Warrap state group petition governor over youth arrests
July 10, 2015 (JUBA)-A section of youth from South Sudan’s ruling party (SPLM) in Warrap state have issued a statement condemning the “unjustified” and “unconstitutional” arrest of people perceived to be critical of governor Nyandeng Malek.
“The people of Warrap state have over the past years exhibited strong leadership, respect to the president and the constitution by accepting to continue to exercise patience in the face of brutality by the government of Nyandeng Malek even after she had lost the support and trust of the entire SPLM (Sudan People’s Liberation Movement) in the state”, the group of patriotic youth, said.
The petitioners, in their 9 July letter, a copy of which was extended to Sudan Tribune, made more than 10 charges against governor Malek and her current dministration.
Malek, the statement alleges, has turned the state into her private company, making the state minister of Finance, Andrew Aguer Ariik, state information Minister, Paul Dhel Gum, state minister of physical infrastructure, Mayar Deng Mayar, state minister of youth, culture and sports, Lual Madhang and the speaker of the state legislative assembly, Moses Madot Dut Deng among others, as shareholders of the said company.
“They have forgotten that they are running public offices on behalf of the people of Warrap state. The governor and her cabinet members, especially the state minister of information, finance, youth and that of physical infrastructures behaves as if they are running a private company to which they are shareholders. The speaker makes no statement on such behaviour. The ministers hardly stay in the state to attend to the needs of the people. They are either in Juba or east Africa. When they come they cause confusion and their presence is detected and felt by the amount of threat and intimidation they do against the citizens who speaks about the way the conduct themselves and how the run affairs of the state”, the statement stressed.
Other charges labelled against Malek include lack of integrity, corruption, incompetence, intimidation and arrest of the critics of her administration and failure to deliver services to the people in accordance with her 2010 electoral promises to the population.
Joseph Akol Wek, a member of the youth group seeking changes in the state government claimed he was last week threatened to be shot dead by someone allegedly close to governor Malek at home and away business center in Juba.
“He cocked the gun and asked me to get up and moved towards me, threatening to shoot me. I asked him to shoot and see whether he would escape and go free. He did not do but told me that do you know Nyandeng has people. If you know, then put in mind her dismissal will not be like the dismissal of Chol Tong Mayay of Lakes state and Taban Deng Gai in unity. She has people”; he quoted the security officer close to Malek saying.
He claimed youth members were arrested in separate places in the country last week on the directive of the state government for expressing opinions advocating her removal from the office, asserting that three years were not bigger than the five years she served.
“The people of Warrap are saying her mandate should not be extended because she did not live up to her campaign promises. She failed to deliver services and united our people. Instead she became a source of division and death due to hunger. You know people died in 2011 of hunger which she denied and arrested people who wanted to draw the attention of the national government to the situation so that intervention was made”, he said.
He identified John Angok, Karlos Maluil Makuek as two among the youth arrested in Juba while in Kuacjok, Mawar Deng Wol and Lual Ater Dut were put behind bars on the order of the state governor in the same week without letter of arrest and explanation.
The youth arrested in separate places were later released minus charges nor explanation.
(ST)