Heavy Security Forces In South Sudan As Government Detains Two MPs

By Ariik Atekdit

JUBA, 11 May 2015 [Gurtong] – Governor, Madam Nyandeng Malek Diliec directed the Security Director in Kuacjok to detain Hon. Ariec Mayar Ariec of Kuac South and Hon. Abuna Amet Amet Kuol of Kuac North and accused them of allegedly mobilizing students and the public to protest in Warrap against the implementation of South Sudan curriculum and high-prices respectively.
The members of parliament being detained are Kuacjok home based lawmakers from Kuac Ayok, the host community of the state headquarters. Family members and relatives have said that they have been denied access to the jailed MPs since Friday.

On Monday, a witness in Kuacjok who asked for anonymity said, “In the morning we found that all the residential roads and Kuacjok town main streets were heavily deployed with security forces. This is because the state government fears that youth members wanted to demonstrate in demand of the immediate release of Hon. Mayar and Hon. Abuna Amet.”

Mayar in the letter sent by the Governor to the asecurity office is accused of being directly behind last week students’ demonstration in Kuacjok secondary school that has resulted into the closure of the school.

While Abuna Amet is accused by the Governor of mobilizing residents of Khartoum Jadid residential area to protest against the government for lack of commodities in the market.

Nyandeng said that the two MPs are working for the downfall of her government and that they are intending to bring insecurity in the state capital.

Both the two legislators were arrested with their constitutional immunities not lifted by the Speaker as required by law.

Rt Hon. Moses MAdoot Dut Deng, the Speaker in Warrap State Parliament has confirmed that he had received a letter from Governor Nyandeng instructing him to lift the immunities of the MPs in question however; Madoot said the two were sent to jail before he could reply or discuss the letter with the august house.

Simon Yel Yel, a community youth member and a political commentator said, “To me, I think, the jailing of the only two community representatives in the parliament means the Governor directly jailed the whole community.Only that the Kuac community is very tolerant and law-abiding society.”

Elsewhere another community member accused Governor Malek of having bad intention against Kuac Ayok community and that since 2011 about four leaders from the community have been mistreated and abused by the instructions from the Governor.