RENEGADE GEN. JAMES KOANG CHOL (CDR) WOUNDED IN PARIENG
Report from Gordon Buay
Today, the renegade Gen. James Koang Chol, popularly known as CDR, was wounded in a fight with the youth of Parieng loyal to the government of South Sudan.
It has to be recalled that Maj. Gen. James Koang ran to Karassana in March and joined Brig. Gen. Makaal Kuol, who commanded 450 terrorists who were chased out of Bentiu town in January by Maj. Gen. Mathews Puljang Top.
Today, the armed youth of Parieng attacked him and his forces in their hideout around Karassana area. The rebels lost 10 soldiers and left behind 15 AK-47s and two RPGs. Renegade James Koang was wounded in the leg but managed to escape towards Sudan border.
Before his defection, Maj. Gen. James Koang was highly respected SPLA officer who never joined any militia group against the SPLM/A Movement. After Riek Machar’s first coup of 1991, he remained with Dr. John Garang and was credited for liberating Western Equatoria from Jalaba. It was John Garang who nicknamed him “CDR” because of his zeal to fight against the enemy.
He condemned Riek Machar in 1991 and continued liberating the South under the leadership of John Garang. When he declared his defection in January this year, a lot of South Sudan patriots and nationalists were shocked because nobody could believe that CDR would join a tribal warlord like Riek Machar that he condemned in 1991. President Kiir was not convinced and he believed that CDR was a hostage of Nuer extremists who surrounded him.
Up to now, we don’t believe that CDR is free because he was surrounded by dangerous tribalists who might have killed him if he refused to listen to them. Based on his contribution to the liberation of South Sudan, he is the only rebel that our government can pardon and return him to the national army.
CDR is the only rebel we cannot kill if captured because he might have been forced to rebel by Nuer extremists. Because of his contribution to the liberation of South Sudan, we wish him quick recovery and return to Juba.
We would like to tell Gen. James Koang that President Kiir still loves you as his brother. Nobody would believe that CDR could rebel to fight his own comrades. We will pray for your quick return to Juba. CDR, you are a hero on the wrong side. Riek Machar is a terrorist that cannot be followed by nationalists like James Koang.