Upper Nile rebel sets conditions for talks, deny surrendering
May 5, 2013 (JUBA) – A rebel faction from Upper Nile state has denied surrendering to the South Sudanese government, arguing that the grievances which led to their rebellion should be settled through comprehensive negotiation not amnesty.
It was previously thought that John Uliny – also known as Johnson Olony – had accepted President Salva Kiir’s amnesty that was re-issued late last month, which offered immunity from prosecution if they respond to his call to lay down their weapons.
At the end of April a large group from the South Sudan Liberation Army (SSLA) rebels crossed back in Unity state from neighboring Sudan and announced their acceptance of the amnesty. An SSLA official said that they had 2,316 personnel in Mayom county, and that a further 1,500 fighters, under the command of Lt. Gen. John Uliny were due to arrive in Malakal, the capital of Upper Nile state on Friday 4 May.
But Uliny said in statement that his group had nothing to do with the SSLA but was part of the South Sudan Democratic Movement/Army (SSDM/A), which is fighting the SPLM government and the nation’s army – the SPLA in Jonglei state under the leadership of David Yauyau.
The SSLA’s decision was to “safe guide their interests as organisation”. By accepting the amnesty the SSLA had gone “against the will and interests of the entire revolutionary organizations in the country”, Uliny said.
The SSDM/A, he said, is in a series of “political consultations with other Revolutionary forces with purpose of forming [a] Coalition Force under one leadership to strive for National Revolutionary causes.”
In a statement to Sudan Tribune Uliny said that his group had “never surrendered” and have never had “any plan to surrender to the SPLM’s Regime as it has been speculated by the Government and some [of South Sudan’s other] Rebel movement[s]”.
In “revolutionary” movements there is no such concept of “amnesty and surrender”, Uliny said, adding that amnesty’s are “meant for criminals” and vision-less organisations.
Uliny said in his statement that “total regime change […] remains the only option for us and this nation, in order to enhance the Revolutionary’s principal objective, that is to strive for the achievement of political and economic self-determination for all South Sudanese, in [a] United Country”.
However, later in his statement said that his demands could be achieved “either through total regime change, or Comprehensive Peace Negotiation between the Revolutionary Forces and [the] SPLM”.
If South Sudan’s ruling party wants peace in the 20-month-old country it should call for peace talks rather than issue unilateral offers of an amnesty, he said. Should an offer of talks be made Uliny said his group “will be ready to come to round table, in order to find common grounds that will address the Nation’s crisis.”
Laying out his preconditions before entering talks with the Juba government Uliny said that they must be mediated by the international community “because this is the only way, for us to reach common ground” and provide the peace, security and socio-economic progress that were the “major causes of our revolt against the regime of SPLM.”
He further added that an umbrella movement of of South Sudanese rebels who had not accepted the amnesty – the Inter-Revolutionary Leadership Council – will continue to work together “to find lasting solutions to the Country’s contemporary problems, and ensure that, there is meaningful change in the Country’s political system”.
Sudan Tribune was not able to independently verify authenticity of the release despite repeated attempts to reach Olony on his known number, which was off service at the time.
But Gordon Buay, who had identified himself in the past, as spokesperson of the rebel alliance, denied involvement of Uliny and accused a certain David de Chan in Khartoum of forging the release without the knowledge of the rebel faction.
“That press release was forged by David de Chan in Khartoum. Johnson Olony forces and that of Gordon Koang will move to a certain location in Upper Nile in three days. I am in contact with them. We are now arranging with the SPLA where they will be stationed like SSLA forces at Mayom. Afterwards, we will work out the modalities of integrating them and the issue of power sharing”, Buay said in statement.
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SSLA rebels say their presence in South Sudan means peace not war