Meeting Pagan and Riek Machar: Press Statement on VP James Wani Igga’s Visit to the UN – Part 5
Outlines of the Minute of Two Bilateral Meeting between VP and Pagan; VP and Riek
October 3, 2015 (SSB) — While in New York for attending the 70 Session of the UN General Assembly, H.E. VP Wani Igga decided to reach out to Dr. Riek Machar and Cde. Pagan Amum as a gesture of good will and honest desire to continue to dialogue on the implementation of the IGAD-Plus agreement. His conviction that continuing talking to each other would allay suspicion on both side was well appreciate by Dr. Riek and Cde. Pagan who did not hesitate to reciprocate that good will with honoring VP’s invitation.
Meeting with Pagan 1/10/2015 (9 pm-1:30 am): Venue: Residence of Dr. Francis M. Deng.
In addition to the Vice President, the meeting was attended by Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Dr. Francis Mading Deng, Permanent Representative in South Sudan’s UN Mission; and I, Press Secretary in the Office of the Vice President.
The meeting discussed a number of issues including what Cde. Pagan thought to be an unfortunate continuation of what appeared to him to be a coordinated assault on his person by a few senior government officials. He argued that, for example, he was given an official green light to go sign the IGAD-Plus agreement, only to be surprised that he was blamed for signing as an FD.
Cde. Pagan also highlighted his concern about their personal security in Juba amidst what he considers to be increased hostility towards their decision to sign the IGAD-Plus agreement. He called on the VP to consider reigning in individuals who would want to establish parallel decision-making centers in Juba apart from the constitutional powers of the head of state.
Cde. Pagan also emphasized that he has spent his entire adult life in the service of the noble cause of South Sudan’s liberation. Considering his over thirty years active involving in South Sudan’s politics, he asserted that he would rather exile himself than getting involved in fighting any system of government in the country, because he valued the lives of the innocent people who would be wasted as a result.
In response, the VP assured Cde. Pagan that he is certain that neither he nor President Kiir held a grudge against him, despite what has happened. That, considering the over three decades they have been working tirelessly together as committed comrades of the struggle for the people of South Sudan, there would be no reason why a new page of genuine reconciliation should be opened, beginning by a collective commitment to stop violence and start implementing the peace agreement.
The interventions by Dr. Barnaba, Dr. Francis and I concentrated on the need for genuine reconciliation between leaders whose commitment during the liberation struggle and interim period leading to the referendum cannot be doubted or questioned by any sincere patriot. Preaching hatred, retribution, and personal targeting by the brothers and comrades of yesterday will divide not only the historic SPLM but translate into division of people at the grassroots and further suffering and conflict.
Meeting with Dr. Riek 2/10/2015 (11 am-2 pm): Venue: UN ONE Hotel.
In addition to the Vice President, the meeting was attended by Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin, Dr. Francis Mading Deng, Hon. Deng Deng Hoc and I, Press Secretary in the Office of the Vice President. On Dr. Riek’s part there was Alfred Lado Gore, Taban Deng Gai, Ezikiel Lou Garkouth, and Agnes Nyoka.
The meeting started cordially with assurances from the VP that the government would want to reach out to the armed opposition in order to erase mutual suspicion on both sides. VP thanked Dr. Riek for honoring his invitation for a bilateral meeting.
Dr. Riek raised a number of concerns including a call on the government to initiate a joint action towards soliciting funds for establishing military barracks and cantonment areas for his troops, where provision of food, shelter and medicines could attract his forces to assemble quickly. The Vice President responded with appreciation of Dr. Riek’s desire to start implementing the agreement, but called on him to sign the minutes of the security arrangements workshop as a first step to show good faith. All other things shall follow.
Dr. Riek also argued that the government reservations send mixed messages about its commitment to implementing the agreement. He claimed to have had twenty one reservations which they decided to drop for the sake of peace. The VP explained the main positive element in expressing reservations in a complex context like ours.
Dr. Riek designated Taban Deng Gai to lead an advance team to Juba where he will start the process of building trust between the two sides, before Dr. Riek and the rest of his team arrive. Both parties agreed that confidence building should start at the highest level before it trickles down to the people.
Members of both delegations spoke and expressed their confidence that with goodwill South Sudan could quickly recuperate and start developing again. They agreed on the need to expedite the process of confidence building between leaders and reconciliation among the people of South Sudan.
After the meeting, Dr. Riek left UN ONE Hotel with assurance that he vows to pursue the implementation of the IGAD-Plus agreement and not return the country to war again.
The VP then called for an assessment meeting where we had a consensus that there will be no reason why Dr. Riek and his team should not be given the benefit of doubt. Only time will tell whether the good spirit of reconciliation shown in the meeting could be translated into faster implementation of the agreement and resettlement of the more than 1.5 million who are direct victims of the current senseless civil war in South Sudan. Only time will tell.
David Mayen Ayarbior, Press Secretary of the VP, H.E. James Wani Igga. New York. Mayen.ayarbior@gmail.com
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