Athor’s spokesman splints to negotiate with South Sudan government
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By Ngor Arol Garang
April 28, 2011 (WAU) — Dok James Puok, spokesperson of the renegade
George Athor Deng with senior members from the rebellion today broke
away from their rebel group, saying he would form a separate faction
to negotiate ways to resolve differences created by April elections
with the Government of South Sudan (GoSS).
JPEG - 12.8 kb
Dok James Puok (AP)
George Athor was one of the senior Sudan People’s Liberation Army
(SPLA) members, who rebelled after losing the gubernatorial election
to the incumbent Jonglei state governor, Kuol Manyang Juuk, in April
2010.
Since launching his rebellion, on 30 April 2010, accusing the SPLM of
rigging elections in favour of his main competitor, forces loyal to
him clashed on several occasions with forces belonging to the Sudan
People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) in his home county of Khorfulus,
Jonglei state.
Secretary General for Information and Communications of the rebel
South Sudan Democratic Movement (SSDM) said on Thursday he submitted
his resignation to General Athor five days ago.
"I have resigned from the South Sudan Democratic Movement. The reasons
for which I resigned from being official spokesman are what I have
said earlier. I have resigned because of lack of strategic planning,
lack of clear vision and lack of administrative reform within the
movement since it came into existence", said Puok.
He said he would form another faction in the course of one week with
other five SSDM members, to negotiate with GoSS on how to end
differences created by last April’s elections.
"We will form a separate faction which shall be called South Sudan
Democratic Movement for Reform (SSDMR). Our aims are reach peaceful
settlement with the Government of South Sudan if they are ready to
talk", said Puok.
He said he realised that enemies of peace and Southern stability have
taken advantage of differences created by elections and that it is not
his intention to go against the interests of people to South Sudan or
to sabotage hoisting of flag of the new nation.
The resignation of the senior rebel movement coincided with the media
reports that General Athor formed a government in which he said he
would be the president and Abdel Bagi Ayii Akol as vice president. It
was claimed that the new rebel government would rebel the SPLM led
government in Juba. Several attempts by Sudan Tribune on Thursday to
reach George Athor on his satellite phone in his hideout failed.
Atem Biar, a senior member of the SPLM, in an interview with Sudan
Tribune from Juba described the rebel government as a worthless media
stunt.
"These are just empty dream to draw only media attention. Where are
they? Where are Athor and Abdel Bagi Ayii Akol at the moment? With
whom can they form this imaginary government? Athor is on the run and
hiding without single soldier left with him and so is Abdel Bagi, I am
told none of his sons followed him," said Atem.
Puok was among the senior members of the movement who were negotiating
the peace with GoSS before the two forces clashed in February and
again in March 2011.
The South Sudan President in October 2010 issued an executive order
pardoning him and his group. Forces of others dissidents including
Gabriel Tanginye were also covered by the order. However, Athor asked
the president to modify the order to cover the fate of his armed
forces and political allies.
In December, the president issued another order forming peace
committee led bishops of the Episcopal and Roman Catholic church of
Sudan and armed generals to negotiate a way forward, to end the
conflict in the area. The committee met and held meeting with Athor in
his hideout and returned with recommendation containing his
reservations to the president. Acting on the advice submitted by the
committee, GoSS in January signed a ceasefire and agreed on the
process to integrate forces of Athor into the SPLA.
(ST)
(ST)
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