Five young men released from Rumbek secret prison, claim “serious torture”
April 26, 2013 (RUMBEK) – The Lakes state government has released five youths detained by the state branch of the National Intelligence Security Service (NISS).
The detainees – Samuel Marial Dongrin, Marol Mayom Dhuol, James Mayen Dut and John Mayen Ngor – claim they were tortured before being released without charge.
In a letter to Lakes state parliament prior to their arrest, the youths questioned why lawmakers remained silent after the caretaker governor’s term had expired.
The petition written on 15 April and signed by the five youths points out that under South Sudan’s interim constitution an election should have been held 60 days after the caretaker governor’s appointment.
Although the 21 March deadline has lapsed, there has been no announcement on when an election will be held.
South Sudanese president Salva Kiir Mayardit issued presidential decree on 21 January removing elected governor Chol Tong Mayay and replacing him with Dhuol.
Mayay’s removal was believed to be linked to a series of violent clashes between sections of the Dinka tribe, which erupted in Rumbek Central county in January, killing 25 people and injuring more than 30.
Following Dhuol’s appointment, Lakes state has experienced a raft of harsh measures and security reforms, with a number of young men arrested and detained over their suspected involvement in robberies, cattle raiding and clashes related to ongoing inter-communal violence.
His critics accuse the ex-army general of using a military-style approach to governance and implementing martial law in the state.
On 16 April, Dhuol imposed a forced recess on state parliament, with many lawmakers boycotting the swearing in ceremony of the new cabinet and other officials in protest over the governor’s failure to hold gubernatorial elections within the 60-day timeframe.
Earlier this year, Dhuol vowed to detain cattle raiding suspects in secret prisons without access to their family, lawyers or human rights officials
Dongrin confirmed that he and the other four detainees had been released on Wednesday after seriously tortured by members of the NISS in custody.
He described the conditions imposed by security personnel in Rumbek, as well as their attitudes towards detainees as “harsh and inhuman”, saying that more people are being beaten and denied their basic rights for speaking out against the government.
“We were being released without charges levelled against us – they did not even take us to court – they [have] beaten us and they told us to keep quiet without telling what happened to us to anybody”, said Dongrin.
He said that he and other political activists would not give up the fight for their rights, as provided for under South Sudan’s transitional constitution.
“We are human beings and we know what is right and what is wrong”, he said, adding that it was only a matter of time before the South Sudanese president would have to listen to the concerns of Lakes state youth.
(ST)