Open letter to President Salva Kiir Mayardit

Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit

President of the Republic of South Sudan

Chairman of the SPLM

C-in-C of the SPLA

Juba, South Sudan

Date: 14/8/2013

RE: The case of 2^nd Lieutenant Mayek Riak sentenced to death in 1988

Dear President Salva Kiir Mayardit,

I am writing to you regarding the case of 2^nd Lieutenant Mayek Riak who was sentenced to death in 1988 by the General Court Martial (GCM) of the Western Upper Nile Zonal Commander. As the adjutant of CDR Dr. Riek Machar back then, and the recorder of the proceedings of court martial, I am in a position to testify that the then Captain Telar Ring Deng did not preside over the GCM when 2^nd Lieutenant Mayek Riak was tried.

As the living witness who was the actual recorder of the proceedings of the GCM and the 1^st Lieutenant at Western Upper Nile Zonal Commander General Headquarters, it was CDR Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon who was presiding over the proceedings and sentenced 2^nd Lieutenant Mayek Riak to death. Captain Telar Ring Deng was not present during the proceedings and was not even near the court at the time the chairman of the GCM decided to sentence 2^nd Lieutenant Mayek Riak to death. Besides, Captain Telar Deng was not even a member of the GCM let alone the fact that he didn’t even participate in the proceedings.

After the GCM reached the decision, CDR Riek Machar sent the verdict to SPLM/A Chairman, CDR Dr. John Garang de Mabior who confirmed the death sentence. There are more witnesses who could confirm my version of the story. These witnesses are Kur Mach (who was signal operator and he is now in Australia), Raba Hussein (who is now in Bentiu), Deng Deng Akon, who is now the executive director of Riek Machar and others.

In conclusion, I would like to reiterate to you that the court martial proceedings which were conducted at Tharkuer in 1988 were presided over by the then CDR Dr. Riek Machar when 2^nd Lieutenant Mayek Riak was sentenced to death. Captain Telar Ring Deng did not take part in the proceedings and the allegations which linked him to the decision of the GCM are factually untrue.

Yours,

1^st Lt. Gen. Bapiny Monytuil Wecjang

Leader of former SSLM/A

Juba, South Sudan