South Sudan gives Jonglei rebel leader Yau Yau ultimatum to surrender
June 5, 2013 (JUBA) – South Sudan issued an ultimatum to the Jonglei based militia leader, David Yau Yau, on Wednesday asking him to choose between laying down his weapons unconditionally and respond to the presidential amnesty, or risk being pursued militarily.
“We are a government with all capabilities to provide protection to all our civil population and their properties not only in Jonglei state but the entire country. It is therefore not a business of individuals to claim the responsibility of protection of the members of their ethnic group”, said Minister Nyuon in a clear reference to Yau Yau’s declaration that he was fighting to defend his Murle ethnic group and establish a separate state for marginalised minorities.
He warned that the army would not tolerate individuals using the “tribal card” to commit atrocities, saying it was a matter of time before South Sudan’s army (SPLA) – itself a former rebel movement turned national army – could bring the conflict in the region to an end if Yau Yau does not respond to the presidential amnesty issued in April.
“Yau Yau is taking advantage of the good intention of the president to give peaceful dialogue the opportunity to resolve the conflict. It is not that the SPLA is not capable to end these banditry activities. I consider it banditry because he has no base. He is now on the run. The SPLA forces are hunting for him. We decided to respect the decision of the president but it seems he is not responding. So we are giving him the opportunity to decide between responding to the amnesty or the SPLA will be forced to hunt him. He has to make a choice”, Nyuon said on Wednesday.
Nyuon was speaking to journalists in response to questions about what his ministry intends to do to ensure the peace and stability promised by president Salva Kiir, while addressing the fifth international conference on African development in Japan.
Kiir vowed his government’s commitment to guarantee internal stability, especially along the border with Sudan, which has remained tense and highly militarised since South Sudan’s independence in 2011.
In his speech Kiir also recognised the work of Japanese peacekeepers in United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), lauding the expansion of their operations in infrastructure development into new areas in Eastern and Western Equatoria states.
He told the conference that his administration, with civil society organisations, had initiated a process of national reconciliation as a way of consolidating peace in the country.
SPLA CLOSING IN ON REBEL HIDEOUTS
Meanwhile, military sources said government soldiers were heading on Tuesday to suspected key areas in north eastern and south eastern parts of Pibor county, located in south eastern part of Jonglei state, allegedly occupied by rebels who oppose the presence of the country’s military or government there.
“At the moment, our forces are on the move. It is just a matter before you hear a new development. Our forces on the ground have clear orders to pursue Yau Yau and his forces and restore law and order in the area so that the civilian can return to their areas and resume normal life”, a senior military source told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday in Juba.
The spokesperson for SPLA colonel Phillip Aguer also told the audience during a question and answer session hosted by privately-owned Citizen Television that it was only a matter of time before the army could bring the rebellion in Jonglei state “to an end”.
The military officer, however, did not provide any further details on the current activities of the army in the area.
(ST)