Jonglei’s court jails students for two months over strike
Philip Thon Aleu
April 5, 2008 (BOR, Jonglei) – The court of the capital of Jonglei State sentenced four secondary school students to two months in prison on Friday for striking two weeks ago
Four students, of Nile Progressive secondary school, Bor town, will spend more than a half of the school term behind bars, state judges ruled Friday April 4 at Bor court – two weeks after their arrest over strike. Other seven were released. One girl and three young men were sent to Bor prison five minutes after the ruling.
Justice Angelo, in his powers, declared that the students should remain behind bars for two months and not eligible to bail. Teachers and students contacted by Sudan Tribune claims the chief judge took side.
“He (judge) never gave room for students to defend themselves against the charges;” said a teacher who requested anonymity. He added that state education officials, who filed the charges, were too not brought before the court for hearing.
The court failed to declare the school open or remain closed.
Efforts made to contact higher education officials were futile as the director was reportedly out of the state for official duties.
Mood outside the court remained tense after the verdict. Pupils were frightened to hear the court decision sending ‘elder colleagues to jail.
People on Bor town streets claim students deserved some bonus. “This is very rude. You better dismiss students from school than sending to jail,” a parent (not having a child in prison) said. Court however, has no such ruling, to dismiss a student, rather than jailing, source inside the jury argued.
State Ministry of Education had charged students of injuring a staff — who never appeared before the court — and striking, charges the students denied.
Nile Progressive SS went striking March 17 after the state director of higher education declared the school closed for what he called “poor behaviors” Students of senior three (3) (Nile Progressive SS) broke a store used by the state education authorities to clear it as a class-room.
Director Abel Manyuon issued the decree, to close the school, which triggered the strike. The students said state authorities were very slow to solve “simple problem” and thus took laws on to their hands.
The four jailed students include a girl considered to be the only serious female student in the only full English secondary school in Bor town.
(ST)
BIAR PETER AYUEN AGUEK
Jonglei’s court jails students for two months over strike
Noooooooooooo!!!
I disagreed with the state policies of handling academic issues like political issues in such a harsh manner. I did not hear before that a student is jurisdicted to jail rathar then suspending or dismissed him if it is a seriou case: However, every body was jubilating during the appointment of L.T Gen. Kuol Manyang Juk as a governor of that fragile state, and the expections out of him were not aligned with such acts by the citizens. Therefore, i hereby saying, Mr governor should review the state courts of law, otherwise, judges should not take the law at their hands, they must learn how to handle distinctive cases and fundamental procedures of handling cases. In a real sense, how can you convict some one without charges? Stop your brute and briberial phenomenons, their time is outdated.