Feb 3, 2015(Nyamilepedia) — South Sudan government official, Hon. Isaiah Chol Aruai, and two other officials, who landed in the rebels’ headquarters in the town of Jiec, Ayod county, on February 3, 2015, have been detained.
Hon. Chol, who serves in the incumbent government of Salva Kiir as the Chairman of National Bureau of Statistics, traveled in a UN Helicopter for a mission that is yet to be clarified.
The two other South Sudan nationals, who were identified as Mading Akueth and Jacob Aleer, are believed to be employees of the Lutheran World Federation and World Food Program, respectively.
Chol, who is tasked to conduct censuses in the country before mid of this year, has earlier called on Salva Kiir government to proceed with the elections without censuses, however, it is yet to be determined if the elections will proceed.
According to transitional constitution (2011), and as agreed in Intra-SPLM Arusha Agreement, censuses must be conducted in the country before general elections, however, due to lack of budget and time, the government may proceed without conducting legitimate censuses.
Last month, three members of a religious group, who alleged to be pastors, were promptly kicked out of UNMISS Compound in Bentiu, Unity State, for attempting to register the IDPs without their consents.
The pastors who came from Juba, were suspected to be government agents, sent by Juba to register the IDPs for the proposed elections.
In Ayod, the SPLM/SPLA [in oppositions], which controls over 90% of Ayod county, speculate fear that the disguised officials are spying on their strongholds to estimate their strength to launch attacks in the county and its neighboring Lou-Nuer counties in the coming months.
“Yes, we have received government agents spying on our position. As we speak they are in our custody here in Ayod … but you know what, they are many of them here. I believe they are making friends” said Captain Chuol Par Diu.
Captain Par was referring to Prisoners of War (POW) that the opposition have captured in early battles in Ayod town while trying to advance to interior.
Sources from Ayod indicate that the government force is contained in the bushes of Palith Suburb within Ayod headquarters since April 2014, however, President Salva Kiir has warned last week to attack opposition’s strongholds should the IGAD’s 29th Extraordinary Submit in Addis Ababa fail to bridge an agreement.
Read: South Sudan’s Kiir warns of full-scale war against rebels
“You know last week, Salva Kiir promised to attack our positions very soon in Gawaar and Lou areas, so this is the reason he sent UN with them to spy on us. We know that, we know it but we are ready to receive them, one by one” Chuol continue.
Asked whether they will release them tomorrow as speculated, the official fears that the detainees will go through legal process before they are released.
“No, no. I don’t think so. These are criminals, they have to be investigated thoroughly. We can’t just release them like that” Par said.
“Tell Salva Kiir that we have officials courts here, better than those Kangaroo courts in Juba, so they have to be processed accordingly”. Par continued.
“Our initial investigation indicate that these people are on a mission. One of them told us that they are lost, another one told us that they were sent here by UN to pick up more staffs. All these are lies, no staff was waiting for them at the airport, not even one expected their coming” the official claims.
Sources from Juba indicate that the officials were on a Church mission for Episcopal Church, however, sources from the ground indicate that none of them was found to be a pastor or Evangelical trainer.
Other controversial sources from Juba indicate that the Helicopter was charter from Panyagor to Juba, however, it remains unclear how the pilot made the U-turn Northward instead.
According to Hon. Michael Makuei Lueth, the Minister of Information, who doubles as the government Spokesman, the United Nation must be held accountable for landing the officials in a rebel territory. The minister blames the rebels as well for kidnapping the UN officials.
Makuei, who calms down the relatives and supporters, said that he has contacted the rebels and United Nations officials.
Hon. Makuei believes he has spoke to SPLM-[IO] leadership, and hopes that the officials will be released tomorrow morning.
The UN mission in South Sudan, UNMISS, is yet to response to the incident. In the past, three UN workers were kidnapped by government militia while boarding planes in Malakal airport. Despite many calls from the United Nations and the International community, the employees were never released.
Sources from Jiec, Ayod County, South Sudan, indicate that the UN chopper has been allowed to proceed to Bor, however, the officials are detained to be investigated.
Latest reports from Bor, however, allege that the Helicopter would remain in Bor until the detainees are released.
17 comments
bravoo……weldon almightyGod for broughted to as the
Isaih chol,the one who diehard want to
legitimite kiir kuethpiny of so election.
to u freedom fighters pls don,t release such a big dog put it in the prison untill the end of war.
Chuol gtbel
let,s not support nothing if these people are going to be killed by a fool Rebel there will be no peace completely in south sudan, you will remain in the bush for good and those Dinkas who were not involve in fighting will involve and all Nuer innocent civilian who residence in Dinka states will be burn into ashes.
it was sign between the Rebel and Government that there should be free unify movement for humaniterian to deliver services to the people in need. we Nuer we need to reason first we do our thing hurry and that is why we will never achieve any thing. Iam a Nuer by Blood but I cannot support you when you always fail in your plan,Nothing you plan and achieve it as Goal because you want to fight abruptly and later on you surrender.
Peace or no peace, how many died because of your tribal hatred of Nuers? Remember you started this ethnic violence because of your lost cause 91 & to have an edge of the Nuers. Sadly though, you are quite mistaken from now on if you cowards cough even a satire around us(Nuers) you will get it twice just as much & every thing you dare doing against us will be returned to you ten folds. I suggest you change or lets do the damn thing as you wish. If you choose peace we are ahead of you ready & waiting to do peace & if its you choose, we can teach you a little something on that route. All options are on the table so stop wasting south Sudan’s natural resources & international help just to face Nuers.
the Rebel must release this people immediately if they don,t war to continuous. WFP must take accountability if the life of these people are lost, why should WFP landed in Rebel control area when they know that Rebel don,t respected the law.
Why should rebels release them when they are the one who went there by their attitude.
So, they have realized that Kiir’s government is unfair to all tribes bt fair to his tribe ..
They have done a very good job, if they’re to lost their life.
They will be called heroes because of their demand to fair and peaceful ruling.
THE MOTTO OF ROSS IS,
JUSTICE, LIBERTY AND PROSPERITY.
But there’s nothing being practiced among those national word symbol during this periods of Kiir’ ruling.
So, they’re there to promote peaceful way of living among S.Sudanese . mrs/mr. #Big_Dog.
Samuel, Do you want Kiir to distribute money to Nuer community,infact Kiir is a Dinka by tribe but he had done nothing to Dinka because he is not a Dinka president but south sudan president which comprise 64 tribes. Now in this fighting we are not depending Kiir as president but we are depending Dinka from whoever want to kill Dinka sons. because there are some stupid Nuer who don,t know what they are doing are say that the fighting is between Nuer and Dinka and yet it is Government itself.even now there are many nuer fighting a long side government but not a long side Dinka same thing to Dinka some are fighting supporting Rebel but not Nuer.
Many Thanks! Bravo for that very great achievement. Isaiah Chol should join IO or risk his life. They (Kiir Militia) killed Many UN staffs and now God brought one of the top official who give Kiir go ahead to conduct election with out Census. Let him pay the right of thousand of people who were killed but denied their right for Kiir position.
Goweng, it is too early to celebrate, if rebels are going to kill these gentlemen then do you know whom are they going to kill instead?, the answer is simple,must be you because God know balance
Why many thanks while peace agreement had being signed?
Please for the safety of innocent Nuer who are in Dinka areas, leave those people alone i.e. Chol, Mading and Aleer
People of Nuer are victims because War itself is a part of business,corrupt and threats.The problem with rebels leaders now is that they wanted to control over WFP and other NGO’s in order to gain money. Rebels are jobless and hopeless, that’s how SPLM/A at the time of civil war had finished Dinka Cattles. What ever Machar and his groups beg is only for themselves.
Legitimate government of SP LA-IO will do the investigate and if they found free, so they will be released easy, unless if they are found guilty
UN must be responsible should anything happen to those govt officials. Illiterate capt. can civilians be labelled as spies? Be educated comrade.
Its up to those Nuers in Dinka territories to worry about their safety.The Nuers who knows better & left for Nuers areas & elsewhere knows the danger of indiscriminate killings. I am for holding those 3 & may be the Dinka extremists can kill them by if they dare any harming anymore Nuers because they are Nuers. These are high profile Juba faction officials & could be valuable bargaining chips or releasing detainees.
Perfect bargaining chips is what those high profile government individuals are. Those who threatened about peace would never come are lying because of these 3. What prevented you cowards in bringing peace before these 3 were not in the picture? Those Nuers who are still in the government terrorist(Juba-Factions) controlled areas knows the ethnic dimension Dinka extremists brought to this conflict or dispute up to this point they made a conscious choice to be where they are so their safety is not & should not be of the Nuers & or SPLM- In Opposition’s concern unless they are held against their will then it would be a different case all togather.
let them be in jail until the permanent peace is reveal back to South Sudan.mr Aruai conduct your useless Election in prison.
I think many South Sudanese have to take good example that have done by SP LA-IO because, Civilian are Civilians, therefore, innocent civilians can not be treated like soldiers