South Sudan minister rejects negotiation with SPLA General turned rebel
By Ngor Arol Garang
May 12, 2010 (WUNROK) – South Sudan minister of legal affairs has rejected a demand by a renegade general for negotiations to end a rebellion that takes place in the semi autonomous region after his defeat in gubernatorial election in Jonglei state since April 30.
Up to Wednesday, the General George Athor clashed three times with the Southern Sudan Army, SPLA, which deployed troops in the region to surround the rebellion forces.
Athor who denied his participation in a first attack on SPLA base in Doleib Hills said he wants amnesty for his supporters and the removal of his rival Jonglei elected governor. He also suggests some names of high ranking SPLM members to mediate talks with the government.
On Wednesday, Michael Makuei Lueth, caretaker minister of legal affairs and constitution development, in the government of southern Sudan, said his government has tried to persuade General Athor but failed to consider listening to advice and suggestions from senior members of the government and his comrades at arms.
All government officials including his immediate boss, Chief of General staff, 1st lieutenant General James Hoth Mai and commander in chief of the SPLA, President of the Government of Southern Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit have tried persuading him but failed to accept their advice.
“If he has no intention as he does deny in the media why he refused coming to Juba,” the minister asked, adding that government of southern Sudan did not decide to negotiate with Athor.
“The government has not yet decided negotiating with General Athor. There is nothing like that. No such decision has been reached at the council of ministers and I do not think there are plans to negotiate with him soon,” Makuei told Sudan Tribune from Juba.
May requests and suggestions have been made by most southern intellectuals and most community leaders asking government of Southern Sudan to consider negotiating with General Athor as best alternative to end the current tension and avoid causalities among civilians.
Asked about resorts of the government should they fail to reach an understanding with renegade army General, he said resorts will come when all options are exhausted. The government cannot tell any position regarding resorts now because we are still seeking to deal with this situation by looking for other options, he stressed.
Minister Makuei also said the cabinet has reached an understanding allowing SPLA forces to deploy around his base so as to limit his movement in case of intending to launch offensive or attacks on local population.
He said the army would remain around keeping close eye on his base but if he carries out hostile action, the security forces on the ground will have to protect civilians as per their mandate, Makuei explained stressing military options are determined by the situations.
The need to fight Athor as rebel will be determined by the situation and it is result of the circumstances that may allow the government considering military option, he said adding that Athor’s behaviors are that a of rebel and must be dealt with accordingly.
“He is now threatening to attack. He has twice been quoted wanting to attack Bor. Such behaviors will be one of the reasons pushing government for military options, the official said.
“If he execute, his threats he must be dealt with after all he killed people,” said the minister Makuei.
FRESH CLASHES
General Athor today said his forces clashed for the third time with the SPLA troops and renewed his call for negotiations.
“This morning at 7.10 local time the forces of Salva (Kiir) attacked our position … Four people were killed on our side and five were wounded. On their side 83 are dead,” Athor told Reuters on Wednesday.
The southern army admitted the clashes with Athor’s men in Jongeli’s Thougiak area but disputed the death count.
“A (reconnaissance) squad of SPLA soldiers accidentally found where he was hiding … They fired at our squad killing two soldiers and wounding two. We did not kill any from his side,” SPLA spokesman Kuol Diem Kuol told Reuters.
“We had it in our minds that he wanted to negotiate, but now we don’t know if he has abandoned the negotiations. We have the means to fight him.”
(ST)
Gatwech
South Sudan minister rejects negotiation with SPLA General turned rebel
GOSS and SPLA, the war you are fuelling like this with George Athor may get out of control soon.
Please try to be serious in finding a quick and peaceful solution even if it means some officials losing their positions as he demanded. This will save lives and bring conducive atmosphere towards the conduct of referendum.
What if Athor attacks Bor town any time? Will it not be too disasterous?
Lello
South Sudan minister rejects negotiation with SPLA General turned rebel
It does not do good for psysco talk or inflammatory talk that will cause people darely. We like an idea of negotiation for sake of peace. People like Makuei Lueth try to talk tough won’t help Southern Sudan, but otherwise, she going to be fail State. A corruption State like this where soldiers should spend three months without pay and very month check pay reduced, is no good of talking tough.
Lello
Critic_Ngueny
South Sudan minister rejects negotiation with SPLA General turned rebel
Dear Southerners
Stitch in time save nine or act quickly to avoid problems.Athor is supposed to be crashed on the spot since he disobeyed the rules and regulation of the Country.He has committed a serious crime by killing innocent citizens for his own interest.I wished I had a position in the army, I would have ordered my forces to teach him a lesson that he won’t forget in his life again.
Well done Makuei Lueth,your words are very crucial to the citizen of Southern Sudan as well as Sudan at large.Who is Athor to threat SPLA soldiers if Bashier fears them.
Sudan people’s liberation army is not a donkey on which any barking dog is free to take a joy ride.They know why they fought that is to restore the right and dignity of our people.
SPLA oyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
For Athor to attack Bor town will be like hiring a vehicle to Heaven
Critic Ngueny from Bor town
peter gatdet
South Sudan minister rejects negotiation with SPLA General turned rebel
Shame on you,Minister Makuei Lueth.
Who has not rebelled against SPLM/A among you all?
Have u forgot what u have done with CDR Atali in Boma against Splm/a and u pretent to be some one loyal to Splm nowaday?
If Gen Athor Issue be solve militarily then why can n,t it be solve peaceful like yours when we were in the bush and your gov,t is still applying jungle laws.
Albee
South Sudan minister rejects negotiation with SPLA General turned rebel
Hello money makers like Makuei Lueth,
Your fucky idea will not be considered in the South as you did with the SPLA when you exposed it before. The SPLM/SPLA is not handling by money makers like you,Makuei,so it is handling by the best brain people. Negotaition is going to win between Athor and SPLA no matter of what you think. Athor is the good guy not like you because he claims the suffering for his people in the county of Dholiba/Pigi.What did you do for them as current minister,Mr.Makuei? Do not let money cover your eyes friend. SPLA is combination of all people,so you remember that. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
Manyieldit
South Sudan minister rejects negotiation with SPLA General turned rebel
Dear Borthers and Sisters, I would like to ask all of u if not Mr. Makuei this questions:
1. which SPLA battalion did Gen. Makuei commanded during the War?
2. Which battle flied did he participate as the commander for attacking forces?
I said those two questions because I was completely disturbed by Makuei statement of saying no negotiation with Gen. Athor while live are being lost since the day of Dolieb attack till now. is it because the fighting is not near Makuei’s home area? or is simply because he wanted the South to have more confusion so that people will have no attention to referendum and focus on internal conflict?
well if Makuei is so optimistic in winning the War against Gen Athor, does he calculate when will this victory to crash Athor rebellion?
all these are just adding salt in to dry wound. we all know how difficult is to disarm one or two soldiers who decided to to turn the gun on to their colleagues leave alone the Gen. and a quiet number of troop. I want to advice uncle Makuei to leave this talk of war to the field commanders who have the technical-know-how of the war but not the ceremonial Cdrs who are just given political rank like him.
if he talk of War how many soldiers he has moblize form his area to fight Athor? now Murle is a big threat to our people in Bor does he able to stop that?
I know some people with short-sighted wikk react to my comment but the fact remain that Military option is not a solution for solving problem among Southerners, I urge our President Kiir to turn a deaf ears to this nonsense talk of Mr Makuei and try to seek a peaceful solution to this crisis or otherwise we re going to face a full scale war in South.
Thanks
Abu sala
South Sudan minister rejects negotiation with SPLA General turned rebel
General Athor is fighting war of greediness and wanting more when there is only less.. this was his Statement in Naivasha Kenya during Peace first sign on the 31/12/2004 there were lot south Sudan diplomats who came in diaspora special the surronding neighbours he was jealous and call one his colleaque by that time and i was justing listening he said ” oop look, look, look at all these big belly and educative peoples they are the one who gonna talk the big position and we have just fought for nothing look look” as if was regreting to why he took arms….his problem is not something which is for power only for himself or his interest. suppose to be given the Gier position he would not even things for being a governor. his current position too low for him and not doing enough as he wish that why he try to ran for governorship… for all what Athor need is different position than Lt General duty chief of staff what does it mean to him,, and also there are many of them (chief of staff) but higher than him.
American Missile.
South Sudan minister rejects negotiation with SPLA General turned rebel
Dear readers.
Looked,a senior caretaker Minister,uttered that nothing like negotiating with George Athor as if he had never been in a problem,recently when he was an absolutely embarrassed in his own constuency as if he was an immigrant.if it was not an splm ticket,would he have come back?
He should come back to his sense and read what people of southern sudan wanted in this time.we don’t want dislodging one another at this time, and those who expects war will fail with that visions.All cartaker ministers must know that we are watching them and the whole World.behaviour like a elected-Mp.
Honorable,you know very well how you narrowly won the seat just because of referendum a head,otherwise you must have been at home with your dear family,Ayom Alier has real spare you,if Kiir would have not begged people of your constuency,you should have not been a honorable now.you should adjust your characters so that you can match with people’s opinions.
Please,think twice and be a peacemaker,not warlike person,whoever advise that you know how to speak well,misled you.
However,i would like to tell those who are initiating peace approach,to go a head,God will help you in making peace.
Makuei must apologise or be sack although he is a caretaker minister.dear minister,we want peace ok.
Concern Citizen.