S. Sudan’s former minister protests over illegal arrest, prolonged detention
December 23, 2014 (JUBA) – A former South Sudanese minister has protested the manner he was recently arrested and detained for more than five hours by military intelligence officers.
“I was arrested, detained, deported from Yei with my properties sought and seized not by police or national security service but by military intelligence of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army on Sunday 14 December, when I was conducting a UK-funded research on strengthening institutions of accountability in South Sudan,” he said.
Deng said he was interrogated, but found not to be in possession of any money as earlier alleged.
The ex-minister questioned why government agents arbitrarily arrest, detain and seize individuals’ properties under the pretext of following provisions of the country’s constitution, which defines roles and responsibilities of National Security Service (NSS).
“The National Security shall be professional and its mandate shall focus on information gathering, analysis and advice to the relevant authorities”, citing Article 159 of the constitution.
He said what the NSS needs is not more powers and functions to arrest, detain, search and seize but rather more capacity to strengthen its ability to gather information and to analyze such information and to disseminate such information for relevant institutions to take actions.
“If our National Security Service could be able to collect and analyze internal and external security threats to our new nation, the relevant institution will be in a better position to discharge their functions on an informed basis,” stressed Deng.
“Rather than arresting, detaining, searching and seizing properties, the National Security Service would supply its analyzed information upon which the Police Service could act on to arrest, detain, search and seize properties of any suspected person in accordance with the law,” he added.
He advised the country’s lawmakers to critically examine the National Security Bill, which was returned to the assembly by president Salva Kiir for further deliberations.
The army spokesperson, Col. Philip Aguer blamed the bizarre incident on misunderstandings.
Deng served for five years as minister for the presidency in South Sudan and national minister of cabinet affairs in Khartoum until he resigned after the Sudanese government invaded Abyei, his home area, in May 2011. He is also a senior member of the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement (SPLM).
(ST)
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