September 11th 2018 (Nyamilepedia) – The former Press Secretary of the SPLM-IO leader Dr. Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon has fall sick in prison in the capital Juba, several sources and family members have said.
James Gatdet Dak was deported from Nairobi in November 2016 and was flown to the capital Juba where he remained in detention until he was sentenced to death in February 2018 by a Juba court.
In a statement extended to the Nyamilepedia on Monday, Gatdet wife appealed to President Salva Kiir Mayardiit to release him as his health conditions begins to deteriorate.
“I hereby appeal to you once again, Mr President, for the release of James Gatdet Dak and allow him to attend the signing of the revitalized agreement slated for mid-September,” Mary Nyahok Chuol, wife of James Gatdet Dak wrote in a statement on Monday.
Although President Salva Kiir signed a ceasefire agreement that would see political detainees released, Gatdet has remained in custody.
He was not among twenty-one political detainees released by Kiir in August which it said as a decision taken in line with the declared permanent ceasefire agreement.
In recent months, James Gatdet’s health conditions deteriorates and has not been led to seek medical attention from personal doctors according to his wife.
“His deteriorating health inside the prison should be of great concern to you Mr President, on humanitarian grounds. I, therefore, appeal to your office to take a decision and finally release my husband,” she said in the statement.
She added that should the President release him, it would be in the best interest of peace in the young African nation.
“We believe as a family that it would be in the interest of peace agreement, the declared General Amnesty, confidence building and reconciliation,” she further added. .
