Addis Ababa, May 11, 2015 (SSNA) — A group of high ranking military officers of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition (SPLA-IO) have visited wounded soldiers at Maiwut County Hospital of the oil-rich Upper Nile State.
The SPLA-IO’s powerful General, Peter Gatdet Yak, is also reported to be furious over the speed of the war and demanded that the top leadership of the SPLM-IO gives him an order to target Juba.
General Gathoth Gatkuoth Hothnyang, the Deputy Chief of General Staff for Logistics and Member of military command councils for the SPLA-IO led to team to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)-run Hospital.
Gen. Gathoth thanked the wounded soldiers, telling them that they are Heroes who will not be forgotten in the history of the struggle. Gathoth remained the combatants about what happened in Juba in December of 2013 and asserted that South Sudanese President Salva kiir “must go” for peace to return to South Sudan and “answer to all the tragedies and crimes he has committed.”
“It’s my pleasure to stand before you and congratulates you for the victories you have been making since 15 December 2013 up to today 1 May 2015 against the brutal enemy Salva Kiir militia forces,” Gen. Gathoth told the wounded soldiers.
“We vow to continue fighting Salva Kiir until he is completely out of power that he has misuse against our Nation. Tribal President Salva Kiir has intentionally massacred your parents in Juba December-2013, therefore, I assure you that there is no any way around; Salva Kiir must go and face justice and accountability before signing a peace agreement,” he added.
The rebel commander reaffirms the SPLM/A-IO commitment to peace, adding that the armed opposition will continue to respect peace negotiators and the international community for “dedicated their precious time for peace to come to South Sudan.”
Gathoth also said any peace process must address the root causes of the conflict; asserting that peace is only possible without Kiir, adding that “continuing the war to achieve our objective through barrel of guns is better than signing a bad peace.”
In his closing remarks, Gathoth revealed a long list of what he described as “Kiir’s failures.”
Genral Gathoth said Kiir “has failed to rule the Country, implement Democratic system, respect Country Constitution, provide security to the people of South Sudan, stolen Country public funds, delivery development services and committed terrible atrocities and human right violations.” He also thanks ICRC for its medical services they offer to the wounded and those who seek treatments of various medical reasons.