SPLM leadership in Warrap condemns arrest of youth leaders
July 4, 2015 (JUBA) – The leadership of South Sudan’s governing Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in Warrap state has issued a strong worded statement on Saturday condemning the rounding up and arrest of youth leaders from the state in Kuacjok, the state capital, and in Juba, the national capital.
The party officials named John Angok Mawien, Karlo Maluil Makuek, Deng Kuei and Akok Aduol, Mawar Deng Wol and Lual Ater Dut as some of the youth leaders arrested in Kuacjok and Juba in separate crackdown on Wednesday and Friday on the alleged directive of the governor.
“What is happening these days is something which has never changed in the history of Warrap. The governor is becoming irritable to public dissatisfaction with her performance,” said the ruling party senior official in Warrap state, home to president Salva Kiir.
“On Wednesday, two youth members were arrested by the deputy Kuacjok town mayor with her [Nyandeng] knowledge and Friday four youth leaders in Juba were again arrested on her directive. People have been asking what is happening and we as the leadership of the SPLM which the ruling party have been asking them to be tolerant,” said Makuc
He however said have a clear information as to why the youth leaders were arrested as the police acted without arrest warrant.
“We were surprised of their collection by the police without arrest warrant. They were picked by the police and taken to the custody, which is unlawful,” he complained.
Joseph Akol Wek, member of Warrap youth council also told Sudan Tribune on Saturday that four members of the youth group currently visiting Juba from Kuacjok town were picked and beaten before the public at the party on Friday evening on the directive of the state governor.
He also alleged that the directive was implemented by relatives and close associates of governor Nyandeng in the national security and national police services in the capital, Juba.
“Two separate incidents have taken place. One incident in which some of the youth have been arrested took place in Kuacjok on Wednesday and another took place on Friday [in Juba],” Wek explained.
“These are major incidents which if it were in other places in South Sudan would have been a very big national concern. The governor and her supporters arrested youth members in Kuacjok on Wednesday and surprisingly on Friday here in Juba,” he told Sudan Tribune on Saturday.
Wek said the youth in Kuacjok were rounded up and arrested on Wednesday at 9am and taken to the police headquarters where they were detained for more than six hours. Their detention without warrant of arrest, he said, was unlawful and unacceptable.
He added that the youth were however released when the SPLM party leadership in Warrap state had given the state government an ultimatum to release them. Governor Nyandeng, who is accused of the unlawful arrest by the state party’s secretary general, is also the party’s chairlady in the state.
“We will not accept anybody to colonize us again after fighting and voting to live in a free and independent country for which many of our people sacrificed their lives in order for us to be free from any form of mistreatment,” Wek declared.
Also a member of the state parliament in Kuacjok, Ariech Mayar Ariech, who is currently on visit to Juba confirmed to Sudan Tribune the arrest of the youth leaders. The lawmaker expressed disappointment with the manner in which the authorities acted without observing “constitutional provisions.”
“This behaviour cannot be tolerated,” he said.
The incident occurred two days after state authorities in Western Equatoria accused the South Sudanese army (SPLA) of arresting 36 youth leaders and members from Maridi county and driving them to Juba without stated charges.
(ST)