Nairobi, Kenya,
Oct 19, 2016(Nyamilepedia) —- Responding to allegations that the SPLM/SPLA-IO has declared war, Hon. MABIOR GARANG MABIOR, the Chairman of SPLM National Committee for information and Public Relations, refutes the claims.
Mabior attests that war was imposed on the people of South Sudan for the second time on the 8th of July, 2016, by Salva Kiir government following the attacks at the Presidential Palace and later at the SPLA (IO) cantonment sites in Juba.
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Machar’s residence was set blaze on July 11th, the forth day of intensive fighting between the lightly armed bodyguards of the then First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar and the army of President Salva Kiir.
The sustained attacks, which forced Machar out of the capital, involved government helicopters, armored vehicles and ground troops.
Mabior argues that because of these events, the peace agreement has collapsed.
“These events which led to the collapse of the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCISS) are clearly described in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Report titled: Letter dated 19 September 2016 from the Panel of Experts on South Sudan established pursuant to Security Council resolution 2206 (2015) addressed to the President of the Security Council” Reads part of Mabior’s statement.
Mabior said that his party did everything in good faith and therefore the SPLM/SPLA-IO is not responsible for the resumption of war in South Sudan.
“The SPLM/SPLA(IO) has negotiated with the regime in Juba in good faith, signed the agreement in good faith and went to Juba to implement the agreement in good faith; despite the protracted lack of political will demonstrated by the other warring party throughout the peace process.” He explains.
Mabior further explains that the SPLM/SPLA-IO went to Juba despite that the capital was not demilitarized as agreed.
“The SPLM/SPLA(IO) went to Juba despite the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangement Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM), of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) not having verified the demilitarization of Juba and redeployment of troops 25 Km out of the town (according to Chapter II. Article 5.1 of ARCISS).” Mabior said.
He reiterates that the government frustrated efforts to transport 2, 910 troops for SPLA-IO intentionally because they were for war.
“The regime in Juba frustrated the arrival of the 2’910 force that would have constituted the component of the SPLM/SPLA(IO) Joint forces charged with the security of Juba;only 1’500 came to Juba. This was a blatant violation of the Security Arrangements of the Agreement (according to Chapter II. Article 5.1.1, 5.1.2 and 5.1.3).” Mabior said.
SPLM/SPLA-IO Forced To Organized For WAR
Due to lack of political will from the regime, Mabior said the SPLM/SPLA-IO has to reorganize its forces to wage a full struggle against the government of Salva Kiir.
“The SPLM/SPLA(IO) is fully committed to a political settlement as the only way to resolve the conflict in the country.However, in light of the serious lack of political will, culminating on July 8, 2016 with the clashes at the Presidential Palace in Juba and the subsequent attacks on the SPLM/SPLA(IO) cantonment areas; the attack on the residence of the First Vice President and his pursuit all the way to the border of the Democratic Republic of Congo; and in light of the strategy of appeasement demonstrated by JMEC (who are responsible for monitoring and overseeing the Agreement);the SPLM/SPLA(IO) is left with no recourse but to reorganize the Movement in order to confront the continuous belligerence of the regime; this is a natural right.” Mabior said.
“The aim of all political association is the preservation of the natural and imprescriptible rights of man. These rights are liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression” as stated in the 2nd Article of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen.
Similarly, the ousted First Vice President, Dr. Machar has told the BBC, VOA and TVC Nigeria that SPLM/SPLA-IO is not for war, however, he must reorganize his force to wage resistance against the government.
Machar believes that it is the people of South Sudan that are declaring war to defend themselves from government attacks, rapes and destruction of their properties.
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