Warrap parliament gives absentee MPs one-week ultimatum
September 13, 2014 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s Warrap state parliament has vowed to take administrative measures against its absent lawmakers should they fail to report to the assembly within a week.
At least 12 lawmakers have not returned to the assembly ever since they went for parliamentary recess, says an 11 September resolution.
Ariech Mayar Ariech, a member of the parliamentary committee tasked with studying the reason behind the MPs’ absense, said the assembly already informed legislators through the state local radio station to report within a one week or face the consequences.
“An announcement has been made on the state radio station informing those members who have not reported after recess and those who went on leave to report within a period not exceeding one week. This was the resolution passed by the house last week because it has not been able to meet the maximum quorum to hold discussions on some of the important issues because some of the members are still away,” Ariec told Sudan Tribune on Saturday.
The legislator, who is presently the acting head of parliamentary committee on information and public relations, said the clerk of the house had verified that none of the members presented documents justifying why they were absent from the assembly.
Up to 26 lawmakers, Ariec said, turned out for the opening session of the house after the end of recess in mid-August, but assembly reportedly begun witnessing a decline in number of MPs attending parliamentary sittings.
Warrap state legislative assembly mainly comprises of South Sudan’s ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) members.
“We have issues to discuss as parliament. Notable of the issues to discuss is peace, stability and unity of our people. We also need to educate our people to seriously embrace farming, specially planting of varieties of vegetable which are some of the main food,” said Ariec.
According to the lawmaker, parliamentary rules or code of conducts demand that a member of parliament who been absence from the house for 12 consecutive sessions is liable for administrative measure.
“According to the conduct of business of Warrap state parliament, a member of parliament can be subjected to disciplinary measures if it has been established beyond responsible doubts to have been absence from the house for 12 consecutive sessions,” said MP Ariec.
“If this has been established, the first measure to apply is to make announcement asking the member to report within a period not exceeding one week,” he added.
The outspoken MP, however, said parliament was mandated to suspend sitting allowances, halt emoluments or suspend a member who fails to respond to options given to him or her.
All these steps, MP Ariec said, will commence on 15 September, further explaining that disciplinary measures can also be applied even when the lawmaker has reported, but fails to provide a convincing written explanation as officially required by the assembly.
(ST)