SPLA describes as “fabrications” threats to attack Bentiu

By Ngor Arol Garang

June 25, 2010 (ALEK, Warrap) – The spokesman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), Maj. Gen. Kuol Deim Kuol, on Friday brushed away reported warnings by the renegade Colonel Gatluak Gai, to attack Unity state’s capital, Bentiu.

Former police Colonel Gai last week was rumored to have issued a strong warning giving civilians a number of days to voluntarily consider leaving Bentiu town before he could launch military offensive against southern armed forces in the area.

The renegade officer who is suspected to be in Khartoum on Wednesday issued stern warning giving citizens of unity state a deadline to leave Bentiu town by the end of June, 2010.

General Kuol however described the reported warning as mere media propaganda fabricated to boost Colonel Gatluak’s morale, saying that the renegade officer had no force that would threaten the state capital.

“I am not aware of the existence of any force that would be a threat to unity state capital with Colonel Gai for citizens to consider leaving it,” he said, adding these are just media fabrications to boost his moral.

“This is just media propaganda but not that Colonel Gai meant it. He has no formidable armed group to organize any heavy attack and on top of this, he is completely out of the SPLA controlled areas since last month,”Gen. Kuol explained.

“Where can he launch his operation? He is only with few starving soldiers mostly close relatives who are trying hard to return as civilians,” he added.

Many others also echo Gen. Kuol’s downplay of the level of the alleged threat posed by Colonel Gatluak.SPLA Logistics Officer Major Peter Bot told Sudan Tribune on Friday from Bentiu town that death must be hunting Colonel Gai to issue such warnings to inhabitants of Unity state capital.

Colonel Gai rebelled following the April elections results that declared the incumbent governor Taban Deng Gai winner of the gubernatorial contest. He rejected the results describing them as rigged and claimed to have coordinated his rebellion with Lt. General George Athor Deng in Jonglei state, who also confirmed the coordination.

Another renegade, David Yauyau, in Pibor County of Jonglei state became the third to rebel against the system.

The Government of Southern Sudan has been trying to reconcile with the discontented leaders as a result of political differences created by the elections. The Southern Sudan President, Salva Kiir Mayardit, was reported to have met in Khartoum with another discontented former army General, Dau Aturjong Nyuol, who also contested independently and lost to his rival, Gen. Paul Malong in Northern Bahr el Ghazal state. The meeting was reportedly about convincing Gen. Dau to leave Khartoum and move to Juba for more elaborate discussions in the southern capital with the leadership which aims to return him to the SPLM party.

(ST)