Opposition PLP party condemns arrest of Catholic priest

April 22, 2015 (WAU) – South Sudan’s opposition the People’s Liberation Party (PLP) has strongly condemned last week’s arrest of Benjamin Madol, a renowned Catholic priest working at Rumbek diocese in South Sudan’s Lakes state.

“The party would like to bring to your attention the illegal torture and arrest without trace of a renowned clergyman in this county,” PLP said in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Thursday.

“We as People’s Liberal Party condemn the illegal arrest and disappearance of father Benjamin Madol Akot from [the] Rumbek diocese inn Lakes state, who also serves as a parish priest in Yirol county,” it added.

A group of South Sudanese army (SPLA) soldiers allegedly destroyed the cleric’s house in Juba suburb Thongpiny after a dispute over land ownership with an army officer.

The priest was taken to an unknown place by the soldiers, a relative disclosed.

Several sources, however, say the land being disputed rightly belongs to the Catholic priest, whose family has lived on it for the past five years.

“We therefore call for the priest’s immediate release from wherever he is held and the impasse sorted out legally not outside of the law,” PLP said in a statement.

PLP claims the military violated the cleric’s constitutional right to own property.

(ST).