Defiant South Sudan politician released without charge
pril 9, 2015 (JUBA) – A South Sudanese politician and leader of the newly formed political party, the People’s Liberal Party (PLP), Peter Mayen Majongdit, who was unexpectedly released on Wednesday night after spending an “enduring eight days” in unknown cells in the capital, Juba, said he will continue to speak against the government despite warning.
In his remarks leading to the arrest, the political party leader criticised recent move by government which extended president Kiir’s term and that of the legislature for three more years, saying this would undermine the ongoing peace process with the rebel group led by the former vice-president, Riek Machar.
He also accused the government of not addressing corruption in the country. The opposition leader further warned that officials of the government and ruling party (SPLM) will face accountability and justice for the killings of civilians in the capital, Juba, from 15 December 2013 when the war broke out.
Narrating his ordeal in detention to Sudan Tribune on Thursday after he was released on Wednesday night without charges and “dropped by security agents” near his home, Majongdit said he thought he was going to die in the detention.
He said the security agents tortured him physically and psychologically, beating him and also telling him to prepare to meet his grave any time soon.
“I was badly beaten up by the security [agents] just a minute after they picked me up from my house and within the seven days I spent within [security cell],” he said.
Majongdit added that he was not aware of the locations he was taken to by the security personnel and kept for seven days while blindfolded.
“I think I was moved from one location to another and my captors were receiving instructions on phone. They would tell me your grave is ready and you will be buried any time,” he said.
After they released him and brought him near home at night while blindfolded, the security agents, he said, told him that they knew his home in Juba, his phone numbers, warning they would continue to watch him or kill him any time.
The opposition leader, who also hails from Warrap state as does president Kiir, said he was also accused by the security agents of being a sympathiser of rebellion led by the former vice president Riek Machar, further telling him that it was the reason he formed his party during the war as an agent of Riek Machar.
He said security agents also warned that his party would be banned if he continued to criticise the Kiir-led government.
But the opposition leader defied the directives imposed on his freedom by the security agents, saying he will continue to speak out the truth about bad things that are happening in the country.
He said it was the pressure from within and outside that led to his release, confirming that his Dinka clan youth group of Ayor Kuach in Warrap state’s Gogrial West County demanded for his release by threatening their neighbouring president Kiir’s clan of Awan Chan Nyal who share the locality with them in the state.
Majongdit’s youth group in a press statement on Tuesday demanded release of their clan politician within seven days, threatening to initiate violence in Warrap state’s capital, Kwajok, against president Kiir’s clan if their demand was not fulfilled.
But president Kiir’s press secretary, Ateny Wek Ateny, said on Wednesday before the release of the victim denied that government security agents were responsible for the disappearance of the opposition leader.
He also said the opposition leader was related to the current chief administrator in the president’s office, assuring that the relative would intervene to save him from the wrath of the government.
“I have no idea as to the missing gentleman, Mayen Majongdit, but what I wanted tell you if he was missing he is the very close relative to chief administrator in the office of the president, his father and the father of the chief administrator are brothers from same mother and same father,” he said.
“It might have been procedural thing if he is might have been detained somewhere and soon as we get the information we will update you. But it should not be called ‘missing’ because the relative didn’t say yes he is missing,” he added.
PLP was formed in February 2015 but found itself at odd with the government of president Kiir when its leadership became vocal in criticising government’s actions.
(ST)