Disabled demand of representation in South Sudan’s government

May 20, 2011 (JUBA) – People with disabilities staged a peaceful protest on Thursday in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, in front of the regional parliament demanding representation in the upcoming transitional government.

South Sudan’s parliament will be the law making body of an independent state after July 9, when the region will secede from the north. The South’s secession was secured by a referendum in January, held as part of a 2005 peace deal, which ended over two decades of conflict.

Hundreds of protestors in the semi-autonomous government said they demanded at least 5 percent of representation in the new government, which shall be formed after July 9 independence of the region.

The people with disabilities which included the blind, deaf, lame and others
said their demand should be stipulated in the transitional constitution of the
Republic of South Sudan, which is currently being deliberated in the parliament.

“They used to promise us with empty promises that the government would take care of the rights and interests of the people with disabilities, but these promises
have not come forth,” said one of the protestors.

“Now we should demand what we want so that our voices can be heard.”

(ST)