Eastern Jikany peace initiative committee (EPIC)
Office of the executive team
9th Oct 2019
Joint statement – office of the EPIC
SUBJECT: CONDEMNATION OF MAJOR GENERAL OCHAN PUOT BUOP’S DEFECTION TO SPLM/IG (JCE) GOVERNMENT AND DISMISSAL OF HIS CLAIM READ ON SSTV BY MICHAEL MAKUEI LUETH ON THE 26TH SEPT 2019 THAT ALL GAAJAAK DEFECTED
October 10, 2019 (SSNA) — Eastern Jikany Peace Initiative Executive Board along with Eastern Jikany leaderships in diasporas has strongly condemned the planned defection of Major General Ochan Puot Buop along with few disgruntled politicians who mobilised ¼ of Cie-Waw civilians known of recent WADU Protection Force to stage fighting in Greater Maiut county. We also condemned in the strongest term possible the reception of the defected General by Salva Kiir Mayardit in Juba as the two parties to the agreement are implementing the remaining outstanding issues in the R-ARCSS. Moreover; instead, this is the time to secure conducive space to the formation of the R-TGoNU. So, we condemn Kiir’s political decision to encourage defection and indirectly funding activities that may take the country back to another war.
EPIC is pleased to inform all Eastern Jikany Nuer, entire Nuer Community, and South Sudanese that General Ochan Puot Buop defected alone without any civilian from Gaat Jaak in general. The statement read by South Sudan minister of Information Michael Makuei Lueth on 26th Sept 2019 on SSTV was full of lies and has no substantiated evidence. Those people who General Ochan Puot Buop called Head Chiefs from all Gaajaak six (6) sub-sections shown on SSTV were just decorated and forced to wore Chief garments in order to make his defection sound full. Some were drawn from his forces, while others were involved at gunpoint to represent some sub-sections. In this regard, the action alone is totally brutality and violence against the civil and human rights of the coerced individuals.
EPIC wishes to reiterate to the general public that all Gaajaak civilians are still under control of SPLM/IO excepted those few individuals who were politically trapped inside Maiut County during Major General Ochan Puot Buop’s defection declaration on 22nd Sept 2019.
EPIC reiterate her call for peace that was turned down by Major General Ochan Puot Buop due to his hidden agenda of defection that surfaced on 22nd Sept 2019. We called upon SPLM/IO and the SPLM/IG to adhere to the peace and allow a free moment of civilians within Gaajaak land and beyond as it was before General Ochan Puot Buop defection.
Signed by:
Mok Riek Badeng, Acting Chairman of EPIC
Simon Ngut Kun, Acting Secretary-General of EPIC
David Koang Patuom, EPIC Teasurer
Dak Wal Miyoang, Chairman of Eastern Jikany Community in USA
Lew Lual Deng, Chairperson of Eastern Jikany Community in Victoria and Chairman of Eastern Jikany Community Council of Australia
Tar Bol Mach, Chairman of Eastern Jikany Community Youth in Australia
Rebecca Nyakuich Puoch Bichiok, Chairwoman of Eastern Jikany Community of South Australia and Deputy Chairman of Eastern Jikany Council of Australia
Tesloach Bang Diew, Chairman of Eastern Jikany Community of Queensland, and Secretary-General of Eastern Jikany Community Council of Australia
Peter Pal Kong, Chairman of Eastern Jikany Community of Western Australia (WA) and Treasury of Eastern Jikany Community Council of Australia
Dang Gatwech Deng, Chairman of Eastern Jikany Community of Eastern Canada and Chairman of Eastern Jikany Community in Canada
Koang Malual Khor, Chairman of Eastern Jikany Community of Western Canada and Deputy
Chairman of Eastern Jikany Community of Canada