South Sudan legislators goes on 3 months recess without passing vital bills

By Isaac Vuni

December 31, 2007 (JUBA) — The Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly has today adjourns for three months recess without passing important draft bill of the Ministry of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Development Organization Bill 2007.

The bill presented by Arop Deng, chairperson of legal affairs sparked heated debate on condition the draft bill places on recruitment and promotion in GoSS legal institutions was delayed because the minister in charge was not available for vital explanation demanded by lawmakers.

The debate was chaired by Lawrence Lual Lual, Deputy Speaker who urges MPs while on recess to help improve the image of Goss authorities by explaining about the unfolding crises between the GoSS and government of national unity that resulted by GoSS suspending its participation in the central government in Khartoum and the northern states.

The Ministry of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Development Organization draft Bill 2007 was presented to the august house since June 2007 and it underwent third reading when debate was suspended to wait for the Minister of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Development to answer queries on why he has put unnecessary conditions for admitting and promoting professional practicing lawyers from among Southern Sudan.

Contributing to the debate, Richard Mulla of Mundri East county MP said condition placed for recruitment and promotion of legal fraternity is unjust and that it will deprives many practicing lawyers.

If these conditions were set from the beginning, there would be no any fears because all will have to be scrutinized under the same requirements. But introducing them after the high posts of the judiciary are filled by those who could not even attain one fifth of this mandatory requirement, is meant to protect them and at the same time to destroy the judiciary and court system in this young country.

Mulla cited an example of the current Legal Counsel General having only two years of experience. Therefore, by passing this bill he and others will automatically be protected while those who comes after even though they have more experiences than those now occupying higher positions will have to wait for 18 years in order to be promoted to those positions simply because the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly has passed unjust laws that only protects the interest of selfish and well placed individuals within the government of Southern Sudan who have also staffed the Ministry of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Development and the judiciary of Southern Sudan with their inexperience relatives.

He went further saying that the Executive of the government of Southern Sudan are appointing their inexperience relatives to higher positions without considering any mandatory qualifications for particular positions. The lawmaker demanded that the bill is return to ministry of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Development for further amendments since the two ministers; interior and legal affairs are not in the house.

He further suggested to the parliament that they would have to amend the judiciary bill passed without notice on December 27th otherwise; it will denies many opportunities for recruiting upcoming Southern Sudanese practicing lawyers.

“Those who are appointed will not be affected but those who will come after will be subjected to the new laws”.

What do we do about the already politically appointed members of the judiciary who have not attaining necessary qualifications is a million pounds question waiting answer from Goss minister of legal affair?

MP Daniel WorJok Ulang constituency of Upper Nile state also a member of Human Rights committee said exposure of corruption and fraud within the ministry of legal affairs and constitutional development has resulted to suspension of three legal counselors without pay and that the counsel Maou of administration and finance threatened to shoot first legal counselor Khan GatRoum Tut in his office but when contacted counselor Maou denied and said there is a case in court therefore he cannot commend further.
While other counselors suspended without pay are; Christopher Laki Peter counsel general in grade two and George Samuel Katuol legal counselor grade nine. meanwhile 12 lawyers appointed in March 2007 have never reported to work but the ministry of legal affairs and constitutional development is alleged to be receiving their monthly pay from ministry of finance including 15 unclassified staff also suspended without pay, when asked for commend, the counsel for administration and finance referred the question to the undersecretary who could not be reach for comment as I file this reports.

After a lengthy discussion the house voted for two motions moved by Hon Philip, that he Bill be return to legal affair committee for amendment within three hours and brought to the house for consideration got 31 votes while other motion by Hon Reth to suspend the debate till the minister is available got 46votes.there were 96 sitting members.

According to James Wani Igga, speaker of the Assembly that the highest number of quorums since establishment of the august house in 2005 was 133 out of 170 PMs.

(ST)