---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Alfred Lokuji <[email protected]> Date: Sat, Apr 27, 2013 at 10:48 AM Subject: Re: [SouthSudanInfo] Five young men released from Rumbek secret prison, claim "serious torture" To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
Well, I wish John Luk could get to read all these stories. When we argued about the powers given to the President in the Transitional Constitution at Beijing Hotel (in a program funded by GIZ) the Minister argued that the President would use his new powers under very special circumstances. Lakes State was read as a special circumstance! How about Jonglei! Why would Chol Tong be considered the reason for rampant insecurity in Lakes, but not Kuol Manyang in Jonglei, nor Simon in Upper Nile, nor my friend Nyandeng in Warrap - not even the civilian general in Western Bahr el Ghazal. I am not one to argue that these "elected" officials should be removed! How about the story of the five Lakes State young men who were incarcerated by our efficient and "inconspicuous" security, claim having been tortured, not charged in a court of law and unceremoniously released as if that should be the end of the story. Their crime: having the common sense to inquire why elections were not called within 60 days as required by law. I am surprised we have not been using the White House! There is an actual meaning to the phrase "Rule of Law!" And until we get it, we will continue to be in hot soup (not the tasty type!!!!!) I would wish those with money to spend some of it to find out what per cent of those who count in our system do understand what the liberation struggle was all about in explicit terms - complete with examples about how it was then, and how it is now! Alfred Sebit Lokuji Vivacel: (+211) (0) 955 213 353 [email protected] "Those who cannot remember history are condemned to repeat it!" George Santayana. Corollary: Truth-telling in repentance is a necessary condition for Reconciliation ----- Original Message ----- From: Elisabeth Janaina <[email protected]> To: Cc: Sent: Saturday, April 27, 2013 9:38 AM Subject: [SouthSudanInfo] Five young men released from Rumbek secret prison, claim "serious torture" Five young men released from Rumbek secret prison, claim "serious torture" April 26, 2013 (RUMBEK) – The Lakes state government has released five youths detained by the state branch of the National Intelligence Security Service (NISS). Matur Chuot Dhuol, who was appointed as caretaker governor of Lakes state in Janaury 2013 (ST) The men were arrested on 15 April after questioning the constitutional powers of Lakes state military caretaker governor Maj. Gen. Matur Chut Dhuol, who was appointed to restore law and order to the state. The detainees - Samuel Marial Dongrin, Marol Mayom Dhuol, James Mayen Dut and John Mayen Ngor – claim they were tortured before being released without charge. In a letter to Lakes state parliament prior to their arrest, the youths questioned why lawmakers remained silent after the caretaker governor’s term had expired. The petition written on 15 April and signed by the five youths points out that under South Sudan’s interim constitution an election should have been held 60 days after the caretaker governor’s appointment. Although the 21 March deadline has lapsed, there has been no announcement on when an election will be held. South Sudanese president Salva Kiir Mayardit issued presidential decree on 21 January removing elected governor Chol Tong Mayay and replacing him with Dhuol. Mayay’s removal was believed to be linked to a series of violent clashes between sections of the Dinka tribe, which erupted in Rumbek Central county in January, killing 25 people and injuring more than 30. Following Dhuol’s appointment, Lakes state has experienced a raft of harsh measures and security reforms, with a number of young men arrested and detained over their suspected involvement in robberies, cattle raiding and clashes related to ongoing inter-communal violence. His critics accuse the ex-army general of using a military-style approach to governance and implementing martial law in the state. On 16 April, Dhuol imposed a forced recess on state parliament, with many lawmakers boycotting the swearing in ceremony of the new cabinet and other officials in protest over the governor’s failure to hold gubernatorial elections within the 60-day timeframe. Earlier this year, Dhuol vowed to detain cattle raiding suspects in secret prisons without access to their family, lawyers or human rights officials Dongrin confirmed that he and the other four detainees had been released on Wednesday after seriously tortured by members of the NISS in custody. He described the conditions imposed by security personnel in Rumbek, as well as their attitudes towards detainees as “harsh and inhuman”, saying that more people are being beaten and denied their basic rights for speaking out against the government. “We were being released without charges levelled against us – they did not even take us to court – they [have] beaten us and they told us to keep quiet without telling what happened to us to anybody”, said Dongrin. He said that he and other political activists would not give up the fight for their rights, as provided for under South Sudan’s transitional constitution. “We are human beings and we know what is right and what is wrong”, he said, adding that it was only a matter of time before the South Sudanese president would have to listen to the concerns of Lakes state youth. (ST) -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
