South Sudanese rebels release lost NGOs staff from Juba

May 11, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – The armed opposition faction led by the former vice- president, Riek Machar, on Monday released workers of a local NGO who flew from the government-held South Sudanese capita, Juba, and wrongly landed in a rebel-controlled town.

All the seven who are also South Sudanese staff members and work for a Juba-based local non-governmental organisation called ‘The Health Support Organisation’ or THESO, were brought to the leadership of the rebel movement in Pagak hours before they were freed and flown back to Juba on Monday.

The staff from Juba boarded a plane on 7 March destined to Chotbora area in Fangak county of Jongeli state but instead wrongly landed in another Chotbora town of Longechuk county in Adar (Upper Nile) state, which is under the control and administration of the opposition faction.

Machar’s spokesperson, James Gatdet Dak, said before the release of the detainees on Monday the seven persons were detained for 45 days during which an investigation was carried out into their identities and claimed status as workers for the relief organisation.

He told Sudan Tribune that the leadership of the opposition directed for their freedom and return to their base in Juba.

“Our leadership directed for their release and they returned to Juba on Monday. This is in exercise of our principles and implementation of the humanitarian ground rules,” he said.

He said the freed local NGO workers expressed good treatment while in detention under the custody of the local administration in the area.

“They were very excited and had to take a picture with the SPLM/SPLA chairman and commander-in-chief, Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon,” Dak further narrated.

They freed personnel include John Jock Reat, team leader, Oryem William Ronald, Kiden Jesca Tionga, Mungo Patrick, Edema Charles Daniel, Luoy Gatkek Chak and Luka Mayuan Gai.

This is the second time after the rebel group also released staff from the government-controlled areas, including the chairman for National Bureau for Census and Statistics, Isaiah Aruai Chol, whose plane wrongly landed in rebel-held area early this year.

The opposition faction is also concerned about alleged infiltration of NGOs by government security operatives spying on their areas of control and urged relief organizations to avoid influence by the government.

(ST)