Unity State Cannot Be Given To “Defeated Rebellion”- Panyinjiar County Commissioner

Sept 3rd, 2015(Nyamilepedia) —- A government appointed commissioner, Mr. William Nyuon Jok, who speaks on his “own behalf and on behalf of Panyinjiar County” refused the recently signed peace agreement for giving away the leadership of his state to the armed opposition, SPLM/SPLA.

Speaking from Rumbek in Lake State, Mr. Nyuon, who sees the suffering of more than two millions South Sudanese as a collective responsibility, accuses IGAD of fueling the conflict in his country by imposing peace on his people.

“Although the sufferings of our civil population in various displaced and refugee camps are a grave concern to all of us, we believe that a just and everlasting peace can only be achieved if local problems that necessitated the current unfortunate war are genuinely addressed. However, to the surprise of our suffering people, the IGAD PLUS only added fuel to the conflict by imposing ideas that can never be internalize in South Sudan.” Nyuon said.

“For instance, one of the tragic clauses of the IGAD PLUS compromise peace agreement is that the Governor of Unity State would be nominated by the SPLM/SPLA-IO during the transitional period. The big question is did IGAD PLUS take into consideration the military situation on the ground in its conclusion that Unity State be given to SPLM/SPLA-IO?  If not, what rationale did they used to gravely surrender the control of our state and people to the rebels?” Nyuon wonders.

The appointed commissioner, who recruits from the neighboring Lake State as alleged in the reports of casualties, believes that Unity State was liberated from the rebels of Riek Machar and now threatens to fight back if it means to to reclaim it.

“I would like to categorically state that this tragic clause in practical sense is unacceptable and remained a potential cause of division among our people in the state. Our gallant sons and daughters of Unity State as well as the National Army liberated the state from Riek Machar with their precious blood and their ultimate sacrifices should not be betrayed by handing back control to the same person they defeated on a golden plate.” Nyuon said.

“Our people have risen against the leadership of Riek Machar and his friend Taban Deng Gai and any attempt to hand us back to their control is a suicide in waiting. We cannot accept to be handed to someone who is planning to unleash terror on us during the transitional period.” He continued.

Nyuon accuses the mediating IGAD-Plus, which comprises of 11 African Countries, representatives of the United States, United Nations, United Kingdom, Norway, China and European Union, of having a hidden agenda to topple a “duly elected government” of Salva Kiir.

“We also believe that IGAD PLUS is not only serious in bringing the crisis in South Sudan to an end but have an hidden agenda of changing the duly elected government in our country and install a puppet regime in order to have their hands on our resources.” Mr. Nyuon said.

“Riek Machar and his group have been defeated militarily on the ground in Unity State and across the country. Why would IGAD PLUS empower him by giving him a huge share in the National Government?” He continued.

Nyuon, who has never settle his administrations in his county since his appointment , has been accused of continuing to fight for control of the county despite that the two principles, president Salva Kiir and Dr. Riek Machar, have declared a permanent ceasefire.

According to rebel reports, government troops have attacked Taiyar Port in Panyinjiar County few hours after Salva Kiir signed the Peace Agreement on August 26th, 2015.

Although the rebels reports that the government troops were defeated in Panyinjiar, the troops which used three barges and five boats, according to reports that were confirmed by the military spokesman of SPLA [IO], attacked many rebels’ bases along the river Nile towards Malakal.

Latest reports from Pangak County in northern Jonglei State alleged that one of the three government barges was blown off by the rebels and the second barge was captured in “good conditions”, a report that was partially confirmed by the government military spokesman, Col. Phiilip Aguer.

Aguer believes that the barges were attacked in Tonga, however, he declined to confirmed their states or any casualties.

“The only thing we got in the report is that the barges were attacked on the 31st and around the first yesterday,” Col Aguer told journalists in Juba.

“They came under attack from the forces of Riek Machar in Tonga. The SPLA is committed to the cease-fire, only when attacked those barges have the right of self-defense.’’ he continued.

Despite the signing of the peace agreement and declaration of permanent Ceasefire, politicians like William Nyuon Jok and a few military generals on both sides are willing to fight to maintain influential positions either in Kiir’s regime or in the armed opposition.

In other reports, SPLA generals on both sides are attending workshops in Addis Ababa to orient them on the anticipated implementation of the recently signed peace agreement.