Gai’s family accuses SPLA of being behind his death in Unity State ArticleComments (42). Email PrintSave --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 27, 2011 (BENTIU) - The family of the late rebel leader Gatluak Gai has accused the Republic of South Sudan and its army of involvement in his death, rejecting accounts from Gai’s deputy that his boss wanted to scrap a peace deal and join forces with North Sudan instead. John Nguanyeat Gai Gatwich Kuey brother of late General Gatluak Gai. July 26, 2011 (ST)On Saturday, Gai’s second in command, Marko Chuol Ruei, went on Bentiu radio to claim responsibility for the death of his commander, who was killed on Saturday in Pakur, Koch County. Ruei asserted he now had command over the old rebel group and expressed his desire to see through a peace deal signed on July 18 with South Sudan’s army (SPLA). But in an interview on Tuesday, John Nguanyeat Gai Gatwich Kuey, a brother to Gatluak Gai, disputed the account of Ruei. Instead, he blamed elements within the SPLA and the state government for plotting to kill the rebel leader out of anger for the high SPLA rank he was given in the negotiations. Gai’s brother said the radio report was false and claimed that the rebel leader was ambushed. According to Ruei, Gai told his troops on July 22 to dishonor the peace agreement and refuse integration into the SPLA. He further said that Gai wanted to bring his men to North Sudan to get more arms and continue the rebellion, which he started after elections in April 2010. But Gai’s brother Nguanyeat, who helped facilitate the talks between Gai and the SPLA, said his brother had no intention of heading to the North or dishonoring the peace deal, in which Gai was granted the rank of Lieutenant General. Nguanyeat added that Gai was killed within the assembling area Pakur, where he was to be re-integrated into the SPLA according to the peace deal. His brother dismissed the claims by other rebels that he was killed at an area that is two hours walking distance away. His brother alleged that Gai was ambushed by a combination of SPLA forces and those of his deputy Ruei, whom Nguanyeat alleges had struck a separate deal with the South Sudan army. Nyalony Tod Weal, the wife of late General Gatluak Gai, also dismissed the official accounts of Ruei. She said that the morning her husband was killed, women went to fetch water at 5am and found a group of SPLA and militiamen in the area. She said that short time afterwards; the bodyguard of her husband came and woke up everyone because the barracks was surrounded. He told the rebel leader he must try to escape. The widow said that the family had only reached 100 meters from the barracks when gunfire erupted. She said the women and children were taken in a different direction for safety, and that her husband was soon killed. The South Sudan government and army have long alleged that the Khartoum government supported Gai and other rebels in the South. Sudan’s army and ruling party both deny this. Ruei said the rebel group was in contact with Khartoum regarding the supply of munitions, but that this assistance was contingent upon the Gai rejoining the rebel forces of Peter Gadet and Bapiny Monytuel. Ruei denied accusations that the SPLA had anything to do with Gatluak Gai’s death. There have long been allegations that the Khartoum government has supported rebel groups operating in South Sudan. Ruei claims the Gai had been in contact with Khartoum regarding the supply of munitions. However, this assistance was contingent on Gai joining forces with other militias headed by Peter Gadet and Bapiny Monytuel, known as the South Sudan Liberation Army (SSLA). Ruei said the Gai’s branch of the SSLA under his command is now truly committed to peace. He denied claims that the SPLA carried out the killing. Gai’s localised rebellion began after Angelina Teny, the wife of South Sudan’s vice president Riek Machar was beaten by Taban Deng Gai to the gubernatorial seat in Bentiu in April 2010. It is believed that Gatluak Gai wanted a county commissioner-ship under Taban Deng Gai. (ST) -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "JFD info" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/jfdinfo?hl=en.
