Machar calls for forgiveness in the second anniversary of Juba atrocities

December 15, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudanese former vice-president, Riek Machar, who leads an armed opposition faction against president Salva Kiir’s government in Juba, has called on the people of South Sudan to forgive and reconcile among themselves despite the massacre of thousands of members of his ethnic Nuer community by president Kiir’s forces in the capital when the war erupted on 15 December 2013.

In a 3-page statement he issued on Tuesday, 15 December, to mark what he called “black Monday” when ethnic cleansing started in Juba, the leader of the armed opposition faction of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO), who on 17 August signed a peace agreement with president Kiir and has become the designated first vice-president of the country per the peace deal, also accused the “regime” in Juba of initiating a “senseless war” targeting innocent civilians.

“Today, we are commemorating the second anniversary of the black Monday of 16th December, in which the brutal regime in Juba committed massacres, heinous crimes and crimes against Humanity and ethnic cleansing,” Machar said in the statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Tuesday.

“The Nuer and other South Sudanese were targeted in mayhem, where over twenty thousand innocent civilians were killed in one week under a pretext that a coup was foiled, a narrative that the whole world has dismissed,” Machar said.

President Kiir, he charged, started the “senseless” war, targeting the innocent civilians during which people were forced to eat the flesh of their dead relatives and then tortured or killed afterwards.

He said his group was surprised by the war as they were not expecting that the debates over the country’s reforms which took place from November 2013 within the ruling SPLM could turn violent, adding that this later on forced his faction to exercise self-defence.

“Despite our determination to avoid a war, we realized the regime had prepared itself to wage a war of ethnic cleansing against one nationality in South Sudan. The regime invited Ugandan forces and Sudanese rebels in the first day of the crisis to fight on its side. We were left with no option but to defend ourselves,” he explained.

Machar however said the peace agreement he signed, although forced on the parties, has addressed majority of the crucial issues to change the status quo in South Sudan’s governance system; adding federalism as the system of governance, institutional reforms, compensation for the lost properties as well as reconciliation and healing will be tackled through the peace deal.

He called on the people of the young nation to forgive one another and focus on the implementation of the agreement which will change the country.

“In the light of this, I am calling upon the people to forgive one another and move forward to a better future. I also take this opportunity to call upon the people to overcome any obstacles that they may encounter in the transition from war to peace so that we can build a nation of institutions, peace and democracy where dignity of its people are respected and preserved,” he further appealed.

The top armed opposition leader also called on the people of South Sudan to own the peace agreement and ensure its full implementation, further accusing the government of president Kiir of refusing to receive hundreds of the advance team from the SPLM-IO who would return to Juba and other states to kick of the implementation of the peace deal at all levels.

He said the international community has already resolved to avail logistics for the over 600 members of the advance team including their transportation to Juba and to states and their accommodation for a certain period of time before the formation of the transitional government of national unity.

Machar said the main obstacle now is the government in Juba which has continued to refuse to receive the advance team.

“I wish to inform all South Sudanese that the SPLM/SPLA has prepared its 609 Advance Team waiting in Pagak to go to Juba. Our Team is ready and all logistics for transportation and accommodation are in place. The regime in Juba is showing its lack of commitment to the implementation of the agreement by refusing to receive our advance delegation. I repeat – our Advance Team is ready,” he concluded.

He called on the international community to exert pressure on Juba to accept to receive the advance team and to stop violating the agreement on ceasefire and security arrangements, accusing it of air raiding the opposition’s forces in their cantonment areas or assembly points across the country.

(ST)