Dr. Riek Machar To Be Contacted By National Dialogue Steering Committee A committee formed within the national dialogue steering committee will contact former First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, and other armed opposition groups for their participation, in order to ensure inclusivity of the national dialogue.
15 June 2017 Dr. Riek Machar head of the SPLA in Opposition[File photo]By Jale RichardJUBA, 15 June 2017 [Gurtong]- Angelo Beda, Co-chair of the national dialogue steering committee said the committee for refugees and international outreach, one of the 15 formed committees will engage Dr. Riek Machar and all other opposition leaders who are outside the country to take part in the national dialogue. “Those who carry arms, we want them to come and talk that is why the national dialogue is inclusive,” he said in a press conference at freedom hall on Thursday.“The national dialogue is open to all, including those who have got arms, including those in diaspora to bring credibility and to bring orderliness; those who are participating have their safety and freedom.” Beda said the committee expects those fighting to announce their own ceasefire so that they can come and participate in the talks.The steering committee also formed fourteen other committees. Ten of the committees are tasked with going to the grass roots to gather information for formulation of the agendas for the national dialogue. One committee will go to Boma and engage the Murle and Dinka Bor in solving their conflict which often leads to cattle raiding and loss of lives, while another committee will engage other armed groups operating in the country. Another committee will go to Abyei.Beda said while the 14 committees are engaged with their assignments, the secretariat remaining in Juba will make contact with Dr. Riek Machar and other armed opposition leaders. “We shall find ways and means in order to contact them so that they can respond to this national dialogue,” he said. When launching the national dialogue, President Kiir said all are invited except Riek Machar, because when he comes in the country he would cause chaos in the country. He said Machar would only participate in the national dialogue when he denounces violence, or through a delegation he would sent to Juba. Angelo Beda said the armed groups should be part of the national dialogue through their representatives, to be brought to Juba by the secretariat of the national dialogue. Dr. Francis Deng, the Deputy Rapporteur of the national dialogue steering committee said the national dialogue will be inclusive and transparent because all the groups will be represented.He however said even if some people are calling for the participation of Dr. Riek Machar in the national dialogue, it is practically not possible for him to come when he is still leading a rebellion against the government. Alfred Taban, the head of communications in the steering committee of the national dialogue said it is the decision of those opposition leaders who refused to take part in the dialogue.“It is they who have refused. The President has included almost all sectors. If I appoint you and you refuse what can I do?” he asked. Hon. Betty Achan Ogwaro- Member, national dialogue steering committee, said the national dialogue is inclusive since the President has included three women in the steering committee of the national dialogue. - See more at: http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ID/20584/Default.aspx#sthash.dNGIri1Y.dpuf -- To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/d/forum/southsudankob View this message at https://groups.google.com/d/msg/southsudankob/topic-id/message-id For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout --- 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]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/SouthSudanKob. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/SouthSudanKob/CAJb14oqsuH0uWTTJsd3kSGWkHJDQdx6o3VUDuoKOnNAefkje1g%40mail.gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
