Machar testifies at parliamentary inquiry into appointed justice minister
August 10, 2013 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s former Vice-president, Riek Machar, has submitted his testimony to the parliament’s Select Committee which investigates the qualifications and experiences of the newly appointed justice minister, Telar Ring Deng, as his vetting becomes problematic.
The committee questioned Telar’s claimed qualifications and experiences and further conducted a background check on him.
Telar in his submission to the Select Committee said he was a law graduate and that he served as a judge since 1985 in the SPLA rebels controlled areas in Western Upper Nile under the command of the then SPLA Major, Riek Machar.
In a written testimony on Saturday, 10th August 2013, addressed to the Chairperson of the Select Committee for Vetting Ministers and Deputy Ministers, Hon. Abuk Papiti Ayik, Machar confirmed that he deployed Telar under his command as a judge from 1986-1992 with the assumption that he was a qualified lawyer following a directive from late John Garang de Mabior who recommended Telar to Western Upper Nile Zonal area.
The former vice-president explained in the testimony that after his return to Western Upper Nile and in the event of the liberation of Leer and Adok Bahr in March 1986, he had to divide the area into two judicial sectors in which he deployed two judges including Telar.
“I deployed Major Dengtiel Ayuen Kur as a judge for the northern sector of the zone covering the current area of Mayom, Abiemnom, Rubkotni, Guit and Pariang counties. He was seated in Bilbar. This area was more judicially problematic. On the other hand, I deployed Captain Telar Ring Deng as a Judge for southern sector covering the area of the current Koch, Leer, Mayiandit and Payinjar counties. He was seated in Leer”, Machar further explained to the Select Committee.
He said he was briefed in 1985 by late John Garang who told him that the two were lawyers and were to assist him with judicial work. Telar was a first Lieutenant by then before he was promoted to the rank of captain in 1986.
“I was told that 1st Lt. Telar Ring Deng was a law graduate”, he said.
Machar further said the two judges were served with the SPLA Disciplinary Laws and the Western Nuer Customary Law as references for their work.
Telar however argued in his submission to the parliament that even those who were not qualified lawyers were sometimes making judicial decisions as judges in the liberated areas according to their seniority in the SPLA and had to rule over criminal or civil cases.
For instance, he said the former Vice-president and deputy chairman of the SPLM, Riek Machar, his boss in mid 1980s, had to reverse a ruling which in those days sentenced to death the current SPLA director of information and public relations, Brig. Gen. Malaak Ayuen Ajok, despite that Machar was not a lawyer.
Machar had to review and dismiss the charges as not carrying a death penalty of Malaak who was under his command in Western Upper Nile Zonal area by then.
Telar’s academic credentials, released several days after the parliament’s rejection to endorse his appointment, show he is holder of a Bachelor of Arts from the State University of New York in December 1981, also he has a Master of Law from the University of Buckingham in UK.
The parliament is expected to hear a final report from the Select Committee on Monday on their findings about the appointed justice minister.
Telar was also removed from his other portfolio as presidential advisor on legal affairs after the SPLM caucus advised president Kiir about the abnormality of holding the two positions as minister and advisor.
(ST)