S. Sudanese rebel commander says death of his son no different
July 14, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – Top South Sudanese rebel commander has confirmed the death of his son, but said his murder had no difference from the death of tens of thousands of other sons and daughters massacred by the “regime” of president Salva Kiir.
Yak was staying in the protection site of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in Jonglei state’s capital, Bor, since January 2014. He and five other colleagues from the Nuer ethnic group moved out of the camp on Sunday to try to walk to Lou-Nuer area after complaining of unfavourable conditions in the UNMISS camp.
Sources said their movement was intercepted by the South Sudanese army (SPLA) who stopped them, arrested them and killed the son of the rebel commander. They released the rest and ordered them to return to Bor town.
In reaction, the armed opposition faction’s deputy chief of general staff for operations, General Peter Gatdet Yak, confirmed the death of his son to Sudan Tribune, but said it had no difference.
“My son’s death has no difference from the death of other sons and daughters who got murdered by the regime of Salva Kiir,” he told Sudan Tribune on Tuesday.
“His blood has joined the bloods of other sacrificed souls for the soon to be freedom of the rest who will be still alive,” he said.
The deceased remained in Bor town since January last year due to an accident on his leg which made it not possible for him to join his family.
1st Lt. Yak was the first born of General Yak and his mother Agnes from Torit. He graduated in Noble school and was working in Bilpam General headquarters before the outbreak of the civil war in December 2013.
His body was successfully recovered and a burial was being arranged at a location not yet disclosed.
(ST)