Ambassador Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth met President Kiir in Washington, D.C
For Immediate Release, 8/8/2014
By Gordon Buay
The delegation of the Government of South Sudan that attended US-Africa summit in Washington, D.C, would like to inform the media that Ambassador Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth met President Kiir on Thursday at JW Marriott Hotel. Prior to that, Ambassador Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth met Mr. Akot Lual Arec, Presidential Envoy for Murle, at JW Marriott hotel on Wednesday and discussed peace and unity of the people South Sudan. Ambassador Gatkuoth expressed a commitment to work towards ending the crisis facing the country and agreed to assist the government in bringing tranquility in Eastern Upper Nile state, particularly Jikany land. As somebody from Jikany clan of Upper Nile state, Ambassador Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth agreed to talk to Jikany who had rebelled to reach a peace deal with the government of South Sudan.
On Thursday, Ambassador Lol Gatkuoth met President Kiir face to face and the two had a discussion for an hour. President Kiir told Ambassador Gatkuoth that he appreciated the work he had done for his country when he was Government of South Sudan Representative to US from 2005 to 2011. The President told him that what South Sudan wanted right now is unity and peace. The President quoted John 14 in the Bible where Jesus Christ told his disciples not to worry because “there are so many rooms in my kingdom that would house all of you”. The president told Ambassador Gatkuoth that the people of South need him.
Ambassador Gatkuoth made it abundantly clear that peace is the only thing that would resolve the current crisis. He promised that he would talk to Jikany to seek peace with the government of South Sudan by renouncing violence. Ambassador Gatkuoth agreed to travel to Jikany territory to talk to rebel commanders to prioritize peace with the government.
President Kiir informed Ambassador Gatkuoth that he is welcomed back to the government and would resume his duties as an Ambassador in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade until the next reshuffle. The President agreed to include him in the next reshuffle so that he holds a political post within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade to spread the word of peace globally.
For contact:
Gordon Buay
Member of Presidential Delegation to US-Africa summit
Washington, D.C.
Email: gordonbuay@hotmail.com
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Top Envoy Defects From Machar Rebel Movement
By Chimpreports
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Ambassador Ezekiel Lol’s meeting with President Kiir was taped
By Gordon Buay
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Dear Gatdet Dak,
By Amb. Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth
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Ezekiel Lol did officially meet Akot Lual and President Kiir: Ambassador Ezekiel Lol’s Denial is Beneficial to the agreement he reached with President Kiir
By Gordon Buay
Dear all,
In regard to the meeting of Ezekiel Lol with both Akot Lual and President Kiir, I would like to inform you that the denial of Amb. Gatkuoth to what actually happened must be considered as a deflection of the criticism coming from Nuer extremists. I thought that Ezekiel Lol should have been courageous to tell the truth and face the Nuer extremists head on; however, his decision to deny the meeting with President Kiir may be based on political realities which are understandable to us.
We the government don’t see the denial of Amb. Gatkuoth as something negative because in politics, it is OK to deceive the public in order to achieve the main goal. Ezekiel has some followers who are still in Addis Ababa. Therefore, his denial might have been designed to protect those people. I understand the pressure he is in, given tribal extremism demonstrated by some Nuer in the Diaspora.
As a Nuer who is aware of the tribal pressure that surrounds Ambassador Ezekiel, I don’t blame him for denying the agreement he reached with President Kiir for his own safety and the safety of his own followers. We are aware that Ambassador Ezekiel Lol will find time to join his brothers in Juba who are yearning for peace and unity behind President Salva Kiir Mayardit.
We cannot release the tape because the denial of Ambassador Lol is beneficial to himself and to us as well. The media denial does not mean that Ambassador Lol withdrew from the deal. It is just a political deflection of any criticism that may arise from Nuer extremists. From our point of view, the deal is still valid.
In politics, you can give an angry mob a placebo to send them to sleep. If denying the deal will deflect the fire from Nuer extremists, we should politically conclude that Amb. Lol’s denial is beneficial to the agreement itself.
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If your assertion is correct that Ambassador Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth had actually met president Salva Kiir during his recent visit to Washington DC, and that the meeting was tapped, you better release the alleged tape for public viewing. I hope it is authenticated too if it really exists.
It doesn’t make sense, after threatening to release the tape if Ambassador Gatkuoth refuted your claim, for you now to say that you have suddenly decided to withhold the tape for reasons of political maneuvering or safety of Ambassador Gatkuoth. I am saying this because you, as an official source from the government, have already stated (alleged) clearly to the public that Ambassador Gatkuoth met both Kiir and Akot in Washington. Your statement (premature revelation) as an official has already put Ambassador Gatkuoth and his “followers” into your perceived “danger” you are alluding to and the political tactic you are now trying to safeguard.
So it doesn’t make any difference now whether or not you release the tape, unless you are trying to tell us that whatever you have been saying in this social media is less important than the tape, or you are unreliable source that we should not take serious without the tape.
Ambassador Gatkuoth has dismissed your claim so it is you now to get to the next level (release the tape). Or else, accept the fact that Ambassador Gatkuoth never met Kiir. He never met Akot too in the real sense of the meeting. He and Akot simply met by accident at the hotel and Akot asked for a picture. That is all. Otherwise prove us wrong if you don’t want to give up, brother.
Thanks,
James Gatdet Dak
Spokesperson
Office of the Chairman
SPLM/SPLA (rebel faction)
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Lol Gatkuoth did not meet Akot Lual by accident as you alleged
Brother James Gatdet,
Let me inform you that the release of the tape depends on the status of the deal Ezekiel Gatkuoth reached with President Kiir. The deal is still valid despite Lol’s public denial which was designed to send Nuer extremists to deep sleep.
Besides, Lol Gatkuoth did not meet Akot Lual by accident as you alleged. It was a prearranged meeting. How could you take a picture with somebody you deemed “enemy”? Lol Gatkuoth mobilized the Nuer extremists to demonstrate against President Kiir on Wednesday. How could such a person cross the street by accident and take a picture with Akot Lual while smiling in the day of the demonstration? Only irrational person would believe that Lol Gatkuoth took the picture “by accident”.
For your information Akot Lual was part of Presidential delegation. Besides, he is President Kiir’s Envoy entrusted to bring the rebels to the government. He brought David Yau Yau and he is now in the process to do that to Lol Gatkuoth.
Unless you the rebels are from a different planet, you need to ask Lol Gatkuoth why he took a picture with President Kiir’s delegate in the time the rebels were demonstrating against President Kiir across the street. The picture was not an accident, brother Gatdet Dak.
You and I grew up together in Bilpam and I know you are a reasonable person who can adhere to the rules of logic. If I mobilized supporters of the government to demonstrate against Riek Machar, why would I cross the street to take a picture with James Gatdet Dak?
We are in different political divide; however, I respect your mental capacity to reason because we grew up together. Ezekiel Lol is not an idiot who can take a picture by accident. He reached a deal with Akot Lual that day and the picture was taken as a proof to President Kiir that Lol Gatkuoth was serious to come to the government.
I don’t blame Lol for denying the truth because I could do the same thing if I were in his position. But if I were him, I would have confronted the Nuer head on, instead to play games of cat and mouse.
The picture speaks for itself and there is nothing to deny. But somebody under duress like Lol can sometimes deny the truth to get out of the danger.
I hope you would be reasonable enough to use your objective judgement to know that Lol Gatkuoth is not telling you the truth.
We will meet at the peace talks in Addis. I wish you good health although you are a rebel fighting to topple my government.
Gordon Buay