July 14th 2018 (Nyamilepedia) – The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition denied on Saturday an accusation by the Juba-based Dawn Newspaper that it is behind the terror network known as the “unknown gunmen” operating in the nation’s capital, Juba.
The Dawn Newspaper, a new media house recently opperationalized in the nation’s capital published a claim on Saturday that the SPLM-IO under the leadership of the country’s former First Vice-President Dr. Riek Machar is behind the unknown gunmen.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the SPLM-IO denied the responsibility saying the publication of such propaganda is unfounded and as such it is meant to tarnish the image of the main armed opposition group.
“The SPLA IO is concerned by the negative propaganda labeled on its senior officers by the Down Newspaper on 14/07/2018 Vol.3 Issue.698. The Down Newspaper published on its front page that “the SPLA IO Generals are behind the Unknown gunmen” This is completely an unfounded allegations meant to tarnish the image of the SPLA IO something that a media outlet is supposed to avoid professionally,” the statement said.
The statement further accused in return the newspaper of being a pro-government and politically motivated.
“It is clear that The Dawn Newspaper of South Sudan is not only politically motivated but also a pro-government media outlet,” the statement said.
The statement also accused senior government official of being behind the propaganda and then called on the CTSAMM, a peace monitoring body, and the UNMISS to investigate the newspaper and bring those responsible to book saying it violate the recently signed ceasefire agreement.
“The audio circulating is a make up of the regime’s MI unit to implicate Governor Oyet, Gen. John Tongun and Okeny George Lam. The voices in that audio don’t belong to any of the aforementioned Senior SPLA IO officials. The SPLA IO calls upon the CTSAMM and UNMISS to immediately investigate The Dawn Newspaper’s management and hold them accountable for violations of the signed permanent ceasefire since they have become partners of the regime in Juba. The resistance continues,” it further said.
