Lakes state speaker calls for parliament to be reopened
February 17, 2015 (RUMBEK) – Lakes state parliamentary speaker Baipath Majuec Relpuou has called on caretaker governor Maj-Gen Matur Chut Dhuol to reopen state parliament.
Addressing a state peace conference on Monday, Relpuou said that parliament had been on continuous recess for 10 months and all Lakes state lawmakers had become increasingly frustrated over ongoing delays.
He urged Rumbek residents to set aside their differences in order to secure peace and development in the state.
He also called for an immediate end to revenge attacks, saying those responsible for killings must be held accountable under the law.
He urged the state government to observe the three pillars of governance of judiciary, parliament and executive.
“There is nowhere a state government is run by one pillar which is happening in Lakes – now judiciary and parliament are being silent and parliament remains offside, governance which is also contributing [to the] downfall of governance in Rumbek,” said Relpuou.
Lakes state caretaker governor Maj-Gen Matur Chut Dhuol’s decision to build a secretariat general office without parliamentary approval has also triggered criticism from the speaker, who has termed the construction illegal.
According to Lakes state’s constitution, construction of public offices requires third party approval.
He was also critical that the cost of the secretariat general office had not been made public.
“Such construction which has no parliamentary approval is illegal; There is [a] need for legal action,” said Relpuou.
“The state government is governaned by law and if laws are being bypassed, then accountability is paralysed and this is [a] wrong signal to our constitution,” he added.
Relpuou has also called for the immediate release of two MPs detained since 24 October 2014.
Marik Nanga Marik and Isaac Makur Buoc, who represented Rumbek North and Rumbek East respectively, were allegedly arrested under Dhuol’s orders.
They remain in detention despite growing calls for them to be released.
Peace and reconciliation efforts aimed at uniting Lakes state’s various groups has been boycotted by most top politicians on the basis that the incumbent caretaker governor’s term is illegal.
Lakes state has been blighted by cattle raiding since South Sudan gained independence in July 2011 and continues to be locked in a cycle of inter-clan revenge clashes.
There have been increasingly vocal calls from activists, intellectuals, lawmakers and traditional leaders for president Salva Kiir to relieve the caretaker governor, although these demands have so far been overlooked.
(ST)