FULL TEXT: Australia-SPLM-IO Chapters Press Statement on Kitgwang Declaration

15 August 2021 — This press statement was prepared following extensive deliberation among the SPLM/IO  concerned chapters’ leaders and members in Australia. Most chapters’ leaders and members of the  SPLM/IO agree with the sentiments conveyed in this statement. We respect the views of some  SPLM/IO members who do not wish to be included in this press release. 

We the undernamed members and chapters’ leaders of the SPLM/IO in Australia support Kitgwang  Declaration published on 3 August 2021 under the able leadership of the 1st Lt. Gen. Simon  Gatwech Dual. Based on the declaration, Dr. Riek Machar, the Commander in Chief and Chairman  of the SPLM/IO has been denounced as the leader of the movement’s military and political wings.  

The main reasons for supporting Kitgwang Declaration are because of the following:  

• On the 2nd of July 2021, the SPLM-IO Chapters’ leaders in Australia held a teleconference meeting  with Dr Riek Machar advising him to reconcile with Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual and allow him to remain in Magenis, until the implementation of security arrangement and deployment of the unified  forces is accomplished to avoid further conflict. However, Dr. Riek Machar rejected the initiative  and went ahead with his plans to replace Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual and Gen. Johnson Olony Thabu  from their positions as Chief of Staff and Commander of SPLM/A sector one respectively.

• Dr. Riek Machar has summoned both 1st Lt. Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual and Gen. Johnson Olony  to Juba several times. However, they have declined to join him because of the fragile peace deal  and absence of security protection. 

This was evidenced in the political Bureau’s meeting where a press release was issued by Dr.  Machar denouncing his dismissal from the movement’s leadership of SPLM/IO. He also cited  harassment and intimidation of members of SPLM/IO by the security organs of Salva Kiir’s regime in Juba. If Dr. Machar cannot guarantee his own security and members of SPLM/IO, how will he  protect both 1st Lt. Simon Gatwech Dual and General. Johnson Olony?  

• In the absence of an adequate military presence or security arrangement implementation,  the SPLM/A under Salva Kiir won’t implement the brokered Revitalized Peace Agreement  on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS). This was not the first time to sign a peace deal with president Salva Kiir. The incident of J1 in 2016  was compelling evidence to support this argument. 

• The leadership of SPLM/IO under Dr. Riek Machar has demonstrated to be incompetent and unable to address the crucial issues pertinent to the harmony of the movement. His  divisive politics and mismanagement of the movement has led to the division within the  movement, hence weakening the entire SPLM/IO structures. His current position to choose  war instead of seeking to reconcile with Gen Gatwech Dual , has exposed his weakness as  a leader. He has failed the vision and objectives of SPLM/IO. 

• Establishment of hybrid courts to persecute the culprits who participated in 2013, 2014 and  2016 genocide couldn’t be accomplished under the current peace deal signed by Dr Machar  because the later has watered down the justice system that was supposed to arbitrate the  horrendous crimes committed against the people of South Sudan by signing a weak peace  deal. The current peace deal advocates for establishment of Kangaroo Courts or even a  complete denial of justice for the innocent souls who have been heinously killed by Salva  Kiir’s regime.  

• The main objectives of the movements were relinquished and altered by personal and  family interests. Instead of addressing the main causes of the conflict; Dr. Machar has  shifted to enriching his family and close relatives in the unity government.

He champions the reform agenda only as a pretext to promote his own personal interests rather  than promoting the larger perspective of the struggle. This can be evidenced in his  appointment of family members and close relatives, friends etc in ministerial and other  sensitive positions in the unity government. He uses members of SPLM/IO to achieve his own interests 

• Micro-management of the movement by Dr. Riek Machar has resulted in dysfunctional  SPLM/IO structures. As usual, Dr. Machar appoints SPLM/IO members to run the  institutions of the movement ceremonially, while in fact he is the one managing them.   

• The press statement released by the country’s representative has allegedly implicated all  chapters of SPLM-IO in Australia in favor of Dr Riek Machar’s faction but has not been fully  supported by all chapters. This was a unilateral decision and didn’t represent all the  chapters. The representative was requested to wait for the outcome of the consultation by  Chapters’ leaders. However, he decided to issue a unilateral statement.  

Based on the above-mentioned reasons, we have decided to stand with Kitgwang Declaration. We  denounce the attack by Dr. Machar forces on 1st Lt. Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual’s patriotic forces  on Saturday 7 August 2021 in Magenis, Upper Nile State. Long live the struggle of our people for  justice and equality, and long live SPLM/IO under the able leadership of 1st Lt. Gen. Simon  Gatwech Dual.  

Viva SPLM/IO Viva 

Viva 1st Lt. Gen. Gatwech Dual  

Viva Gen. Johnson Olony 

Viva South Sudan

The following SPLM/IO leaders and Agwelek representative support Kitgwang Declaration: 

1- Gak Deng Woul, SPLM/IO Chairperson (ACT Chapter) 

2- Samuel Gai Yuot, SPLM/IO Chairperson (Queensland Chapter)  

3- Maley Kuol Wawudit, SPLM/IO Chairperson (South Australia Chapter) 4- Chuol Deng Gai SPLM/IO Chairperson (NT Chapter) 

5- Musa Abraham Gatluak Chairperson of SPLM/IO, Victoria Chapter 

6- Thuok Lul Bieyan, – Deputy National Veteran League and a member of the National  Liberation Council.  

7- Esko Ayama – SPLM/IO Chairman of the country Standing Committee for Political  Mobilization and Recruit under the National Coordination Office, Member of the  Liberation Council and Former SPLM/IO Deputy Chairperson, Victoria Chapter 

8- Luk Riek Acting SPLM/IO Chairperson of Cardinia City Chapter(Vic) 9- William Thok Kim SPLM/IO Chairperson – City Chapter of Casey(Vic) 10-John Tuach Rik Chairperson of SPLM/IO Melbourne City Chapter(Vic) 11- Khor Biel Char Chairperson, SPL/IO City Chapter of Peninsula 

12- George Chol Adung – Agwelek’s Secretary for Foreign Relations, Australia.  13- Buk Dojiok, SPLM/IO Chairperson of Ballarat City Chapter.  

14- Thomas Oroomo – Deputy chairperson of SPM-IO Chapter(QLD). 

15- Isaac Eremugo – SPLM/IO General Secretary (QLD Chapter) 

16- Matthew Tut Gatwech SPLM/IO Secretary for information(QLD Chapter) 17- Emmanuel John Lual – SPLM/IO Secretary for Political Mobilization and  Orientation(QLD Chapter) 

18- Gabriel Chol Akuei Garang SPLM/IO Secretary for Research and Training(QLD Chapter) 

19- Nyachol Reuben Yol, SPLM/IO Secretary for Peace and Reconciliation(QLD Chapter). 20- Michael Mai Makuac (Former WA Chapter Chairperson)