S. Sudan activist says assassination attempt linked to political views
September 20, 2014 (JUBA) – The head of South Sudan’s civil society alliance, Deng Athuai Mawiir, has linked a recent attempt on his life to events at the ongoing peace talks between the government and rebels in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.
Specifically, Mawiir said he questioned the delegates on both sides of the warring parties in the conflict about their personal and professional stakes in South Sudan.
”I asked them that I need to know from anyone of you who have come to this negotiation in Addis [Ababa] to raise his hand up if his family are present inside South Sudan,” said the activist.
“Unfortunately none of them raised [a] hand. All their children at the moment were abroad,” he added.
According to Mawiir, some people approached him after his speech and bluntly told him to stay away from the ongoing peace talks. He was shot, days later, in the leg.
The activist, while speaking to Sudan Tribune, insisted he was not moved by what happened, vowing never give up the struggle to ensure peace returned to the nation.
He said he addressed members of the country’s ruling party (SPLM) in Juba before the crisis began in mid-December last year.
“I told them our problem is that we must separate the military from politics,” said Mawiir, adding that leaders “must not hold three positions to be a businessman and lieutenant general in the army, and [at] the same time you are the minister”.
“I said it here and after two month I got kidnapped by security,” he added.
Mawiir rejected claims by the SPLM that the so-called stakeholders, which include civil society, religious groups, among others, wanted to join the transitional government.
“I don’t want civil society to be part of this transitional government because they will not be able to speak the truth and will be part of the corruption,” he said.
“We need our brother Riek Machar, Pagan Amum, and brother President Salva Kiir to sit together and solve their problems inside their own house called SPLM Party. This is not the problem of all South Sudanese. It is the problem of the party called SPLM, a problem of people whom we gave them the mandate of confidence to protect us and deliver the service to the people of South Sudan,” he added.
The transitional government, the activist said, should be constituted of people who work positively for the nation. He said that criteria should not include leaders of the warring parties who should first finish their term before new elections are held.
“No-one will use the government money or vehicle or even the army to protect you and bring you into the power again, no,” said Mawiir.
(ST)