South Sudan minister allays fears over constitutional review
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By Ngor Arol Garang
April 4, 2011 (WAU) — As various groups continue to debate on the
status of the interim constitution of south Sudan, authorities have
assured the people that interests and views of South Sudanese would be
taken into consideration when writing a new constitution.
"There should be no fear. The technical committee is composed of
highly learned and experienced professionals from various fields and
is working together with selected experts from neighboring countries
to ensure all legal matters are thoroughly discussed and unanimously
endorsed by the committee," John Luk Jok, Minister of Legal Affairs
and Constitutional Development in the government of South Sudan, said
in an interview with Sudan Tribune on Monday April 4, 2011.
Jok was responding to some of the public concerns and arguments that
little have been done to solve problems in the committee that
transpired after the other political parties announced pulling out
from the committee in February ,2011. The opposition forces accused
the SPLM of “dominance over all decisions” and its prevention of
“meaningful participation from opposition members”.
But Jok denied the accusations describing them as inaccurate and
allegations. He accused the opposition of demanding a lot, saying they
were asking for 50% power sharing in parliament as well as in the
cabinet and in the state governments.
"The interests of people of South Sudan would be safeguarded at the
time of writing a new constitution," said Jok on Monday in statements
with Sudan Tribune.
The minister said the committee has identified multiple challenges
with the power sharing becoming one of the topical issues, and
suggestion for more discussion on responsibilities of the parliament
which include making sure that all government services are accessible
to the ordinary people.
Joseph Lagu, a former President of High Executive Council for South
Sudan and now a Special Advisor to president of the ruling SPLM, Salva
Kiir Mayardit, said that cabinet members should not be part of the
parliament if the doctrine of separation of powers should have much
sense.
"I would advice that powers are separated so that it allows proper
check and monitoring of performances of the cabinet. This will not
compromise independent of the legislature from the executive," said
Lagu, in a televised statement seen on South Sudan Television last
week.
He has further said for a new Act to re-check the current
constitutional powers vested in two-thirds of all Members of the
Parliament to approve changes in the constitution.
The adviser was participating in a public debate on the Constitutional
Review due to be tabled in the Parliament in the next coming weeks.
Lagu also called on the committee to include the public outcry which
urges immediate settlement of differences between political parties
and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement over power sharing and
composition of the constitutional review committee.
"We also want the constitution to limit the size of the cabinet to be
in line with other countries where their constitution stipulates on
the number of Cabinet members. Our new constitution should not remain
silent on that," he said.
Meanwhile, the stakeholders who attended the Conference expressed
their dismay over the government’s silent to say when it will complete
the work on the Constitutional Review.
Speaking to Sudan Tribune in a separate interview on Monday , various
speakers including university students, academicians, politicians,
lawyers, activists and the general public said the committee was
prepared contrary to the people’s recommendations, therefore it has to
be re-drafted and thoroughly discussed by the majority of members of
the public.
Another concern raised by the interviewees was on the time-frame given
by the government to discuss the review. They said that the time was
not enough for most citizens to contribute with their views
conveniently on the drafting of the new constitution.
Deng Mawien Kuc, a secondary school teacher in Wau suggested to
publish the outcome of the committee through the media outlets for a
public debate instead of rushing it to Parliament.
"The government has to respect people’s basic rights of expressing
their views, freely and fairly. I propose that all people be given
enough time to contribute towards the new constitution because this
one has been so abrupt and confusing," he said.
Angelo Deng, who identified himself as practising private advocate in
Wau Town, said the four following things must be accomplished before
to finalize the new constitution: a free constitution commission, a
constituency assembly, a referendum and the National Assembly.
A representative of the ruling SPLM, Atem Biar said his party has
agreed to have the constitution reviewed.
"SPLM has agreed to accommodate public views on the agenda but has
insisted that all stakeholders including politicians have the rights
to participate — not only specialists as proposed here. We also want a
specific time-frame for the agenda to reach to an end," he said.
(ST)
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