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Sacked S. Sudan rebel general declines to rejoin movement

August 25, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – A South Sudan rebel general recently sacked by the rebel leader, Riek Machar turned down efforts to woo him back into the armed opposition faction.

General Peter Gatdet Yak addressing a conference in Pagak, South Sudan, April 20, 2015 (ST photo)
General Peter Gatdet Yak addressing a conference in Pagak, South Sudan, April 20, 2015 (ST photo)
Gen. Peter Gatdet Yaak, who served as director for operations in the rebel movement, reportedly opposed any move to rejoin the rebels and accused Machar of lacking basic human understanding.

Captain Kang Matip Nhial, in an exclusive interview with Sudan Tribune, said Gatdet had become notorious, after refusing to meet a rebel delegation from Pagak.

“This Gatdet is not wise enough, if you look at the first team who came to Khartoum trying to persuade him to go back and rejoin ranks with his boss, he refused. We as Bul from SPLM/IO have also tried to approach him he also refused. I think, this man is totally confused,” Nhail said over phone from the Sudanese capital, Khartoum.

Nhial said many South Sudanese, particularly the Nuer admired Gatdet after he shot the first bullet that started a mutiny in Bor town.

“As South Sudanese in general, we do appreciate him for the first bullet he fired. But our question is, does he [Gatdet] know he is damaging himself from historical movement, which is now given trust by the people of South Sudan to bring lasting change in the country”, he asked.

He accused Gatdet for defaming the SPLM/IO after he claimed to have ousted Machar from the chairmanship of the rebel movement.

“Am sure there is no man with mercy like Dr. Riek Machar. Who will accept Gatdet again after he failed to go to the Nuer board before signing a peace agreement? Even government is looking for him much more than anyone in the bush, so who is going to help him out from the crimes he committed?” further asked Nhial.

Gatdet is known for having switched sides several times during and after South Sudan’s struggle for independence from neighbouring Sudan.

Meanwhile, the Bul community, at a meeting held in Khartoum on Tuesday disowned Gatdet after he failed to attend their meeting.

Lat Kuem, the spokesperson for the group, said they attempt last week to meet Gatdet, but the later turned down their invitation.

“As a community, we are fed up of supporting Peter Gatdet who defected several times from different leaders including the respected Bul leader late Gen. Paulino Matip. Gatdet is claiming that Bul is being mistreated by Dok clan while forgetting that he is the one mistreating them by murdering many community members in cold blood and looting their properties,” Nhial stressed.

He said the Bul community as whole will continue supporting the armed opposition leader in the struggle for regime change.

DISMISSING SEPARATE STATE

Meanwhile dismissed recent calls for Mayom county to be elevated into an independent state, saying it would divide Nuer communities.

“We have refuted claims made by the commissioner of Bul, asking for separate state. That is baseless and we Bul-Nuer in SPLM/IO under leadership of Dr. Riek Machar do condemn this statement in strong terms. This individual call that cannot generalise the Bul Nuer and those crimes that may have been committed,” he added.

Nhial accused Unity state caretaker governor, Nguen Monytuil, Maj. Mathew Pul and John Bol Mayak for the alleged crimes in Unity state.

“They will be brought to justice and face court of law for their crimes. Bul are not hated by all Nuer, instead those who are siding with the government are responsible for killing of innocent civilians,” he said.

(ST)

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