Former Political Detainees Back in Juba for Peace Talks

By Jok P Mayom
 
JUBA, 02 June 2015 [Gurtong] – Former SPLM officials who were detained following the break out of violence in South Sudan have returned home.

Five of the former political detainees arrived in Juba Monday together with the co-guarantors in an effort to strike the reunification of the SPLM M Party deal.

Those who jetted back into the country were Deng Alor, Kosti Manibe, John Luk Jok, Madut Biar Yel and Dr Cirino Hiteng.

Spokesperson of the SPLM Political Bureau Akol Paul Khordit commended President Salva Kiir Mayardit for his initiative aimed at bringing a truce in South Sudan’s biggest political party, SPLM.

“Today is a historical day, a turning point in the South Sudanese peace process. We welcome the move that has been undertaken with support and facilitation of the African National Congress represented by party deputy chairman and South Africa Vice President Cyril Ramaphosa.

He appealed to the peace guarantors to join the peace caravan and spearhead peace messages across the nation.

 “It is only through peaceful means that we can achieve the solution to the current crisis, violent and confrontations serve no purpose. South Sudan is above all of us and we in the SPLM leadership are fully committed to peaceful resolution to this crisis”, said Khordit

He also appealed to South Sudanese to rally behind the peace efforts, saying peace starts with each and every citizen.

“We appeal to our people to exercise the spirit of forgiveness, reconciliation and unity in addressing the crisis. Peace is our priority in the government, party and South Sudan’s first agenda for 2015 is peace,” Khordit said.

Ramaphosa on his part said the move was part of steps towards implementing the Arusha Agreement, which was to bring back the former SPLM leaders to the country for dialogue.

“We will be working with them every day as we try to consolidate peace in South Sudan. They will also hold talks with President Salva Kiir as well as with the leadership of the SPLM in opposition”, he said.

“Today is a momentous day and it is the day we should all applauds because it is the first time these leaders have come back under the auspices of the peace making process co-guarantors,” Ramaphosa noted.

Ramaphosa was joined by the Secretary-General of Tanzania’s ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi Abdurahman Kinana in leading the delegation back home after an their absence from December 2013.
 
Deng Alor Kuol, the head of the Former Detainees team to Juba, commended the reunification of the SPLM, but at the same time called for an end to the hostilities in the country.

“We have taken this conscious decision because we feel that we have the responsibility to bring back peace to our country. We took the responsibility to liberate our people and so we can also take that responsibility to rescue our people and that is why we are here,” said Alor.