November 2nd 2018 (Nyamilepedia) – The former press secretary of SPLM-IO leader Dr. Riek Machar Teny has welcomed his release by the South Sudan government and urges the government to release remaining colleagues who are still under government captivity.
Gatdet was released on Friday following a Presidential order last Wednesday for his release after Machar decided to visit Juba to participate in the peace celebrations organized by the South Sudan government.
In a statement to the media following his release, Gatdet said he is happy that he is free and would like the government to release the remaining political detainees including Dong Samuel Luak, a prominent opposition human rights lawyer also arrested in Kenya in 2016.
“I want to express my happiness that I am free again after 2 years in detention and in prison. Accidentally, I think this the same day I was arrested in Nairobi on 2 November 2016 and today is 2 of November 2018,” Gatdet said.
Gatdet who thanked President Salva Kiir for ordering his release said he is happy now he will see his family.
“I want to thank his Excellency the president for ordering my release; I am very happy that this will enable to reunite with family members and my friends after a long period,” he added
For his part, the South African retired army colonel, William Endley was also sentenced to death by hanging for his alleged role in supporting Opposition during the civil war.
Endley thanked the president and the entire Prison Service staffs including prisoners for the time spent in Juba Central Prison.
“I would like to firstly also thank president Salva Kiir, I also like to thank the minister for his time to be here today. And for everybody inside the Juba Central prison, the prison services and the approaches towards myself and to James Gadet,” he said.
Gatdet also further said the agreement provided for the release of all including those who had been arrested for different political reasons and not allied to the main agreement red opposition group.
South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit and opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon signed the long-awaited awaited revitalized peace deal in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa in September to end the ongoing civil warights.
Other opposition groups also signed the deal brokered by the regional body, the IGAD to try to end the five year old civil war which engulfed the nation in Decemeber 2013.
