Juba - Monday 6th October 2008 Yesterday in Juba, numerous reports were received of young women being picked up by police officers and taken in the back of pickup trucks to a ‘Public Order Court’ in the Malakia / Konyo Konyo Market district of Juba. Eyewitnesses described many women later leaving the premises in bloodstained clothing, showing what appeared to be clear signs of beating. The women detained are all reportedly young. Contrary to suggestions that the action was part of a crackdown on foreign national sex-workers, at least a large proportion were reported to be Sudanese nationals. Some were said to be returning home from Church at the time of arrest and at least one described being forcibly detained whilst bathing her baby, putting the infant at risk of drowning. When asked to explain this treatment, police officers on the scene said the reason was that the women were wearing trousers. Pressed further, they produced a County Local Order which they said constituted their authority to act. A copy of the Order is attached for information. Earlier today, HE Mary Kiden Kimbo, Minister of Gender, Social Welfare and Religious Affairs, held a press conference in which she strongly condemned any such action on the part of the police against women. In particular, HE Minister Kiden said that the actions were in contravention both of the Bill of rights and the Interim Constitution of Southern Sudan (ICSS). Having had reports from her Director General of Gender and Child Welfare and the Director responsible for Gender-Based Violence, who have begun the investigation of the topic, she was able to produce copies of the order for the media. You will note that the Order was issued by Albert Pitia Redantore, the Commissioner of Juba County. It takes no authority from The Order refers to a section, relating to Social and Cultural Affairs, of the 2003 Local Government Act, which predates the CPA. Thus, the move is seen in some circles as an attempt to reimpose Sharia Law by stealth. The subject of the Order is: ‘Banning of “Niggers” Behaviours and Activities in the Town’. ‘Niggers’ is the perhaps unfortunate term being used by older generations in Juba to describe a section of Sudanese youth, which has adopted loosely Urban American/Jamaican modes of dress and behaviour. The term is pejorative, as the group has been anecdotally associated with criminal actions. The Order is vague as to exactly what behaviours are being banned Dr Anne Itto Write to governor List of victims List of injuries Support No of days in jail If probs press conference and call for victims to come forward All laws of Khartoum repealed- if no laws, use laws of New Sudan Bill of Rights, CPA and’. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "JFD info" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/jfdinfo?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
