For Immediate Release
June, 6, 2013
The leadership Council of former SSLA forces that responded to Presidential Amnesty on April, 26, 2013, is hereby disputing the unfounded allegations labelled against SSLA forces that joined the South Sudan army. The Leadership Council of the former rebels that responded to peace is flabbergasted by the comments made by Twic county commissioner Malek Riing Makuei to Sudan Tribune on June, 5th alleging that the former SSLA forces were involved in the attack that took place in Warrap State on May, 31st, and June, 2nd.
If the comments published by the Sudan Tribune are authentic and were made by the Hon. Malek Riing, we could say that the Commissioner made irresponsible comments which don’t reflect his position because he should have known that they were cattle rustlers that attacked Twic County in May and June.
After the Commissioner of Mayom learned on May, 31st, that cattle rustlers attacked Twic County, he requested Maj. Gen. Mathews Pul Jang, the commander of the former SSLA forces, to lend him ten cars to transport the police force to apprehend the cattle rustlers that attacked Warrap. The Commissioner of Mayom was given ten cars and was able to apprehend some of the cattle rustlers that attacked Warrap State.
It should be noted that former SSLA forces have become part of the South Sudan army and they are stationed in Mayom County awaiting the commencement of the integration process that would lead them to be relocated to different parts of South Sudan. The C-in-C of the SPLA army, Lt. Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit, has set up a committee that will oversee the integration process of the former SSLA forces into the SPLA.
It’s therefore advisable that Hon. Malek Ring Makuei should check his facts before making unfounded allegations against former rebels that joined the South Sudan army and became part of the SPLA. The Commissioner should have consulted the SPLA Headquarters in Juba before endorsing unfounded allegations that may create negative impression. Former SSLA forces stationed in Mayom live side by side with the SPLA units and there is no way that they could attack villages to loot cattle without the knowledge of the SPLA army. The SPLA army has been supplying them with food and they don’t need anything from the civil population.
The allegations that the Commissioner endorsed are not true and they might have been invented by the anti-peace elements who are being threatened by the spirit of unity taking place in South Sudan. There are anti-peace elements in South Sudan who are unhappy that the South Sudan rebels responded to presidential amnesty to attain sustainable peace that will usher in tranquility and development.
For Contact:
Gordon Buay
Spokesman of the Leadership Council of the former rebels that signed peace with the Government of South Sudan
Email:gordonbuay@hotmail.com