SPLA-IO general who defected to SSPDF last week asks Kiir for amnesty

JUBA – A senior main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) commander who defected last week to the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) has appealed to President Salva Kiir Mayardit for amnesty, saying he was misled into rebellion.

Major-General Peter Tap Gatdet, previously the SPLA-IO’s third in command and chief administrator for sector two, addressed local residents in Koch town on Friday. He claimed he and “hundreds” who defected with him were tricked into joining the opposition and now seek forgiveness.

“It is not just me,” Gatdet said. “All those who came with me were misled. We are asking the President of the Republic of South Sudan … for amnesty. We support peace and don’t want our country to continue on this path under Riek Machar and his relatives.”

Gatdet arrived in Koch on Thursday alongside Unity State government officials and was welcomed into the town by Gordon Koang Biel, the county commissioner sanctioned by the European Union for human rights violations.

Last week, Gen. Gatdet accused the SPLA-IO leadership under First Vice President Machar of lacking clear administration and favoring “opportunists” who disregard the people’s interests.

“There is no good leadership in the SPLM-IO,” Gatdet told Sudans Post upon defecting on July 8. “Machar has surrounded himself with opportunists who don’t believe in the happiness and prosperity of South Sudan.”

Gatdet claimed a large force, numbering in the hundreds, defected with him, with more expected to follow. He expressed dissatisfaction with the SPLA-IO’s direction and a desire to rejoin the government.

“I have defected with a significant force, in the hundreds now, and thousands of soldiers will soon make their announcement,” he said. “The SPLM-IO is not going in the right direction, and I believe there is no reason to wait before returning to the government of President Salva Kiir Mayardit.”

Gatdet reiterated his willingness to be deployed anywhere by the government, stating he and others defecting believe the SPLA-IO lacks a national vision.

“I am now loyal to the country’s leadership,” he said. “As a soldier, I can be deployed anywhere. Our work is to protect South Sudan’s sovereignty, not stay in Tong because of one person.”

For his part, Koch County Commissioner Koang Biel expressed happiness for the return of the opposition commander into the government. He said he would ensure any demands Gatdet has are addressed by the government and promised to book a plane for him to travel to Juba to meet the leadership.

“Thank you and your team for responding to the calls of His Excellency the president for amnesty. We are all your people, and we welcome you back to your house. We promise that you will meet the leadership in Juba, and we will provide a plane to take you there,” he said.

Gatdet, a native of Koch County, commanded an operation that sneaked General Simon Gatwech Dual, now leader of the SPLA-IO Kitgwang faction, from Juba during the initial outbreak of the civil war in December 2013.