South Sudan army ceases cordoning ex-SPLA General turned rebel

By Ngor Arol Garang

May 22, 2010 (TURALEI) — Officers from the southern ruling army, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) have said they have stopped deploying their forces to barricade former SPLA deputy chief of General staff, Lieutenant General George Athor, from moving out of his base.

Our forces previously deployed around areas suspected of hosting General Athor have received military instructions from the SPLA general headquarters never to conduct offensive reconnaissance, said an army officer who requested to remain anonymous.

“These instructions are helpful because they have reduced fear and tension in the area and situation is now relatively calm. Athor is even moving freely in the area, the senior SPLA officer said. “His movement is not being restricted. I understand he was on Wednesday in Baliet County and there was no problem because he did not attack any military base on his way to Baliet,” the military source stressed.

According to the source, the recent instructions from the SPLA General headquarters in Juba advise the army to only monitor his movements and react vigorously in self defense in case he attacks any military base. Recent orders from the headquarters instruct the army to only fight back in self defense in case he launches any offensive against any military base in the area, he said.

This came following recent reconciliatory message made by SPLA General chief of Staff 1st Lieutenant General James Hoth Mai, at 27th anniversary of the formation of the SPLA/M, in the regional capital of Juba on 16, in which he called for reconciliation and forgiveness among political leaders.

The General, who reportedly called for peaceful dialogue and initiation of reconciliation and forgiveness, also said “Southern Sudanese cannot afford to let the referendum period reach us while in disharmony”.

“Time has now come for reconciliation. The political atmosphere and scars left by the last general elections requires a lot of work to be done by our political leaders and all of us,” General Mai said, adding he called political leaders to reconcile their differences.

“And for this reason, I call upon comrades Kuol Manyangs, George Athors, John Luks, Dr Riek Gai, Joseph Duers, Imail Konyi, John Kongs, King Agada, and others of Jonglei State to bury your differences and forge a way forward for the benefit of your people,” he said.

“Most importantly, I call upon comrade Salva Kiirs, Riek Machars, and the entire Government of Southern Sudan to initiate the reconciliation drive and say enough is enough! The tribal conflicts have become a nuisance to our young Government. May I call upon individual tribes in southern Sudan to embrace peace and harmony with your neighboring tribes,” General Mai appealed.

President Kiir in his inaugural speech in Juba yesterday positively responded to the call of the General chief of Staff and pledged to initiate reconciliation initiatives and asked all to do the same. He accepted call for reconciliation because “Southern Sudan has suffered myriad of conflicts for decades that he will do his best to reconcile the people”.

“I shall not go back to history but will unite all the people to live at peace with each other, Kiir said urging all leaders to equally play a role in reconciliation initiatives. He said this is the only way the region and Sudan at large can forge a head. Let us heal our wounds, preach harmony and forgive each other,” Kiir emphasized.

The renegade general fought against the SPLA for more than four times, since an attack by his partisans on April 30 on a SPLA base in Doleib Hills area.

The defeated candidate for Jonglei Governor, said several times willing to seek a negotiated settlement for his rebellion. He however rejected calls to move to Juba asking amnesty to his followers and removal of Jonglei elect governor.

After the different clashes with SPLA troops, General Athor demanded the cancellation of elections results and dissolution of South Sudan government. He said a new transitional government should be formed with participation of all political parties and independent candidates before calling for elections after the referendum.

(ST)