South Sudan parliament’s official angered by questions on constitution Article Comments (13) Email PrintSave --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
June 21, 2011 (JUBA) – A public forum discussing concerns in the transitional constitution of South Sudan ended abruptly when the invited official from the South Sudan’s parliament, who chaired the forum, was angered by so many questions from the floor over the nature of the document. With only two weeks left before South Sudan officially becomes independent on July 9 and a new transitional constitution needed to govern the new nation, the parliament has not yet passed the document due to disagreements in the document. The chairperson of public security affairs committee in the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly, Aleu Ayang Aleu, reacted angrily when he was faced with many questions over the transitional constitution’s provisions on public security and freedom of expression at a public forum held at Nyakuron Cultural Center on Friday 18 June 2011. The forum, which majority were foreign diplomats, international and local journalists, focused on articles 123-137 and 151-168 of the transitional constitution. The law makers were to deliberate under the cluster of security, judiciary and states to table judiciary structure and power, armed forces, law enforcement agencies, national security organs, state and local government authority under such articles. When the official in charge of public security in parliament was faced with examples of threats, arrests, and physical assaults on journalists by security organs the MP reacted by ordering the journalists to "shut up" if they want to talk about the press intimidations by the security organs. "We are not here to solve your grievances and if any one of you thinks you can mess around with government affairs the way you like, then to hell with journalism," he said. Aleu was further angered by remarks from the American Resident Program Officer of the International Republican Institute, Franklin Bonner, asking the chairperson of the security affairs committee to explain the ongoing government’s clamp down on the freedom of expressions. He was also asked to explain why the government is reluctant to open the transitional constitution for public debate. "You are the one confusing people here, yet you are the one who gathered us, I will [not] sit any more for I see there is no need," the angry Aleu reacted and walked out of the room. After few minutes he rushed back to the room and ordered Bonner, who was also the moderator of the forum, to leave immediately. “Bonner, leave this discussion and immediately reach my office without wasting time," Aleu angrily commanded the American official. South Sudan’s controversial transitional constitution is faced with difficulty as majority of the parliament members have reportedly rejected the document in its present form and demanded several amendments including removal of president’s powers to remove elected officials to replace them with new appointments. It also faces criticism from the public and international community, especially from those that are friends to South Sudan. The Eastern Equatoria Legislative Assembly in its sitting this week reportedly rejected the transitional constitution, demanding amendments to the document. (ST) -- 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.
