Soldiers undermine local chiefs authority in South Sudan
Feb 1, 2007 (TORIT) — Local chiefs in Eastern Equatoria say dismayed by South Sudan soldiers who refuse to observe local traditions and laws. They requested the establishment of special courts for army soldiers.
Local chiefs say they are sick and tired of soldiers evading the punishments they impose. “These soldiers undermine us,” one of the local chiefs, John Odiong, said in the Torit courthouse. He added that “the government should set up a separate court, where the cases of soldiers can be handled.”
According to Juba Post, a joint Integrated Unit soldier who was reportedly caught having sex with the wife of a civilian in Torit County has escaped punishment. Local chiefs complain soldiers constantly evade the punishments they impose.
The betrayed husband said that he found the soldier together with his wife in their house. He took the case to the soldier’s commanding officer in order to solve the issue. “The soldier was told that he had to pay me six cows as punishment. In our tradition, everyone who commits adultery has to pay the husband cows,” the husband said.
The soldier, however, refused to pay this fine. The husband then took the case to the local chief in Torit. The chief ordered the soldier to lie down in order to receive strokes, and then to be sent to prison. Only after having paid six cows to the husband would he be released. Again, the soldier rejected the punishment. He also refused to go to jail. “I am a soldier,” he said, “If I go to jail, I will die.”
(Juba Post)