South Sudan threatens punitive actions against striking judges
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July 14, 2017 (JUBA)- South Sudanese government Thursday has
threatened punitive actions against judges on open-ended strike should
they continue to defy directives, saying the action of the judges
across the country has crippled the young nation.
The Deputy head of Judiciary in South Sudan John Gatwech Lul said in a
statement broadcast by the state owned South Sudan Broadcasting
Corporation that the government would take administrative action
against striking judges should they fail to return to work.
“For those ones who have not been dismissed and who are still on
strike, we in the Judiciary, the leadership of Judiciary and the
leadership of this country led by the President of the Republic Gen.
Salva Kiir Mayardit, we are demanding that they come back and report
back to work,” said Lul on Thursday.
The second figure in the leadership of judicial system in the country
said judges should return to work because their decision and action
has crippled and unable courts to hear cases across the country. The
threat comes after President Kiir on Wednesday dismissed leading
judges who spearheaded the strike and demanded higher wages and the
resignation of the chief justice Chan Reech Madut.
“They have now crippled the country. We need justice to be
administered. If they continue and this is … we are not threatening
them, and we are advising them that if they continue, we will take
action, administrative action against those who will still continue
with the strike,” he added.
Lul claimed all reasonable demands will be fulfilled by the government.
The judiciary is a constitutionally mandated branch of the government
that oversees the court systems and plays a critical role in the
interpretation of the law. The challenge, however, remains that while
it is an independent institution; the figure head of the Judiciary is
answerable to the President for the administration of the judiciary.
In May, judges raised a host of demands, including resignation or
removal of the Chief Justice, Chan Reec Madut. Khalid Mohammed
chairperson of the Judges and Justices Committee said in a statement
at the time they would go on an opened strike until their demands are
met.
“We asked the president to ask the honourable Chief Justice to resign
or the President should sack him, unfortunately, none of these two
things happened. “Our open strike started from today (Tuesday). It is
either us or the Chief Justice to go. No court in South Sudan will
open unless the Preside
nt removes him.”
Further, the judges demanded enactment of judicial laws, transport
allowances, improved working conditions and the creation of court
rooms to each judge across the country.
In response the demands, president formed a three member committee
chaired by the justice minister, information minister and the minister
of cabinet affairs to negotiate with judges. The committee met and
concluded negotiations with representatives of the judges but result
of which was not made public.
(ST)
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Kind regards,
The Sudan Tribune editorial team.
15 July 03:35, by Agutthon
Esteemed judges are getting horse kicks in return. It true that
South Sudan is a country where no one is allowed to demand their
rights. The rest of the justices should continue strike.
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