Opposition leader calls for payment of wounded war veterans

February 19, 2024 (JUBA) – A South Sudanese opposition has urged the country’s leaders to urgently address grievances of wounded heroes demanding unpaid medical benefits.

The Common Peoples’ Alliance (CPA) leader, Deng Bol Aruai Bo Bol made the call in a statement issued on Monday.

“We implore him [President Salva Kiir] to initiate swift and decisive action to ensure that our wounded heroes receive the medical benefits they rightfully deserve,” he remarked.

Bol call upon all political forces and the general public to stand in solidarity with our wounded heroes.

“Let us join hands in demanding answers, a fair settlement,” he stated.

The opposition leader criticised derogatory remarks directed towards veterans and heroes by certain government officials.

He proposed that strict measures be implemented to ensure that the wounded heroes are treated with dignity.

“We call upon parliament to fulfill its duty by holding the line ministries and the Bank of South Sudan accountable for the unaccounted $2 million allocated for our wounded heroes’ medical benefits,” Bol stressed.

“Citizens of South Sudan deserve to know the truth about the whereabouts of these funds and it is the responsibility of parliament to ensure accountability,” he added.

Meanwhile the opposition National Salvation Front (NAS) has condemned the Finance minister for making “irresponsible” and “offensive” statements over wounded war heroes demanding payment.

“The statement by the minister is a gross insult against the dignity of decorated wounded heroes who sacrificed immensely so that the minister can enjoy his position as “minister” in an independent country liberated by these wounded heroes,” partly reads the statement.

The hold-out group says it stands with wounded war heroes and civil servants demanding money from government.

Last week, the wounded war veterans held a protest demanding payment of their medical benefits. The matter turned violent following confrontations involving military police deployed to halt the protests.

(ST)