AN OPEN LETTER BY HON NATHANIEL OYET TO MACHAR (DOMINATION OF SPLA-IO SECURITY SECTOR BY NUER )
H.E. DR. RIEK MACHAR TENY DHURGON
FIRST VICE PRESIDENT OF REPUBLIC OF SOUTH SUDAN AND SPLM/SPLA-(IO) CHAIRMAN AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF
19/04/2020
Dear Excellency,
REF: POINTS OF CRITICAL CONCERNS IN THE UNIFICATION OF FORCES AND SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS
Two (2) months ago, you sent Lt. Gen. Dheiling Kheah, the Director of Military Intelligence of SPLA-(IO) to National Police Service Rajaf Training Centre to prepare the Service personnel for possible unification.
I raised with your Excellency reports and concerns of deliberate demotion of confirmed ranks of officers from Sectors Eight (8) and Nine (9) of Eastern and Central Equatoria Command respectively and up to date, there is no remedial action taken to address the matter. Demotion from the training center of officers ranks as high as a colonel to NCOs and men have caused serious disturbances and commotions. Moreover, assignments of other officers, NCOs, and Men particularly from other Sectors of the Upper Nile region over these forces further worsen the matter.
Secondly, according to the requirement of the Agreement (Article. 2.3.), pertaining the necessary unified forces of the Military; the Police, the National Security, Prison, Wildlife and the Fire Brigade Services, I am raising another point of critical concerns regarding the current composition of SPLA-(IO) Command Council and Structures namely: Chief of General Staffs (Nuer), Deputy Chief of General Staffs for Administration (Nuer), Deputy Chief of General Staffs for Operation (Nuer), Deputy Chief of General Staffs for Logistic (Nuer), Deputy Chief of General Staffs for Training (Equatoria), Deputy Chief of General Staffs for Moral Orientation (*), Director of Military Intelligence (Nuer), Director of National Security Services (Nuer), Inspector General of Police (IGP) (Nuer), Director of SPLA-(IO) for Logistics (Nuer), Director of Prison (Nuer), Director of Custom (Nuer), and down to ranks and files. Etc.
Your Excellency, the Command Council of the SPLA-(IO) is comprised of over 90% one nationality as indicated. This means the outcome of Security Arrangements for Necessary Unified Forces of military, police, national security, prisons, wildlife and fire Brigade services shall be composed as such at the top and possibly down the ranks and files. This is a cause of alarm as it is inconsistent with the text and spirit of the Agreement and the relevant laws regarding diversity, inclusiveness, and national representation.
The Strategic Defense and Security Review (SDSR) mechanism is already working on a White Paper for reforms of the security sector as per the Agreement which shall inter alia ensure the national character of South Sudan in the armed forces.
While I am aware of attempts to silence and frustrate these concerns, I appeal to you Excellency to treat this matter with due considerations and accord the attention it deserves.
Yours truly,
HON. OYET NATHANIEL PIERINO LOCHA SPLM/SPLA REPRESENTATIVE TO NCAC
Cc. SPLM/SPLA-(IO) Deputy Chairman
Cc. SPLM/SPLA-(IO) Secretary-General
Cc. SPLM/SPLA-(IO) Representative to SDSR
Cc. File
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