Pagan rubbishes Kiir’s amnesty

January 31, 2020 Newsbeat

President Salva Kiir Mayardit pardons opposition leaders in a presidential decree (Photo: File)

January 31, 2020 (SSNN)—Former Secretary-General of the SPLM and current chairman of the Real-SPLM Pagan Amum Okech has criticized President Kiir for granting amnesty to opposition leaders who are non-signatories to the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Pagan said that it’s unnecessary for Kiir to grant a presidential pardon to the opposition leaders, underscoring that, instead, the president should have allowed the establishment of the Hybrid Court which has long been overdue.

“I do not see any need for Kiir to issue such a decree,” Amum stressed.

“What he should do first is for him to stop blocking the establishment of the Hybrid Court for South Sudan and to declare his readiness to cooperate with the AU and that for him to answer for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed under his leadership and command,” he said.

He said that with all the atrocities and human rights violations committed by the president, he no longer has authority or legitimacy over the country to grant amnesty to individual leaders

“With all that Kiir has committed in South Sudan does he have any legitimacy or moral authority to give amnesty to any South Sudanese? But what did SSOMA do in the first place for Kiir to grant them amnesty?” Amum questions.

Meanwhile, the former Secretary-General of the SPLM revealed that they had written to the community of Saint Egidio about the government’s continuing attacks on opposition forces despite the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement.

“SSOMA accepted the invitation by St. Egidio to attend the upcoming meeting and its delegates are ready to travel. But SSOMA also brought to the attention of St. Egidio the violation of the Cessation of Hostilities by the Juba regime forces, actions that put in question the seriousness and commitment of the Kiir regime to end this senseless war and negotiate a just and comprehensive peace,” he concluded.