Five protestors arrested, detained in Jonglei state
January 26, 2015 (BOR/JUBA) – Authorities in South Sudan’s Jonglei state arrested five women who protested and called for resignation of caretaker governor, John Kong Nyuon.
“They sent police and security officials to our homes and brought us to police station for investigation,” a woman who preferred anonymity told Sudan Tribune on Monday.
“They [police and security] said we are causing turmoil and inciting people against the governorship of John Kong,” she added.
The women took to streets accusing the caretaker governor of allegedly sympathising with rebels by allowing government officials working in rebels’ controlled areas to receive their salary at the expense of the displaced.
But Jonglei’s information minister Judy Jonglei Boyoris said the protest was “politically instigated” following the dismissal of senior officials from the ministry of finance.
Boyoris, however, denied any orders to have the women arrested on weekend.
“I cannot confirm this arrest because we haven’t been told that there were some people being arrested. Security might have done that. It is not us,” he said on Monday.
“If there is anything like that, then security officials are yet to inform the government and I cannot comment on something that is still under investigation,” added Boyoris.
The protesters, mainly women from the ethnic Dinka counties of Bor, Twic East and Duk, claimed Nyuon, a Nuer, was biased toward service delivery to residents.
Dorcus Ayen, a protestors’ secretary, confirmed Saturday’s arrest of the five women.
Thousands of people have been killed and nearly two million displaced since violence broke out pitting president Salva Kiir’s Dinka against the Nuer broke out over a year ago.
(ST)