Governor Urges Citizens To Maintain Peace The Upper Nile State Acting Governor John Ivo Mounto has urged citizens to maintain peace in Malakal and avoid interpretation the SPLM power wrangling as a tribal conflict. 18 December 2013
*By Ariik Atekdit* *MALAKAL, 18 December 2013 [Gurtong] *- Mounto said the clashes which occurred in Juba were not between Dinka and Nuer but a major political power wrangling within the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) party in South Sudan that has amounted into a “coup attempt.” Ivo said the fact that Dr. Riek Machar is a Nuer and Salva Kiir being Dinka does not prove that it is the two communities that can take the responsibility of confronting each other. He said all SPLA soldiers and other organized forces in Malakal should not wear military khakis or carry guns at random but only if on duty. “Only patrolling forces should carry guns and be in uniforms. All weapons must be stored and any gathering that discusses this issue on tribal lines should be questioned. We want peace,” he urged. “I wonder why our people want to transfer SPLM problem into a Dinka and Nuer conflict. This is not tribal war but a coup attempt. What do communities understand about SPLM political disagreement?” he asked. The governor urged citizens to stay away from violence and continue doing their normal activities in town. “We need to reject those voices that call for violence and work for peace and protect all citizens regardless of their tribes,” he said. Ivo urged citizens not to listen to voices that fuel political issues into tribal conflict to make innocent members of the society suffer. Ivo cautioned that some bad wishers have interest to transfer Juba clashes to states and cause disorder and chaos over the country. “Why should we expect bad things to happen to our fellow brothers and sisters? It is a responsibility of all to stop any ill intentions that may cause violence in Malakal. I will not allow that to happen while here,” he said. The government spokesperson confirmed the arrest of the master minders of the failed coup attempt in Juba. Michael Makuei Lueth has said a group of politicians led by Riek Machar involved in organizing the coup to topple the government are now under arrest. The spokesperson explained that the arrested people include Oyai Deng Jak, Gier Chuang Aluong, Deng Alor Kuol, Kosti Manibe Ngai, Ezekiel Lol Gatkuth, John Luk Jok, Chol Tong Mayai, Majak D’ Agoot, Cirino Hiteng Ofuho and Madut Biar Yel. He said the government is still pursuing to arrest Peter Adwok Nyaba, Pagan Amum and Alfred Lodu Gore. He said Riek Machar and Taban Deng Gai run out of Juba and are being pursued. Posted in: Home<http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/CategoryView/mid/519/categoryId/1/Home.aspx>, Governance<http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/CategoryView/mid/519/categoryId/6/Governance.aspx> -- 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/CAJb14oqbjoA-KqMYbRO4C%3DpCb%2Bn66wouYNMtm%3Dsvk_7LjqmNGA%40mail.gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
