South Sudan rebels stress only 35 joined Peter Gadet Article Comments (21) Email PrintSave --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
August 13, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – A rebel group in South Sudan Unity state denied the defection of 1200 fighters following a ceasefire agreement reached by its former leader with the Juba government. Major General Peter Gadet (L) addressing his troops before their withdrawal from Abyei on July 2, 2008. (Unmis) A faction of theSouth Sudan Liberation Army (SSLA) led by Peter Gatdet signed a truce with South Sudanese government in Nairobi on 3 August. One day after, Gadet arrived to the capital Juba while his spokesperson announced the start of talks for a negotiated settlement. The other leaders of the SSLA denounced the dceasefire agreement and stressed that their group is not concerned by the move. They further said their ranks remain intact and not affected by the individual deal. Speaking to Sudan Tribune on Friday, Gadet’s spokesperson Bol Gatkuoth said 1200 combattants of the rebel South Sudan Liberation Army led by Peter Gatdet arrived in Unity State’s Mayom County three days ago. However, Maj. Gen. Bapiny Minytuil, deputy head of SSLM/A Military High Command dismissed the statements saying only 35 people followed Gadet. I refute the allegation of Gadet’s spokesperson Bol Gatkuoth that 1200 joined the SPLA as forces of Peter Gatdet. Gatkuoth is liying. The truth that there only 35 bodyguards who followed him, said Bapiny who was speaking to Sudan Tribune from undisclosed location in Unity state. The rebel official went further to say the 35 people were part of 65 bodyguards of Maj. Gen. Peter Gatdet. "They joined Gadet because we asked them to choose whether they remain within the SSLA or to join their splinter leader". He underlined that they took this decision to cut short attempts by the Unity state government to exploit Gadet’s defection to "instigate clan and sectional disputes among the Nuer". "The SSLA took a rational decision to allow his immediate family members who wanted to join him to go to Mayom County in order to show to the people of Unity State that the allegations of mistreatment concocted by the government were not real," he said. Peter Gadet signed an unconditional ceasefire agreement and committed himself to negotiate the merger of his troops to the SPLA. The signing took place on August 3, after secret talks held in Nairobi. Bol Gatkouth said they decide to accept the amnesty offered for the second time by President Salva Kiir during his speech at the celebration of the South Sudan independence on 9 July. The South Sudan Liberation Movement who rejected the truce announced the same day the designation of Maj. Gen. James Gai Yoach as new leader. (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.
