The U.S. Government Should Deploy Special Forces to Arrest Peter Gatdet

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

5/12/2014

As it is now clear that renegade General Peter Gatdet rejected the agreement signed in Addis Ababa between President Kiir and Dr. Riek Machar, the Obama's administration must do something to handle Peter Gatdet who was indicted recently by the U.S for committing genocide in Bentiu on April, 15 and 16. With the attacks launched against the SPLA forces in Bentiu and Guit towns on May, 11, it is clear beyond a reasonable doubt that Peter Gatdet will keep his promise in rejecting the Cessation of Hostilities.

As it's abundantly clear that Peter Gatdet is not under the command of Dr. Riek Machar, President Obama needs to come up with a different solution to realize ceasefire in South Sudan. Given the history of Peter Gadet, and given the fact he has been sanctioned by the U.S. as an obstacle to peace, the Obama's administration must deploy Special Forces to arrest him. Without arresting Peter Gatdet, the peace will not be realized in South Sudan.

The U.S. Special Forces in Yambio who are hunting Joseph Kony can track down Peter Gatdet by using sophisticated technology and arrest him in order for peace signed in Addis Ababa to be realized. It is when he is arrested that a real cessation of hostilities would be realized. Besides, Peter Gatdet is an individual sanctioned by the U.S government as a negative force working against peace in South Sudan. Therefore, President Obama cannot expect anything positive from him apart from killing innocent civilians and violating any agreement signed in Addis Ababa.

President Obama should know that Dr. Riek Machar has no control over Peter Gatdet. The U.S. government and the rest of international community should accept that Riek Machar has no control over rebel warlords. When it comes to implementation of any agreement signed between Riek Machar and President Kiir, Peter Gatdet should not be expected to implement it. The U.S. government must refer to the factional fighting in South Sudan in 1990s before the signing of the CPA in 2005.

After Riek Machar staged a coup against Dr. John Garang in 1991, his Movement fragmented into factions three years later. Peter Gatdet was an independent warlord in 1990s who was not under the control of Riek Machar. He signed his separate peace with the government of Sudan in 1997 as an independent warlord in Unity State. What he is doing right now is what he did in 1990s, that is, he is not somebody who could be answerable to anyone except himself.

Therefore, the U.S Government must take serious measures to deal with Peter Gatdet in order for any peace to be realized. Peter Gatdet we have now is the same Peter Gadet of 1990s who was an independent warlord and signed his separate peace with the government of Sudan. The U.S. government must come up with a solution to deal with anti-peace elements like Peter Gatdet. History of warlordism in South Sudan would only recommend military action against Peter Gatdet. If the U.S Special Forces don't arrest him, then, the other option is for IGAD to bring him to the table to negotiate with the government of South Sudan. That is what he did in 1997 when he negotiated his separate peace with Sudan government.

For contact:

Gen. Gordon Buay
Member of Other Armed Groups Integration Committee
Former Spokesman of SSLM/A
Email: [email protected]

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