JUBA – An officer who was a member of the protection unit for suspended First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, passed away at Giada military barrack on Thursday, SPLA-IO spokesperson said.
Captain Luka Gathok Nyuon had been held in hellish condition at the military detention cell along with several other officers since their arrest during the storming of Machar’s residence in April.
But SPLA-IO spokesperson, Col. Lam Paul Gabriel said in a statement on Thursday that Gathok passed away, following reccurrent torture and denial to medical attention.
“This morning, the SPLA-IO command learned with profound shock the death of patriot Cpt. Luka Gathok Nyuon at Jamus military detention in Juba where he and other protection officers of the FVP are unjustly arrested, detained, tortured and left for death,” Lam claimed.
Juba Witness could not independently verify details surrounding his death, and the SSPDF is yet to comment on the incident.
Lam further said the SPLA-IO confirmed that Cpt Luka and several other gravely ill officers due to torture and other inhumane treatments were denied medical aid.
“Those who luckily got medicines got theirs thrown into dustbins by the SSPDF personnel at the detention center.”
He said the group condemned “this inhumane and unprofessional treatment of prisoners of war by the SSPDF in grave violation” of the International Human Rights Law and the International Humanitarian Law.
