Warrap state governor accused of alleged night club raid
July 6, 2015 (JUBA) – Leaderships of Warrap state youth and civil society organizations have accused their governor, Nyandeng Malek, of allegedly arresting four of their members when she raided a night club in the national capital, Juba, and warned of “repercussions” unless they were released.
“We, the leadership of Warrap youth and civil society organizations are hereby condemning the unlawful arrest and inhuman torturing of the four youth members in Home and Away (night club) disco organized by Warrap state artist union on 3rd July 2015 at 10:00 pm in capital Juba,” partly reads the statement from the youth leadership.
They said the initially peaceful occasion was organized by Warrap state artists to show their talents to the citizens of Warrap state in particular who reside in the national capital, Juba, and the people of South Sudan in general. But the concert, they said, ended up “sadly” when governor Nyandeng Malek and her finance minister, Aguer Ariik, showed up and raided the night club to “beat, torture and arrest some youth that they identified to have divergent views on Warrap government.”
According to the statement extended to Sudan Tribune, governor Malek and her finance minister Ariik allegedly intimidated the youth with guns and threatened to shoot anybody who refused to leave.
“When some youth refused to go out but asked the reason why should they be forced to leave the club, he [Ariik] then commanded the governor’s bodyguards to arrest and beat John Angok Mawien, Karlos Maluil Makuek, Deng Kuei Thiep, and Cde Akok Aduol. These four youths are now still missing as we speak,” reads the statement signed by youth secretary general, Simon Machuar M. Deng.
Awan Akuin, who is a close relative of the governor and civilian, the statement alleged, was the one in charge of the operation to arrest the youth members under the instruction of finance minister Ariik.
“Dehumanization, illegal [detention] and rule of secret police which are the order of the day in Warrap have been unashamedly imported to Juba by Nyandeng Malek,” said the statement.
“We knew already that she would one day unwisely decide to arrest the youth illegally as she always jails MPs without lifting their immunities, but we want to remind her that she has crossed red line and she must apologize to Warrap youth otherwise there would be great repercussion sooner than later,” the group warned.
The group, however, urged the families of the victims to be calm as they were handing the matter by requesting the national government and relevant security apparatus to look into “this unconstitutional and unlawful arrest of four youth by Nyandeng Malek in night club.”
It was not clear what wrong the youth did that prompted the state government to allegedly arrest some of the youth members.
(ST)