South Sudan: The Plight of a Former Political Detainee in the United States!

Jan 15, 2015(Nyamilepedia) — A member of South Sudan’s former political detainees, Pagan Amum Okiech, the former SPLM Secretary General, who aspired to contest for the country’s presidency is facing a political turmoil in the United State of America.

According to a eye witness , Loro Woja, who was contacted by our editorial team in Iowa State, USA, Pagan and his wife madam Suzan Donato Deng Amum, have not been welcomed in both Iowa, Colorado and Florida states by the local South Sudanese communities.

“Pagan and his wife madam Suzan Deng Amum arrived here last week. Their arrival was a mystery in the first place, no one welcomed them. They were not picked up at the airport like their colleagues who were warmly received here in Iowa” said Loro Woja, a South Sudanese American in Des Moines, IA.

The report reiterates that Pagan has made three attempts so far to convene the South Sudanese communities in the state to brief them on South Sudan conflict, however, none has taken up the initiative.

“Pagan has requested us to organize for him a conference to meet the South Sudanese here in IOWA but the moral of our people meeting him is surprisingly disturbing. No one shows interest at all” Loro explains to Nyamilepedia.

“Some people even those who actively participated in welcoming Dr. Majak Agot in various states of America have turned our calls down. Yesterday Deng Garang, a friend of Amum, told us that Pagan is campaigning for the country to be placed under the United-Nations Trusteeship”. The statement continues.

Loro explains that Pagan, who has very little support among his Chollo community, is lobbying his in-laws from Dinka community to organize his next meeting on 31st January, 2015 in Iowa state.

According to the source, Pagan is in communication with representatives of Dr. Majak Agot, led by Mayom Bol Achuk and Lual Chol Deng, to organize for him the function on 31st this month in Iowa state.

” We will see how this will turn out. Pagan has nobody to even give him an audience. He is seen to be a traitor to South Sudan for advocating for South Sudan to be given to UN and also a looter who has stolen millions of dollars from public funds.” Loro referring to Pagan’s past corruption charges.

Pagan’s silence tour of the United States has reached as far as Denver Colorado and Florida, however, his biggest challenge remains.

“He is sleeping and eating in Denver, Calorado with only his wife and no supporter to visit him or greet him.” the source explains.

Mr. Amum has been one of the most influential South Sudanese politicians in the country in the last few years given his roles in the implementation of Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and his pivotal roles in the ruling party, SPLM, as the Secretary General.

As the Secretary General, Amum called on President Salva Kiir eight times to convene SPLM’s Politburo and National Liberation Council meetings before Salva Kiir’s term ended in May 2013.

The meetings were also crucial to prepare the party and the country for 2015 General Election, however, the president squashed them.

Pagan was removed from his post as the Secretary General by Salva Kiir in July 2013, banned from media and put under house arrest until December 2013, where he was officially arrested with 13 other politicians on treason charges.

Pagan and his colleagues were later released on conditional demand by the SPLM/SPLA[in Opposition] under the leadership of Dr. Riek Machar Teny.

Upon their released to exile in Kenya, Pagan and his colleagues decided to form their own group, referred as SPLM Leaders, to negotiate for 25% of power from the two warring parties, however, the 10 politicians gained very little public support.

In turn, the G10 have made attempts to convince IGAD, African Union, Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni, and the United Nations to shift the power in their favor, in expense of placing the Country under the UN Trusteeship but so far little, if any, has been achieved.