A Payam administrator was arrested after a dispute with SPLA-IO generals over his duties in Adok Payam, located in Leer County, Unity State, on Wednesday, according to police authorities.
Brigadier General Tor Thor, the Police Inspector of Leer County, confirmed the arrest on Thursday afternoon during an interview with Radio Tamazuj. He stated that the administrator was detained by SPLA-IO generals for allegedly obstructing their operations.
“The arrest of the Payam administrator sends a clear message to the public regarding developments in Leer County,” Tor said.
The incident occurred on November 26 at the Payam headquarters, where the administrator was reportedly tortured and arrested in his office in Adok. The administrator has been identified as James Bichiok Gatluak Thiech.
The dispute arose after Thiech allegedly failed to comply with orders issued by Mr. John Kueth, the chairperson of the SPLM-IO, who was supported by SPLM-IO commanders, including Major General Peter Keah Jal, Acting Commander of Division 4B; Major General Tut Yap Kuong; and Colonel Torgom Kiir Tap, the chief of military intelligence for SPLA-IO.
According to Tor, the disagreement stemmed from the Payam administrator’s refusal to stop state government and county authority workers from carrying out their duties at the port. The administrator later formed a committee to replace workers previously deployed by the state revenue and county authorities.
Currently, the Payam administrator is being held at Rupkong, the military base headquarters of SPLA-IO Division 4B.
In response to the situation, Dr. Riek Machar, the First Vice President, issued a letter to SPLA-IO generals calling for the release of the Payam administrator. In his letter, dated November 27, Machar instructed the SPLA-IO generals to release the Payam administrator and ensure the appropriate measures were taken.