Lakes state chiefs arrested and “tortured”
November 21, 2013 (RUMBEK) – Authorities in South Sudan’s Lakes state on Tuesday arrested three chiefs from Rumbek Central county after they allegedly criticised the caretaker governor at a 16 November community event.
The chiefs, however, responded by questioning the legality of the governor’s tenure and accused him for making disparaging comments about their women.
Dhuol was appointed by South Sudan’s president Salva Kiir in January after he sacked his predecessor Chol Tong Mayay.
Under South Sudan’s transitional constitution, an election should have been held within 60 days of the new governor being appointed. No gubernatorial elections for the three South Sudanese states which have lost their elected leaders this year are currently planned before the general elections in 2015.
The regional court president of Malek payam [district], Mabor Alier Chepuou-nyuoc asked Dhuol about insensitive comments he is alleged to have made during his visit to the area last month.
Dhuol is alleged to have said he had “not seen a beautiful woman in Malek.”
On Tuesday, security agents close to the Lakes state governor are alleged to have detained the three chiefs without arrest warrants.
A family member, who requested anonymity, said the three chiefs were arrested after a verbal order from the governor.
Those arrested included, Mabor Alier Chepuou-nyuoc, from the regional court of Malek payam, Guong Akoldit Ruoc, the Mayom payam executive chief and Makur Chawul Kang, a sub-chief from Matangai payam.
Alier’s relative said that he was arrested because he questioned the governor over his rude comments about Malek women, allegedly saying that they were “ugly”.
“Chief Alier asked the governor whether he went to Malek to see problems faced by the people there or to look for a beautiful woman,” said the relative, who preferred anonymity.
A senior police officer in the state, who asked not to be named, confirmed the arrests, but failed to explain why they were arrested or on whose order.
He said that “many cases [of arrests] are by passing police” adding that “all arbitrary arrested cases are taken to Langcok military prison”.
David Kockedhia, a lawmaker representing Rumbek Central county in state parliament, said that family members who had visited the prison had reported to him that the chiefs had been “tortured” and “mistreated”.
Kockedhia said that the “chiefs are [being] beaten, mistreated, abused and their clothes were being removed”.
“They are now staying naked inside prison”, he added, further stressing that the state was becoming more “unstable”.
Located in the northern part of Rumbek Central county, Langcok military prison was set up in February, a month after the caretaker governor came to power.
(ST)