he has reports that more than fifty bodies allegedly members of SPLA have were discovered by his forces.

“Our troops after exchanging fire with SPLA forces reported that they were able to get more dead bodies on the side where forces loyal to the SPLA retreated,” he said.

However, acting SPLA spokesman, Colonel Malaak Ayuen, speaking to Sudan Tribune from Juba denied having received reports suggesting death of SPLA forces numbering to fifty soldiers.

“The information I have received does not mention death casualties. It shows that we have only one soldier injured on our side when they exchanged fire with forces loyal to General Athor,” said Colonel Malaak Ayuen Ajok.

Asked whether SPLA forces had planned to attack forces loyal to General Athor, Malaak said, the soldiers met a reconnaissance unit sent by Athor but they had no intention to attack them.

“They just met and exchanged fire at reconnaissance site,” he said emphasizing that SPLA forces do not have any orders to attack Athor.

“We do not have orders to attack but have deployed our forces in the area to barricade off forces loyal to General Athor against any further attack on civil population in the area,” he said adding “Our forces have been deployed just to contain movement of forces loyal to General Athor in the area,” he underscored.

The defeated candidate General George Athor also said had been involved in direct telephone conversations with SPLA commander in chief, president of the government of Southern Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit, but he affirmed they failed to reach any agreement.

“I have thrice talked to President Kiir but our discussions did not reach any understanding,” he said. He further said “Because we did not reach an understanding in the past, I decided that we cannot talk to him any more until he is prepared and ready for negotiations”.

THREAT OF REPRISALS

“We will not attack and do not have plan to attack any SPLA base but will fight back in case of any new assault on our positions,” General Athor Deng told Sudan Tribune from Jonglei declining to comment on his whereabouts in the area.

Asked to confirm his defection from the SPLA, a matter that he had denied previously, Athor said he did not defect and has no plan to rebel against southern Soudan government. However he added that he was surprised by the bad interpretation of his presence in Khorfoulos after election loss.

After announcement of the results of gubernatorial election in Jonglei state, Gen. Athor left Bor to his ancestral village of Rut in Khorfoulos without congratulating the elected Governor Kuol Manyang Juuk.

“I did not have any plan or ill feeling against the government and our people but was surprised by how my presence was perceived by individuals within the government of Southern Sudan. My presence in the area was wrongly interpreted to authorities in the government southern Sudan by the same individuals who plotted to arrest me and my guards.”

“But their attempts to arrest me met resistances and subsequently saw departure of those they wanted to send going to their homes because they did not want to be part of the plot, he explained adding these people who refused to execute orders to arrest him are now the forces resisting attempts to get them.

“They are the ones that are said to be my forces and of course they are because I cannot run away from them because they are my people,” Athor said

Athor refusal to leave his troops comes after a call to go to Juba by another high ranking SPLA General who also had contested for gubernatorial position in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, General Dau Aturjong Nyuol.

“His presence in the area is being misused. I suggest him to leave for the moment regardless of family and relatives matters he would like to attend. He should leave,” said General Dau.

On Friday 30, April 2010, officials from southern army and cabinet members in the regional government of southern Sudan, during a weekly cabinet meeting in Juba, accused openly General Athor of an attack on SPLA base at Doleib hills, 12 kilometers south west of Malakal Town, Capital of Upper Nile State.

(ST)

61 Comments

  • murlescrewed
    murlescrewed

    Gen. Athor vows reprisal attacks after fresh clashes with South Sudan army
    Patriots,

    The corrupt and and opportunistic SPLM government in Juba is blindly sending ill-trained and undisciplined soldiers to go and provoke forces loyal to Gen. George Athor. This is a bloodshed waiting to happen. Kiir must be sincere and understand that elections should not be stolen in a country where heroes like Gen. Athor fought so hard and diligently to free. If Kiir can talk and promote a bunch of traitors who actually sided with Khartoum, surely he must find a solution that is acceptable to Gen. Athor and many courageous men and women who stood up for fair elections and and real democratic transition in South.

    Gen. Athor is not to be taken lightly and forced to give in by foolish maneuvers. He once stood up against a gang of traitors who rebelled against the SPLA. He is a highly capable and strategic fellow that will defeat any field commander in the South today. Good thing he is not willing to risk civilians lives but want real grievances about fraudulent elections addressed in a dignified way.

    Reply
  • Dinka Boy
    Dinka Boy

    Gen. Athor vows reprisal attacks after fresh clashes with South Sudan army
    This is not a good sign. SPLA troops killed 53 soldiers loyal to Athor Deng!
    What is this? and is this the kind of sign that those food lovers where happy about the Athor Deng Moved? now, you guys can see that one SPLA toop injury and 53 Athor soldiers died. I don,t really know why power greedy people risk the live of others like the way Athor encouraged of these 53 Southerners for nothing.
    Athor must be brought to book because he is killing his own people who he think they loyal to him for no cause.
    Thanks

    Reply
  • Kur
    Kur

    Gen. Athor vows reprisal attacks after fresh clashes with South Sudan army
    Instead of surrendering to authorities, Athor is now inviting even more troubles to himself. Any deaths that result from this madness will be counted as murder against this thug. The people of Jonglei exercised their wisdom by rejecting this funky general. Was he not aware that in any election there is a winner and loser? I think you’ve lost not only the election in Jonglei but also your own future. Idiot.

    Kur

    Reply
  • Dinka Boy
    Dinka Boy

    Gen. Athor vows reprisal attacks after fresh clashes with South Sudan army
    AUGUSTINO DENG and the rest,

    Understand your frustration dear brother, the leadership of Salva Kiir Mayardit has been trying to accomodate traitors in his dministration thinking that he want to make his task strong,but he is making his administration worst.

    You are right that those of Matip Nhial should not be given that position while he haa been the militia since the formation of SPLM. Now, he has the position without sweat. traitor Riek Machar is now vp and Kiir declear him during the compaign to be his sole vp after election while he has been working against SPLM for decades. I have the same frustration because those absence individual incorporated in SPLM are now playing the 2 sided games. They are pretending to be SPLM while they are militias are the same time.

    The problem of Athor Deng could be the immitation exercise,but the execise should be did in that way because he is killing his own Paweny and the rest because of his own greedy and selfishness.
    There is great difference between Dr Garang de Mabior on how he handle militia and traitors. If Dr Garang alive by now, those militias and traitors would have no voice totatally in SPLM ,but i don,t know how Salva Kiir saw those incidences.

    The SPLM of today must be careful other the referendum of self-determination in the South will not works because the South will be the war zone base on power greed and food to eat. Salva Kiir must works very well with the previous advisors of Dr John Garang so that he can learned the system why Dr Garang was the strongest leader in the South base on how to deal with militias and external security. referendum will not works if we are busy diagreeing in many issues.

    If SPLM is not careful,then this will be like the time when SPLM withdraw from Juba airport and Amie base to responese with traitors. Caution!

    Reply
  • Thyinka
    Thyinka

    Gen. Athor vows reprisal attacks after fresh clashes with South Sudan army
    Mtaka vyote, hukosa yote. Athor should have just been contented with his position of deputy chief of staff of Moral orientation in the SPLA instead of looking for more power in the governorship.

    Reply
  • Gatwech
    Gatwech

    Gen. Athor vows reprisal attacks after fresh clashes with South Sudan army
    Southerners,

    Gen. George Athor Deng has proved to be a thorn in the ass of SPLA. Any thing to do with the Jungle state of adopted Kuol Manyang’s minority leadership will always prove to be dangerous.

    It started with the corrupt nomination process by splm political bureau, then the collective rigging of election results and now specifically in Jonglei state.

    Then sectional fighting within Dinka SPLA forces loyal to Gen. George Athor Deng and those of Kiir/Kuol took place at Doleib Hills. The reporter earlier said among the five SPLA officers killed, three of them were from Salva Kiir’s home village after the Dinka soldiers took positions based on their clans in the military barrack.

    Now more than 90% of Gen. George Athor’s forces are from his Dinka section. Both Gen. George Athor and Kuol Manyang come from what is adopted to be known as “Greater Bor-Dinka community” but have different sections within that community.

    Previously the General denied that he was not part of the attacks and now is very clear with the fighting going on and further warnings of escalation. Pathetic.

    The SPLM is reaping the corrupt system of Pagan Amum which was implemented despite warnings of such consequencies.

    Now SPLA forces have refused to go and fight, or else some of them may instead join Gen. George Athor. Equally Gen. George Athor may take advantage of intelligence penetration given his well knowledge about the inside the SPLA system. He could be getting every top secret information any time.

    This needs very skillful diplomacy and trust to convince George Athor to stop the fighting or else it will escalate and Jonglei state may find itself in another flame of fire as usual for the last five years.

    Jonglei state is in serious trouble and who is to blame?

    What goes around comes around!

    Reply
  • Madhod
    Madhod

    Gen. Athor vows reprisal attacks after fresh clashes with South Sudan army
    Question folks, Do anyone knows why everyone is fighting to run for Governorship?

    Money, money, money, money baby!! power has little to do with that!
    the riches politicians in south Sudan now are Governors!! They got all the state budgets and give them to state’s employees right? Think again! They put them into their pockets and build huge houses in Kampala, Nairobi, and in Juba.

    Reply
  • Gatwech
    Gatwech

    Gen. Athor vows reprisal attacks after fresh clashes with South Sudan army
    Dear Southerners,

    The killing of 50 SPLA soldiers by Gen. George Athor probably from the coward Kuol Manyang’s clan soldiers is a big loss.

    Gen. George Athor Deng has proved to be a thorn in the ass of SPLA. Any thing to do with the Jungle state of adopted Kuol Manyang’s minority leadership will always prove to be dangerous.

    It started with the corrupt nomination process by splm political bureau, then the collective rigging of election results and now specifically in Jonglei state.

    Then sectional fighting within Dinka SPLA forces loyal to Gen. George Athor Deng and those of Kiir/Kuol took place at Doleib Hills. The reporter earlier said among the five SPLA officers killed, three of them were from Salva Kiir’s home village after the Dinka soldiers took positions based on their clans in the military barrack.

    Now more than 90% of Gen. George Athor’s forces are from his Dinka section. Both Gen. George Athor and Kuol Manyang come from what is adopted to be known as “Greater Bor-Dinka community” but have different sections within that community.

    Previously the General denied that he was not part of the attacks and now is very clear with the fighting going on and further warnings of escalation. Pathetic.

    The SPLM is reaping the corrupt system of Pagan Amum which was implemented despite warnings of such consequencies.

    Now SPLA forces have refused to go and fight, or else some of them may instead join Gen. George Athor. Equally Gen. George Athor may take advantage of intelligence penetration given his well knowledge about the inside the SPLA system. He could be getting every top secret information any time.

    This needs very skillful diplomacy and trust to convince George Athor to stop the fighting or else it will escalate and Jonglei state may find itself in another flame of fire as usual for the last five years.

    Jonglei state is in serious trouble and who is to blame?

    Kuol Manyang should confess that he rigged the election results and step down so that Gen. George Athor or somebody else takes over. Or may be another fresh election would be conducted in Jonglei state, but this time to be free from thievering ballot papers and ticking them Kuol Manyang.

    Or is Kuol Manyang Juuk power greedy enough and ready to sacrifice his people and leave them vulnerable to the wrath of Gen. George Athor just because of governorship position?

    Prophet Ngundeng Bong’s prediction on Bor’s destruction is coming soon through Kuol/Athor self-destruction for power.

    What goes around comes around!

    Reply
  • Lokonga Soroba
    Lokonga Soroba

    Gen. Athor vows reprisal attacks after fresh clashes with South Sudan army
    The danger here if one tribe makes the largest national arm forces. I hope president Kirr will learn some thing out of this. Kirr should learn not to put big war machine under control of his tribe and even the defence department should not be control by the same tribe if he wanted to be safe. Good luck Mr. President.

    Reply
  • R. TOOL
    R. TOOL

    Gen. Athor vows reprisal attacks after fresh clashes with South Sudan army
    To all southerns,

    Now is the time for all the good men to come to aid of their country. The Arabs countries are behind Khartoum. Arab league seeks to organize conference for (destruction) reconstruction of south Sudan. You people should pay attention to what the Arabs countries are engineering against you all.

    Please read article below:

    “Arab League Seeks to Organize Conference for Reconstruction of South Sudan
    Posted on Saturday, May 08 @ 00:00:00 BST by admin

    Seventh Day
    Some sources revealed that the Arab League (AL) is seeking to hold a conference for the rehabilitation of South Sudan under the title (Juba 2). It is suggested that Bahrain Kingdom will host the conference.

    The revelation came at the time when Ambassador, Ahmed Ibn Halli the Arab League Deputy Secretary General flew to Ethiopia, at the head of a delegation to participate in an international meeting for supporting Sudan after the general elections were held last April. The conference will include the foreign ministers of the permanent members of UN Security Council, countries neighbouring Sudan , relevant organizations e.g. UN , AL ,African Union (AU), Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD )and the Organization of Islamic Conference ( OIC ).
    Before leaving Cairo, Halli cautioned against the dangers of division of Sudan saying it would weaken Africa and adversely affect the whole region, especially Sudan’s neighbours. He called for maintaining the unity of Sudan and making a success of the self-determination referendum early next year adding that AL would work with the other organizations to ensure that south Sudanese would vote for an attractive unity. However, he made sure that AL would respect the will of Sudanese regardless of what it would be.

    Halli added that the referendum is a matter of concern not only for southerners but for the whole nation. He pointed out that a strong united Sudan would strengthen Africa and vice versa. Halli further added that the pending issues particularly border demarcation, Abyei question and the just implementation of agreements must be addressed”.

    Reply
  • julius mowanga
    julius mowanga

    Gen. Athor vows reprisal attacks after fresh clashes with South Sudan army
    The SPLM North-Sector, was crying foul;that NCP has used and muzzled the public fund and drove us out of our ability to confront the totaltarian regime in Khartoum!!!So how come an officer of SPLA, run and finance a campaign contesting to the gubernator post???They spent a lot of money,did they disclosed his financial resources to the NEC???I dout that,but what the motive behind the arresting attempt of Cdr; Athor?!If he had withdrawn to his ancestral village,is that means he is deploying the GOSS soldiers to rebell against Juba authoriy??!!!Or is’t an attempt to silence him,so that he couldn’t reveal the hidden arrangements,materialy and financially,of those acting without regard to the SPLM PB or either the law and the command chain of the South Sudan Army??Who ordered the SPLA soldiers to open fire against their fellow soldiers unprovocatively,What justifying their action,is it the way that we have to establish military wings to our political aspirees,so that the masses could voice their concern politically???Then it’s not democracy!!!

    Once there is no accountability by GOSS, SPLA, NEC there could be a huge vaulations of all the political transision and elections procedure,which makes us assume that,there is a question of money behind this plot, between the Pre; Kiir and the rest of his military echeleon,who contested against SPLM candidates,independently …which make the door widely open to a further speculations.

    Time will tell what went wrong or accompliced….

    Reply
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