S. Sudanese diaspora call for release of alleged rebel Abdelraham Sule
September 6, 2013 (KUACJOK) – The diaspora community from South Sudan’s Greater Equatoria region have called on the government to unconditionally release Peter Abdelraham Sule who was arrested in 2011 for allegedly forming a rebel group to fight the government.
“The continuous detention of Sule does not reflect a true spirit of reconciliation. Therefore, we Equatorians in the diaspora call for the unconditional release of Peter Abdelraham Sule as part of the presidential amnesty. The people of South Sudan will trust the government and its leadership if justice is applied equally to all the sons and daughters of South Sudan”, said a statement extended to Sudan Tribune dated 1 September.
Sule, leader of the United Democratic forum (UDF), was arrested in 2011 after reportedly being found in the bush with armed men.
Since his arrest about two years ago, no charge has been formally brought against him and he remains in detention.
At a community conference held by people from different ethnic backgrounds from Equatoria in Michigan, USA, members expressed concern at Sule’s long detention without trial.
“We, the Equatorians in the diaspora are very concerned with the fate of Peter Abdelrahman Sule who has been in detention for quite a long time”, read part of the statement.
The Equatorians called on the government to offer an amnesty to Sule like it has done with others accused of taking up arms to fight the government.
“In the same spirit of amnesty offered to rebel leaders like David Yau Yau, and other previous ones like Peter Gadet, Johnson Uliny, Bapiny Montuil, we request president Kiir to extend the same amnesty to Peter Abdelraham Sule who has been in detention”, the statement adds.
The Equatorians praised Kiir for his appointment of James Wani as the new vice-president of South Sudan, after long-time deputy Riek Machar was fired by the president in July as part of a major cabinet reshuffle.
In the statement, the Equatorians also commended President Kiir for his reduction of the size of his cabinet which they said should work towards delivering much needed services for South Sudanese.
“We urge the parliament to enact laws that will change the living conditions of the people of South Sudan who have not seen good roads, schools, hospital, institutions of learning and the list is endless. The people of South Sudan expect the new cabinet to institute change and ensure proper delivery of basic services”, the statement said.
(ST)