Renegade General Athor: I remain committed to peaceful settlement
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By Ngor Arol Garang
April 1 2011, (WAU) -George Athor Deng Dut, a former senior military
officer in the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), turned rebel,
said on Friday he remained committed to peaceful settlement of the
conflict believed to have claimed over 300 lives and displaced
countless others since he launched his rebellion on 30th of April
2010.
JPEG - 15.1 kb
George Athor Deng (ST)
Speaking to Sudan Tribune on Friday from an undisclosed location by
phone, Athor said he was not in Khartoum and that he remained
committed to a peaceful settlement to the conflict.
"Our position to negotiate how to settle our reservations and issues
which concerned our people has always been one of our desires and
demands. We have never changed this position. We have never rejected
any attempt for peaceful settlement. Our people need peace and so do
we. We are ready for any peaceful settlement if the other people are
ready to negotiate with us," said Athor.
"I am not in Khartoum and have not gone to Khartoum. I am speaking to
you from my base in south Sudan. Who said I am in Khartoum or I have
gone to Khartoum? When did they say we met or saw me in Khartoum?"
asked Athor.
Officials from GoSS, including the SPLM secretary general Pagan Amum
last month accused Khartoum of supporting the rebellion in the south
through proxy militias. He also claimed Athor flew to Khartoum after
fleeing from his base. "I have never gone to Khartoum and I do not
have any intention to go. What for?" asked Athor, an interview with
Sudan Tribune on Friday.
Attempts made by Sudan Tribune to contact spokesman of the SPLA
failed. Atem Biar, a member of the SPLM in Juba said the request for a
peaceful settlement by Athor is another trick to regroup his forces
for other atrocities.
"Claims that he is committed to peaceful settlement are mere media
tricks. He just wants to use period of negotiations to regroup his
forces for other atrocities. No way. The government will not buy these
claims. If he needs peace, he has to lay down arms and surrender
without making any condition," said Biar.
Athor was one of the senior independent zonal commanders close to late
John Garang, chairman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM)
and commander chief of the SPLA, until his death in 2005, during more
than two decades of conflict between north and South Sudan. He
rebelled after losing the gubernatorial race for Jonglei state.
Following Garang’s death, the leadership council of the movement
swiftly moved to name Salva Kiir Mayardit as an immediate successor.
Recognising the loyalty and dedication of Athor in his contributions
during the war, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General,
from Major General and named Deputy SPLA Chief of Staff for Political
and Moral Orientation, a position he held until when he rebelled in
2010.
Armed groups loyal to him since launching his rebellion clashed on
several occasions with forces belonging to the SPLA. In October, the
South Sudan President issued an executive order pardoning Athor and
his forces.
The decree was also extended to leaders of the other armed groups but
gave conditions demanding the laying down arms before assimilation
into the SPLA takes place. Athor made reservations requesting South
Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit, to slightly modify the decree in
a way it would cover fate of his armed groups and political
supporters.
In December 2010, just a month into the January vote on self
determination for the people of South Sudan, president Kiir formed a
peace and reconciliation committee including two bishops from Roman
Catholic and Episcopal Church of Sudan and army Generals. This was
amid calls for peace and reconciliation for the successful conduct of
the referendum, as was emphasised by the South Sudanese Political
Parties’ Conference held at Nyakuron Cultural Centre in Juba, Central
Equatoria State, in October 2010.
The committee was primarily tasked with finding ways to end conflict
in the area. They met General Athor in one of his hideout bases in his
home county of Khorflus, Jonglei state and held talks with him.
Chairman of the committee, Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul, described the
negotiations and their meeting with General Athor, in one of the
interviews with journalists, shortly after arrival from Malakal at
Juba International Airports, as successful and encouraging.
On 5 January 2011, just three days before the South Sudanese were to
go to the polls, the GoSS announced it was signing an agreement on the
cessation of hostilities with the rebellious forces of General Athor,
David Yauyau and Colonel Gatluak Gai.
The pact signed in Juba, allows some of the areas previously occupied
by forces belonging to both sides of the conflict, to be used as
transitory assembly points. Others were to be used as integration
points and others were left to forces loyal to either side, based on
the consensus.
However, Dok James Puok, spokesman for the renegade groups, on 9 of
February 2011, accused SPLA forces of having launched an attack on
their forces in three different locations, resulting in heavy
fighting, which claimed lives of over 200 people, most of whom were
reportedly identified as innocent civilians many of whom had recently
returned from northern Sudan in Fangak county, Jonglei State.
Colonel Phillip Aguer Panyang, spokesman for SPLA, in a separate
interview with Sudan Tribune at the time, denied launching an attack
and blamed Athor of initiating the conflict.
In early March 2011, president Kiir gave SPLA forces an executive
mandate to protect the lives of the civilians and their properties and
accused Athor to having used the amnesty to recruit more fighters from
the local people, against southern army.
Responding to the call made by the president, the SPLA launched an
offensive operation aimed at containing the rebellion, resulting in
the taking of areas previously under the control of General Athor,
including his base.
(ST)
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