Is amnesty delivering peace?
Interviews >>> . (30th April, 2013) - Will rebels finally lay down their guns? Or will they fight on? Answers are being sought to these questions since President Salva Kiir renewed amnesty to six forces fighting against the government of South Sudan last Thursday. The leaders of the forces include Gordon Kong, David Yau Yau, Oyuok Ogot, Bapiny Monytuil Wicjang, Johnson Uliny and Munto Abdalla Munto. Read: Kiir pardons six militia groups Radio Miraya spoke to the army spokesman, Col Philip Aguer Panyang, on how the militias received the amnesty. Read: Rebels surrender in Unity’s Mayom Col Philip Aguer: We visited Mayom County with a delegation headed by the Unity State deputy governor. We had a meeting with former South Sudan Liberation army (SSLA) fighters who just came from Khartoum and crossed the border to South Sudan. This is a significant development and the amnesty that was issued by the President of South Sudan and Commander-in-Chief of the army, is a consistent policy of the government to leave the doors open for reconciliation, because peace is the most precious thing in regards to the development of human beings. These brothers that [have just] arrived are an indication that South Sudanese are capable of reconciling, forgiving themselves and coming together as brothers. Radio Miraya: How many so far have handed over themselves to the SPLA (South Sudan army), and from which rebel groups? Col Philip Aguer: We have not got the exact number because they have families. They have children among themselves. But the preliminary number of men – the fighting capacity – is about 900. But that was not the final parade. They still have their chairman who is still away. When he comes, I think that is the time we will get the exact number and parade. They were coming with about 100 vehicles, which have about 50 mounted with heavy machine guns and mortars and bombers. And this is a big number. In terms of equipment they are carrying, this is the biggest joining of forces that have been fighting the SPLA; the biggest after 2007 when Gen Paulino Matip came with a big number. Radio Miraya: The juniors are coming. Where are their seniors? Col Philip Aguer: Their seniors are here. We met with Gen Karlo Kuol and Gen Matthew Okur Jang and they have most of their generals with them – more than seven. The only person who is left out is Bapiny Monytuil, who is their chairman. I hope he will join soon. It is only a matter of time. He will soon be in South Sudan, hopefully. Radio Miraya: Now Unity State has seen people coming in and reconciling with their sons who joined the rebellion that time. What about Pibor, where a number of people lost their lives, and where attention, internationaly, is focused? Do you think David Yau Yau will accept this amnesty? Col Philip Aguer: I believe it is a matter of time because we have seen how many groups that have been fighting the SPLA during the war and after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (in 2005), have been coming. The process of dialogue and reconciliation is a continuous process. And I think fighting a state is not a simple thing. This is why we believe that whoever is still away will join the process as long as the government of South Sudan has the open-door policy for reconciliation. We fought for liberation, prosperity and justice, and development cannot be achieved without having this peace. Radio Miraya: In case Yau Yau refuses, what will you do? Col Philip Aguer: If he chooses fighting as he had been fighting the army, the army will continue fighting him back! Radio Miraya: What will happen to these forces coming to South Sudan; will they be reintegrated into the civil life or into the army? Col Philip Aguer: Our secret of success is that we have been implementing agreements. What was been signed in the CPA is that those who had been fighting the army in the past will be given the chance to join the army. If they are soldiers and they want to continue with their military carrier, if they are trained they will be integrated into the army. If they are civilians and they want to join the army, they will be allowed to go for training. So, that process is just continuous and systematic. Radio Miraya: What will happen to the arms in their hands? Are they going to be disarmed for a certain moment? Col Philip Aguer: Well, they still have their arms. Since they came for peace, we met with them and we were in the middle of their equipment. They are just South Sudanese and there is no tension. The issue of weapons is not a big issue. I believe in the near future some of these weapons will be taken to the war museum and as long as we are establishing peace at the borders with Sudan, these weapons will have meaning in future. This is a loss for the people of northern Sudan that have been investing a lot of money for buying tools of killing, tools of destruction, and I think they will see that it will be better to divert this money to development and peace. So these weapons will be taken to where they can either be stored or used if need be. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/SouthSudanKob/CAJb14oqML%2BdX6vBsdOMjdhHcUGd8vOQMbyvjVXkthDqja3QrSQ%40mail.gmail.com?hl=en-US. 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