Renegade Peter Gatdet impounded UN Helicopter carrying IGAD Monitors

For Immediate Release
24/8/2014
Warlord Peter Gatdet impounded UNMISS helicopter carrying IGAD Monitors at Wachop near Wankai Payam west of Bentiu town on Saturday. The UNMISS helicopter was carrying three IGAD Monitors who wanted to talk to him to stop the violation of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement signed on January, 23rd this year. The purpose of IGAD Monitors was to interview him about the attacks rebels launched against the government forces on August, 15.
Peter Gatdet, who is a serial violator of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement since it was signed on January 23rd, was not pleased to talk to IGAD Monitors and ordered his forces to arrest them. The three IGAD Monitors and two pilots were badly beaten. The UN sources revealed that one of the pilots called from jail and informed the UNMISS that they were badly tortured.
The incident has proven what the Government of South Sudan has been saying for quite a while that Riek Machar has no control over the rebel warlords who operate independently from his authority. His lack of control makes it difficult for the hostilities to cease because the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement of January, 23rd, was not signed by the warlords who have real control over the rebel forces on the ground.
Such an incident should serve as a wakeup call for IGAD because a warlord like Peter Gatdet cannot be expected to honor any agreement that was not signed by him. Gatdet himself told IGAD Monitors in April that he would not abide by any ceasefire agreement. Yet the IGAD did not take him serious and the regional body was misled by the false promises of Riek Machar who pretends to have a control over the warlords on the ground.
It is high time for the IGAD to come up with a different strategy to stop violence if the regional body wants all hostilities to cease. The IGAD should ensure that each rebel General signs a separate ceasefire agreement with the Government of South Sudan since it is now obvious beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Riek Machar has no control on the ground.
For contact:
Gordon Buay
Member of SPLA Other Armed Groups Integration Committee
Washington, D.C.
Email: mailto:[email protected]@hotmail.com