May 11, 2014(Nyamilepedia) — Amb. Ezekiel Lol Gatkouth expresses his gratitude for the first time since mid December. Lol and more than 16 other politicians were implicated in December for political reasons, alleged as a military coup.
The 17 senior politicians and other stakeholders held a press conference on December 6, 2013, in which they exposed the government of Salva Kiir, and pledged to hold a follow-up public rally on December 14 in Juba. The government responded immediately and abruptly scheduled a National Liberation Council(NLC) to be held on 14 December, 2013. The supposedly 3 days conference broke down on December 15.
Thirteen(13) senior politicians were arrested between December 16 -18, three senior politicians (Dr. Riek Machar, Gen. Taban Deng Gai and Lt.Gen. Lado Gore) escaped the arrest and Rebecca Nyandeng, the founding mother of SPLM remained under house.
The former Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr. Adwok Nyaba and Deng Deng Akon, the former Executive Director for Machar’s office were released immediately, however, Nyaba remains under house arrest in Juba.
The three senior politicians who escaped the controversial arrest marshaled forces, which mostly defected the government and the white army who retaliate to Juba massacre. While Dr. Machar leads the war front, Gen.Taban Deng Gai, the former governor of Unity state, was tasked to lead a peaceful settlement in Addis Ababa. Lt. Gen. Lado coordinates the two fronts.
The 11 political detainees are now released and a new peace agreement has been signed. The senior politicians, with exception of Dr. Adwok Nyaba, have reunited in Addis Ababa between May 8 – 9, 2014.
The two warring parties have pledge to restore peace, however, cease fire and political settlement remains a challenge.
War broke out in December within the presidential guards unit after the senior SPLM leaders failed to settle political differences between various camps through the NLC conference.
The government claimed it was a coup, however, Machar’s camp has denied the accusation. Government officials including the Chief of Military Intelligent and the Chief of Staff have denied the government version. The two men have lost their jobs.
The international community has denied the coup account, however, the United States and France have threatened to sanction both sides.
Amb. Lol believes that there was no coup and the regime will be held accountable for committing genocide. Other former political detainees have clearly expressed themselves in various functions.
Begin the report ….
Thanks you:
Thank you very much for your support and prayers when we were falsely accused of attempting to overthrow the Government of South Sudan.
The eleven of us were detained on December 16th 2013, namely Cde. Pagan Amum Okiech, Cde. Deng Alor Kuol, Cde. John Luk Jock, Cde. Kosti Manibe Ngai, Gen. Oyay Deng Ajak, Gen. Majak D’Agoot Atem, Gen. Gier Chuang Aluong, Gen. Madut Biar Yel, Cde. Chol Tong Mayay, Dr. Cirino Hiteng Ofuho and I Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth with treason.
The seven were released namely Deng Alor, John Luk, Kosti Manibe Chol Tong, Cirino Hiteng, Madut Biar, Gier Chuang after one month and half in prison because there was no coup de tat in the first place.
The four of us (Pagan, Oyay, Majak and I) remained in detention for 4 months and half (130 days) for no reason at all. We went to court and we were about to be acquitted by the Special Court but the government of South Sudan stayed the proceedings and we were released on the 24th of April 2014.
We are now free and we pledged to our people that we will work to bring peace to South Sudan. We support the agreement signed on the 9th of May 2014 between President Kiir and Former Vice President Dr. Machar which call for Humanitarian Access to all areas in South Sudan, Transitional Government and Justice and Accountability for those who committed genocide in Juba.
Our gratitude to the Almighty for protection when we were in prison.
God Bless South Sudan.
Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth
