The SPLM Leaders (Former Political Detainees) met in Ambassador Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Friday, 27th June, 2014, to discuss the request of Amb. Ezekiel Lol Gatkouth, a member of the SPLM Leaders (FD) to join the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement/Army in-Opposition (SPLM/A-IO). He expressed his genuine desire to go and assist the SPLM/A (IO) politically.
The meeting endorsed the request of Amb. Ezekiel Lol Gatkouth to join SPLM/A In-Opposition since this is his individual wish at this critical juncture in which the people of South Sudan are yearning for peace and democratic change.
We trust that Amb. Ezekiel will pursue the struggle for just peace, democracy and justice in South Sudan and add political value to SPLM/A In–Opposition. Having shared in the common experience of the struggle for independence of South Sudan and the fight against despotism, we can only wish him well in his new political endeavors.
The SPLM Leaders remain solidly united and fully committed to the agenda of achieving peace, stability and democracy in South Sudan by peaceful means together with the other South Sudan stakeholders in the IGAD mediated Peace process.
Cde. John Luk Jok
Spokesman, SPLM Leaders
Addis Ababa, 28th June, 2014
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Ambassador Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth’s Statement for Joining SPLM-in Opposition
PRESS RELEASE
Addis Ababa — Ladies and Gentlemen,
South Sudan became Independent on the 9th of July 2011. Millions of the people of the Republic of South Sudan and well-wishers celebrated the birth of the new nation. I was blessed to have witnessed both the hoisting of the flag in South Sudan (July 9th 2011) and in the United Nations Head Quarters in New York (July 14th 2011). This well earned sacrosanct Independence of the South Sudan was through millions of heroes and heroines who sacrificed their lives for a just cause in 1955 to 1972, the war of the Anya Nya One, 1975 to 1983, the war of Anya Nya Two and 1983 to 2005, the war of SPLM/A.
December 15th 2013 will always be in the history of the new nation as the darkest spot. The President of the Republic, Salva Kiir Mayardit dragged the new nation into a war by recruiting, arming, and directing the Presidential Unit (Tiger Battalion), mainly from his home area, to disarm the Nuer component of the unit. I am innocent. I have never, or any of my colleagues in anyway ever plotted a coup to overthrow Salva Kiir government. The war broke out and Kiir directed his part of the unit to slaughter the Nuer in the unit and around Juba. This move triggered the current war imposed on all of us starting with his former Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny, whom Kiir wanted to assassinate. Former VP Dr. Riek Machar Teny ran for his life and all the G11 were detained using a false accusation such as an attempted coup d’etat. This false alleged coup triggered the massacre in Juba, and subsequently many innocent lives lost in Bor, Malakal, Bentiu and many places. My dear people the Nuer, Dinka, Shilluk, and many other innocent lives from other communities were lost because of this senseless war. My condolences to the families who lost their loved ones.
To set the record straight, we the December 6th 2013 Political Leaders (G11), namely Pagan Amum Okiech, Deng Alor Kuol, John Luk Jok, Kosti Manibe Ngai, Gen. Oyay Deng Ajak, Gen. Dr. Majak D’Agoot, Gen. Madut Biar Yel, Gen. Gier Chang Aluong, Governor Chol Tong Mayay, Dr. Cirino Hiteng Ofuho, and Amb. Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth together with Dr. Riek Machar Teny, Madame Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior, Taban Deng Gai, Dr. Peter Adwok Nyaba and Alfred Lado Gore – who had a press conference in Juba were and are united on the issues of “critical reforms” in the SPLM and the Government of the Republic of South Sudan using peaceful means. It was President Kiir who introduced violence into this in -house SPLM Political struggle. The war, which was imposed on all of us by Kiir, separated the group on the fateful night of December 15th 2013. The G11 (former detainees) were detained, and Dr. Riek Machar Teny and others escaped and ran for their dear lives. Because of the imposed war by Kiir, Dr. Riek and his group waged a war of resistance for survival. All of the mentioned leaders above the “reformists group” will continue to work together to end this imposed war peacefully.
