The local authorities in Unity State’s Koch County have allegedly apprehended 24 SPLA-IO officers for refusing to join Gen. Simon Maguek Gai’s group which defected three weeks ago from the armed opposition group led by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar to the SPLM Party and SSPDF.
Major Karbunio Yai Pazale, the SPLA-IO’s Sector Two Military Information Officer, told Radio Tamazuj over the weekend that the 24 SPLA-IO officers were arrested on 25 October with the help of Koch County Commissioner Gordon Koang Biel after they refused to be mobilized to join Gen. Maguek’s group which recently defected.
“We were surprised that 24 SPLA-IO officers who took permission from their units were arrested and we want to know why they have been detained. One of our officers who survived being apprehended arrived at our base and explained that an officer who defected from the Late Gen. James Gadet long ago joined up with Gen. Maguek who recently defected from SPLA-IO and held a meeting with the Koch County Commissioner,” he explained. “We do not know what transpired in the meeting, but it was after that that they started arresting the SPLA-IO officers with the help of Commissioner Koang. An investigation is underway to shed light on the motive behind the arrest of the SPLA-IO officers.”
“I cannot say for sure if the SSPDF was involved in arresting the SPLA-IO officers but the county commissioner was directly involved,” Maj. Yai added.
The SPLA-IO information officers said the order to apprehend the SPLA-IO officers came from the Bang area where Gen. Maguek and his group of defectors have been relocated to by the Koch County authorities.
“So, technically, the officers have been captured in the name and orders of the defectors who have been convincing SPLA-IO officers to join them,” he said. “My message is that we are at peace and guided by the revitalized peace agreement and all signatories must respect it. Let us give peace a chance.”
According to Maj. Yai, all the 24 SPLA-IO officers who have been detained were given departure orders by their Division Commanders.
For his part, Koch County Commissioner Koang Biel vehemently denied that 24 SPLA-IO officers have been arrested with his help and or direction.
“I do not have any information about 24 SPLA-IO officers being apprehended in Koch County,” he curtly said.