Hon. Gatwech Lam Puoch, a former SPLM-IO lawmaker who represented Nasir County in the National Legislative Assembly, during one of his appearances in the Special Court in Juba. (Photo: Courtesy)

The third accused in the ongoing Nasir garrison attack trial continued presenting his defense before the Special Court in Juba on Friday, arguing that a press conference at the center of the case was a collective political action rather than an individual initiative.

Hon. Gatwech Lam Pouch told the court’s 90th session that the press briefing was organized by a bloc of 24 lawmakers representing the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA).

He testified that he was invited to brief participants during a meeting on developments surrounding the Nasir incident only after a government representative declined to lead the discussion.

During that meeting, Hon. Gatwech said he provided information on the volatile security situation in Nasir and outlined efforts by the First Vice President and lawmakers representing Nasir and Ulang counties to ease tensions and prevent further escalation.

He maintained that he actively encouraged dialogue with local communities and advocated for peaceful engagement to address the root causes of the unrest.

According to his testimony, the lawmakers concluded their meeting with a consensus on the need to verify facts on the ground, which led to a proposal for a fact-finding and verification mission through the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAM-VM).

Hon. Gatwech further revealed to the court that he was arrested by the National Security Service on March 11, 2025, just one day after the parliamentary meeting took place.

Rejecting the prosecution’s evidence, the lawmaker argued that the statement cited in court was issued collectively by the 24-member TNLA parliamentary bloc and not by him in his personal capacity. He stated that the document sought to protect civilians, promote regional stability, and urge authorities to take preventive measures to avoid further conflict.

He strongly denied accusations that the communication encouraged rebellion, violence, or any unlawful conduct. Instead, he maintained it explicitly called for peaceful and lawful solutions to the ongoing tensions in Nasir and Ulang counties.

The lawmaker also questioned the prosecution’s selective approach, asking why only he and the individual who read the statement to the media were being prosecuted, while the other members of the parliamentary bloc who approved the document were not charged.

Furthermore, Hon. Gatwech argued that the press conference referred to by the prosecution was protected under both the Transitional Constitution and parliamentary regulations, intended entirely to support efforts to de-escalate tensions and counter misinformation.

The Special Court adjourned the case to Wednesday, June 24, 2026, when Hon. Gatwech Lam Pouch is expected to continue presenting his defense statement.