Machar’s SPLM-IO condemns ‘tactical’ intimidation against members in Abyei

JUBA – South Sudan’s main armed opposition group, SPLM-IO, led by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny has condemned what it calls a tactical intimidation of its members in the country’s Abyei Administrative Area after one of the group’s nominees to local legislature, Monykuch Mawien, was wounded in an attack by unidentifiable gunmen suspected to be sent by the disputed area’s chief administrator who is opposed to participation of the SPLM-IO in Abyei’s transitional government.

Speaking to Sudans Post on Tuesday afternoon, Mr. Mawien said he was attacked while returning from a trip he took to neighboring Warrap state and accused police authorities of not doing anything such as launch of investigation to establish facts behind the attack which also wounded five others.

In a statement on Tuesday evening, Dut Majokdit, a member of the SPLM-IO National Liberation Council (NLC) and close ally of Machar said the SPLM-IO will not tolerate the threats against the group’s members and supporters in the disputed territory saying the attack against the incoming SPLM-IO legislator constitute a violation of the revitalized peace agreement signed by the main armed opposition group with the government more than two years ago.

“Threatening members and die-heart supporters of the SPLM-IO Abyei will not be tolerated by higher leadership of the movement under the First Vice-President Dr. Riek Machar Teny,” Dut told Sudans Post in an interview in Juba. “The shooting and the subsequent wounding of Comrade Monykuch Mawien last night in Abyei constitute a violation of the R-ARCSS and is a tactical intimidation to silent our members in the area.”

Majokdit further reiterated that the main armed opposition group has been given a share of power by the revitalized peace agreement which he said the SPLM-IO will have without further objections by those who are opposed to the agreement in the disputed territory.

“The power-sharing arrangement between the parties to the revitalized peace deal has given the SPLM-IO a share of 27% in Abyei Administrative Area as in another other state or local units without any debate. The SPLM-IO will not give up on its rightful share under any kind of force. Just stop the threats agains our members in the area because we are only for peace and we don’t accept violence,” he said.

He further condemned the attack and urged the Abyei chief administrator Kuol Diem Kuol to bring the perpetrators of the criminality to justice further assuring the people of Abyei of the support of the SPLM-IO leadership.

“I therefore condemns these barbaric acts and call upon the Chief Administrator of Abyei Administrative Area to conduct a credible and thorough investigation and bring the perpetrators of the crime to book,” the senior opposition official said.

“I want to assure our people in Abyei that His Excellency Dr. Riek Machar Teny and the SPLM-IO leadership are standing firm on the resolution of the final status of Abyei as provided for in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) of 2005 and subsequent outcomes of international arbitrations,” he concluded.