Lakes state speaker lifts immunity of eight MPs in Rumbek
By Manyang Mayom
November 26, 2008 (RUMBEK) — The Speaker of Lakes State Legislative
Assembly Isaiah Alier Mashinkok today declared the lifting of
immunities of eight honorable members of the assembly, calling for
their immediate arrest.
In a letter addressed to the president of the High Court of Appeals in
Lakes state and copied to the president of the Government of Southern
Sudan (GOSS) and nine other key figures in the Juba government and in
Rumbek, Mashinkok placed five charges against eight MPs.
Mashinkok charging them with defiance of the directives of GOSS
President Salva Kiir Mayardit that the speaker and the deputy speaker
are to resume their seats in the August House. The MPs also refused to
abide by Kiir’s decree that relieved and appointed new NCP members to
the Lakes state parliament, according to Mashinkok.
The letter also accused the eight members of forcibly removing Justice
Daniel Deng Akooc from the Assembly Hall to prevent a swearing-in
ceremony.
Mashinkok singled out Bullien Kot Beny for disorderly behavior in the
assembly hall for assuming the seat of the speaker, and Joseph Maker
Mathiang for banging on the speaker’s table and the other eight
members for banging on the benches.
“Therefore, based on Article 65 Sub-Article 2, of Lakes state
constitution, the state legislative assembly waived the immunity of
the mentioned hon. Members,” concluded Mashinkok. “In addition, I
request immediate warrant of arrest of these members once I have
lifted their immunity as such.”
Rumbek was in a state of political turmoil in September and October,
leading to a power struggle and the temporary impeachment of the
speaker of the assembly. The state also suffered from violent raiding
and civilian casualties during a disarmament exercise in early
September.
The Lakes state government was established in accordance with the
terms of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005, a deal between the northern government of Khartoum and the Sudan People’s Liberation
Movement, which had waged war since 1983.
The agreement granted semi-autonomous status to Southern Sudan and
gave the region the right to hold a referendum for complete
independence in 2011.
(ST)
Lofty
Lakes state speaker lifts immunity of eight MPs in Rumbek
That is right Alier, as I commented yesterday we have to implement all the artiles to the letter, so we can do everything through justics, equality and progress with unity,
Nobody above the law and nobody above H.E.Salva Kiir at this time,
we should not leave these people with thier rigid mind to deal.
Dinka Bush
Lakes state speaker lifts immunity of eight MPs in Rumbek
Yes, this is what will happen to the legislators because Awet have divided the entire populace with intention of gaining popularity in future.
Please Alier, fight this with nails and tooth, we are after you.
Dinka Bush
Lakes state speaker lifts immunity of eight MPs in Rumbek
Yes Alier, deal with these treacheous MPs who behaves oddly with our domestic affairs. They have given up legislating laws but instead they are trying to topple Lakes State Assembly.
Shame on them.
Majok junior
Lakes state speaker lifts immunity of eight MPs in Rumbek
It seems to be good step,but the problem of Lakes State,is not for particulars people,there is a lack of good governance,poor judgement,because the justice system in Lakes is totally corrupt,it’s really a joke,why the unlawful dismissal or impeachment of the speaker of the parliment Mr Isaiah Aleir was a big mistake in the first place,I wish you should not singled out few people,the confussion is alway come from the top to battom(Governor Awet),I think Lakes State will be stable after 2009 election if people elected the right people to the right positions.By Majok Junior