A high level former South Sudanese rebel commander said Thursday he is ready to forgive those who wronged him and pushed him to rebellion in order for the people and the country to stay in peace.

General Dau Aturjong Nyuol said in an interview Thursday that he took up arms because he had no option left for him after he was pushed to the edge and left to make a decision to rebel.

“I don’t want us to talk about the past. Whatever happened has a cause. There was a reason but now we are in another era," he said.

"We are in time of peace. The war has stopped and we have come. What is before us at this moment is to put our acts together to implement the peace agreement," he added. "We need to stand together as leaders and as people to preach peace and send out only one message about peace, unity, reconciliation, forgiveness, harmony and peaceful coexistence."

The former rebel commander also welcomed the establishment of tribunal court to try those he believes played a negative role in the conflict.

He explained that the use of the court represents one way of holding those who commit atrocities responsible for their crimes while the use of traditional reconciliation ceremonies represents another.

Dau, who was a leading Dinka general among the SPLA-In Opposition, called on the churches to not abandon their role, asserting religious leaders were very close to both the leaders and local people at the grass root level during the Second Sudanese Civil War.