Monday, December 23, 2024

Sudan Tribune

Plural news and views on Sudan

Rumbek hairdressers complain of mistreatment

By Manyang Mayom

December 31, 2010 (WAU) – Hairdressers in Rumbek,the capital of Lakes state have complained that they have been unfairly treated by public health officer. Some business have had to stop trading after an order of arrest from a senior Public Health Officer for offenses related to hair disposal. The number of saloon operators arrested in Rumbek is unclear.

All the hair dressers Sudan Tribune spoke to wished to remain anonymous. One hairdresser, who was arrested for having disposing of hair in the street, told Sudan Tribune that his arrest was an injustice. A female, hairdresser said that the health officers went to her shop, informing her of a meeting of all saloon operators and the public health director. She lamented the manner the public officers handled her, saying she was pushed and pulled like “a thief”.

Another saloon operator said that they have the instructions from the public health office and would appreciate if they can be duly informed of any new regulations that they may have faulted in their business operation. She said that there had not been a meeting, only that they were informed that they would be charged 250 Sudanese Pounds ($100) or face five months in prison for dumping hair on the street.

She said this punishment was unjustifiable and claimed the judges handling the matter were expressing themselves in languages that most saloon operators could not understand, without providing translators.

One other saloon operator said “the public officers were targeting foreign salon operators” knowing that they are having good business during this festive season. She called for the intervention of top government officials, among them, Rumbek Central County Commissioner and state Governor to address the problem.

Responding to the claims the director for public health in Lakes State, Makur Ater Akony, denied that saloon operators were being charged in this way. He said that the complaints “are all lies” saying the matter has been resolved in a meeting held Tuesday. He also denied claims that foreigners are being targeted by public health officers who are task to imposed public health law saying that “we did not target the saloon foreigners operators in Rumbek but law is only allow to deal with them”.

Ater explained that all saloon owners and operators in Rumbek were summoned on Tuesday 28 December yesterday and a case was opened against them after public health officers found the streets of Rumbek town littered with hair.

Ater denied claims by some saloon operators that his officers had targeted foreign salon owners, describing these claims as “lies”, insisting that some of the salon operators arrested are natives of Rumbek. He urged the saloon owners and other business operators to keep their premises clean.

(ST)

5 Comments

  • omoni Atari
    omoni Atari

    Rumbek hairdressers complain of mistreatment
    This is indication of corruption within the law enforcement agency in south sudan.
    Accoding to south sudan federal law,all people must be treated equally regardless of their orgins or nationalities

    Reply
  • Nguetbuny de Luelpiny
    Nguetbuny de Luelpiny

    Rumbek hairdressers complain of mistreatment
    As southerners we needs more way to have good Law:
    We still have discriminate Ideology. The licence hairdress should not be treated like a chief while they are getting order to court.

    Or if not they just got fine peacely and leave them a lone. Duty of care of nation, need good peace officers that handle public matter with dignity. Treated every citizen in with good care in their state. We do not need to act again like muslim Arab Regime in Khartuom.

    Good citizen with dignity

    handle everything peacefully

    otherwise we will not develope our Nation quickily.

    Reply
  • Deng E. Manyuon
    Deng E. Manyuon

    Rumbek hairdressers complain of mistreatment
    Public Health Officers need to undergo a lot of workshop trainings in order to be professional in their jobs. Being bossy is rude and unacceptable in this modern world.
    I don’t dispute the offences related to hair disposals method. But I disagree with offenders mistreatment. Regardless of being foreigners or not, show of respect is expected from any government employee or servant. In addition, these foreigners are our guests and they are living under our mercy. Dinkas are good in hospitality I guess. Please for the sake of God we need to show them humanity. They are here to feed their families and nothing more than that. What we need to tell or train them is how to dispose hair in busy central city. They also need to go under training where you can give them rules and regulations which are in place, and then licence them in order to operate within the framework. We need tell to them that they are welcome, but they should follow our laws.

    State interpreters and translators are to be employed in such situation. It is standard in every country to have presence of interpreters and translators in court room or hospitals.

    Deng

    Reply
Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *