Rumbek hairdressers complain of mistreatment

By Manyang Mayom

December 31, 2010 (WAU) – Hairdressers in Rumbek,the capital of Lakes state have complained that they have been unfairly treated by public health officer. Some business have had to stop trading after an order of arrest from a senior Public Health Officer for offenses related to hair disposal. The number of saloon operators arrested in Rumbek is unclear.

All the hair dressers Sudan Tribune spoke to wished to remain anonymous. One hairdresser, who was arrested for having disposing of hair in the street, told Sudan Tribune that his arrest was an injustice. A female, hairdresser said that the health officers went to her shop, informing her of a meeting of all saloon operators and the public health director. She lamented the manner the public officers handled her, saying she was pushed and pulled like “a thief”.

Another saloon operator said that they have the instructions from the public health office and would appreciate if they can be duly informed of any new regulations that they may have faulted in their business operation. She said that there had not been a meeting, only that they were informed that they would be charged 250 Sudanese Pounds ($100) or face five months in prison for dumping hair on the street.

She said this punishment was unjustifiable and claimed the judges handling the matter were expressing themselves in languages that most saloon operators could not understand, without providing translators.

One other saloon operator said “the public officers were targeting foreign salon operators” knowing that they are having good business during this festive season. She called for the intervention of top government officials, among them, Rumbek Central County Commissioner and state Governor to address the problem.

Responding to the claims the director for public health in Lakes State, Makur Ater Akony, denied that saloon operators were being charged in this way. He said that the complaints “are all lies” saying the matter has been resolved in a meeting held Tuesday. He also denied claims that foreigners are being targeted by public health officers who are task to imposed public health law saying that “we did not target the saloon foreigners operators in Rumbek but law is only allow to deal with them”.

Ater explained that all saloon owners and operators in Rumbek were summoned on Tuesday 28 December yesterday and a case was opened against them after public health officers found the streets of Rumbek town littered with hair.

Ater denied claims by some saloon operators that his officers had targeted foreign salon owners, describing these claims as “lies”, insisting that some of the salon operators arrested are natives of Rumbek. He urged the saloon owners and other business operators to keep their premises clean.

(ST)