Gen. Duop Lam says SPLM-IO won’t be ‘deterred or shaken’ by Kitgwang declaration

JUBA – The acting military chief of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) General Duop Lam has said that the Kitgwang Declaration in which General Simon Gatwech Dual, the former military chief of the group, attempted to remove First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar as SPLM-IO leader won’t deter or shake the movement.

This was to response to fears and speculations on social media that the opposition movement under Machar has surrendered to the regime in Juba making it insignificant to achieve the goals and objectives upon which it was established following the outbreak of war in December 2013.

“The Rank and File of the SPLM/A IO cannot be deter or shaken by what they named Kit Wang Declaration. The group are trying to kill the shadow of an Elephant and leave to kill the really Elephant , the Question of slow implementation of Security Arrangement could not be the good reason to stage internal coup attempts against the Chairman and Commander in chief of the SPLM/A IO Dr. Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon,” General Duop said.

The senior opposition commander went on to laments speculations that General Simon Gatwech Dual was going to fight Machar before taking on President Salva Kiir Mayardit saying the attempt to replace Machar was an agenda by the regime in Juba pointing to a leaked audio of General Gatwech’s spokesman Brigadier General William Gatjiath Deng in which he made public a June meeting with South Sudan spy chief General Akol Koor Kuc to dismantle Machar.

“Secondly it will be stupidity to fight first the forces belong to Dr. Riek Machar and at the later stages come and again fight the State forces under president Salva Kiir Mayardit, but all in all the secret behind the scenes in Magenis is characterized by the intercepted audio from Brig Gen. William Gatjiath Deng that does not need  me to explain it again on second time, because  these group has been politically motivated by Security agencies of Juba and the facts must remain straight on records whether they like it or not the history of backstabbing the SPLM/A IO in this critical time of implementing the Revitalized peace agreement will not leave them to escape with impunity,” General Duop said.

General Duop further hinted at launching war against General Simon Gatwech’s forces, and said there would be efforts to make sure that civilian populations in areas controlled by both camps are protected. He also stressed the importance of the role played by General Simon Gatwech Dual during the conflict.

“Military character, any military coup, mutiny or defection is not a lip service payment; it always connected with the blood bath. In a tactical situation normally both the headquarters and defensive locations of the two opponents become a military legitimate target, a military objective and a military necessity providing that the civilian population must be protected by all means,” he said.

“Last but not least let me assure all the SPLM/A IO members and supporters where ever you are that, the way our former chief Gen. Simon Gatdual defended the SPLA IO territories with us together before shall continue in his absent with no vacuum and be once assured that, there will be no magical dramatic change overnight as the three Commanders wish it to happen in Magenis,” he added.