S. Sudan rebels refute claims of defections to government

March 11, 2015 (KAMPALA) – A representatives of South Sudan’s armed opposition (SPLM-IO) said he was unaware of any defection of its members to South Sudan government.

This comes days after some junior members of the armed opposition abandoned the rebel camp and returned to Juba, a move the SPLM-IO said was in line with the recently signed Arusha Agreement.

“What we know is that we signed Arusha Agreement on the reunification of the SPLM Party; as a result the government was obliged within 14 days to revoke sanctions and asset freeze as well as declare general amnesty and pardon to those they wrongly accused and persecuted,” Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, the SPLM-IO representative in Kampala said in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune.

“There is no defection that has taken place,” adds the statement.

According to Oyet, the government without founded reasons persecuted the ruling party (SPLM) former secretary general, Pagan Amum’s family, citing the manner in which his sister Banguot Amum and a younger brother were treated during the crisis.

Banguot, the chairperson for national committee for women and youth empowerment in the armed opposition, returned to Juba on Tuesday after her father died over the weekend.

Oyet, however, claimed the official’s return to Juba was coincidental and pre-arranged between representatives of tripartite party to the Arusha Agreement and separately an understanding between the two warring parties to guarantee security and enable the family pay their last respects and bury the late paramount chief, Amum Okiech

He said Okiech’s untimely death was a big loss to the young nation.

“We learnt with sadness that in all her sorrow, the chairperson for national committee for women and youth empowerment has been put under duress and forced to appear on the press against her will even when the family undergoes difficult moments,” said Oyet.

“We urge the government to stick to their commitments in Nairobi and accord the official protection and innocent passage without let after the burial,” he stressed.

FALSE ALLEGATIONS

The senior SPLM-IO official further stated that claims by the South Sudanese government that there was defection in the rebel camp is “totally false and unfounded”.

“In principle we are one and doing the same thing,” Oyet said, adding, “We are in full contacts with our members inside and we direct their activities”.

(ST)