By Richard Sultan
The South Sudan Peoples Defence Forces (SSPDF) has said that Gen. James Nando wasn’t involved in any violence against civilians in Western Equatoria’s county of Tambura.
“Gen. Nando has always been on the defensive because as is the trend with Sudan People Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) Soldiers who always attack those who have defected from them. As far as I know, there is no law which says that you should not defend yourself when attacked”, says Lul Ruai Koang, the SSPDF spokesperson.
He was responding to the Juba Echo this morning as to whether SSPDF will allow Gen. Nando to stand for trials against allegations of crimes forces under his command committed as demanded for by Members of Parliament (MPS) from Western Equatoria Caucus recently for all involved to face justice.
There have been months of deadly violence in Tambura town pitting Gen. Nandos forces against forces of SPLM-IO where he defected from last year.
There were dozens killed and hundreds displaced with the United Nations Humans Rights division accusing perpetrators of rape among other crimes.
In another statement seen by the Juba Echo yesterday, the SSPDF spokesperson said that they have completed the withdrawal of General James Nando’s forces from Tambura town and they are currently in a training base in Maridi before they can be intergrated.
“SSPDF GHQs would like to announce to the public successful relocation of Gen. James Nando’s Forces from Tombura County to Maridi Unified Training Centre where they will go for thorough training and integration into the National Army,” reads part of the statement from SSPDF.
The military statement further concluded that security in Western Equatoria as always is under the command of the sixth infantry division, South Sudan National Police Services and the National Security Services.
Gen. James Nando is currently at the SSPDF headquarters in Juba awaiting further instructions according to the statement.
