Yirol youth leader says arrests unfair
March 29, 2013 (RUMBEK) – A youth leader from Yirol in Lakes state, Nhial Maker Gum, has condemned the arrest of seven young men who were arrested on March 16 by the order of Juba City Council after a security crackdown on those who exchange money on the streets of the capital.
Gum alleges that the young men are being mistreated in prison by wardens and the is no appearance in court being promise by Juba police.
“The routine torture, arrest and confiscation of the money of their youths who exchange money in the Market by the Authorities of Juba City council was very unlawful” said Maker Seven young men arrested in Kator prison, who are now currently transfer to Juba Central prison…they are torture.
Maker explained Yirol young men working in Juba doing business are being target by police in Juba. He noted that discrimination is also being applied by police carryout arrested in Juba and judiciary is under influence by Juba City mayor.
Maker said that we the youths from Yirol after a lengthy observations since 2007 took this opportunity and reacted in the strongest possible terms to “condemned the continuous inhuman acts being exercised against our fellow young men” and “their money taken baselessly on yearly basis which is widely seen as the total violation of human rights and fundamental rights as stipulated in the Transitional constitution of the Republic of South Sudan 2011.”
He stated that, In 2011, Juba City Council Mayor has issued a local order No.28 /2011 dated 10th October 2011 to combat money Laundering and hawking within juba City in which 35 Million Ugandan Shillings were seized from these young men and were fined to pay 25 % of that money and this same foreign currencies in which the order was for, were returned to them and one young man Mabol Dhal tortured until he died.
Whereas in the article 5 of this local order it is apparently stated that if any person(s) or institution or dealer involved in the exercise of money laundering, exchange and hawking in Juba City Council, violated the provisions of this local order he /she shall have all his money in possession confiscated and face imprisonment for a term not less than three months and not exceeding six months.
“Subsequently, The Mayor of Juba city council issued another order in which over 20 young men were captured, put under arrest and badly treated on 16th March 2013 and their money of 6, million Ugandan shillings, 12,000 USD and 170,000 SPP was confiscated and presented them on National TV by calling them thieves which tarnished their image in particular and the community in which they belong at large,” said Gum
Gum said that, the burning question at our hands right now is that, Is this confiscation of foreign currencies a law in the Republic of South Sudan or is it the making of the city mayor? If it is a law, why is it practice in other towns in south Sudan and why are these currencies allow at our borders to enter the nation?
(ST)