Upper Nile parliament cancels membership of missing MPs
December 10, 2014 (JUBA) – At least eight legislative assembly members from South Sudan’s Upper Nile state have been disowned allegedly due to their unauthorised and long absence from parliament.
Upper Nile speaker Joseph Deng Barac, named Nasir lawmakers Pal Ruac Doap, Yien Gach Ruey and Duop Tharjiath Nyual as among those who remain out contact.
Maiwut county’s Gatbel Riek Chuol and Gattong Nyak Gatluak are also absent, along with Stephen Pal Kuon, Stephen Tor Ruon and Mary Nyawech Puot.
The MPs in questions have now been absent for more than 12 parliamantary sittings and none have responded to warnings by the House.
On that basis Barac said the House on Monday voted unanimously to terminate the membership of the missing MPs.
“The decision to terminate the membership of these members from the house was unanimously approved by the members in accordance with the conduct of business regulations,” he said.
“According to our rules and guiding regulations, a member is subjected to disciplinary measure in the event of failure to attend regular sittings without permission. If a member is absence for more than 12 sittings without explanation, the membership can be terminated through resolution of the House like what happened on Monday,” he added.
State information minister Peter Tut Tuach said the lawmakers’ absence was initially discovered after a roll call was taken in parliament.
He said neither the state government nor parliament had ever received any official information about the whereabouts of the MPs.
“No-one knows where they are. They have never communicated with anyone either in the state government or with their colleagues in the house,” he said.
“It is presumed that some of them are either killed or have joined to the opposition. No-one really knows where they have gone. They just disappeared,” he added.
South Sudan’s ruling party (SPLM) and the national army was hit by a number of defections following the eruption of violence between government troops and rebel
(ST)