W. Equatoria bishop demands information on detained ex-governor
August 20, 2015 (YAMBIO) – The bishop of the Catholic diocese in South Sudan’s Western Equatoria state, Barani Edwardo Hiiboro has appealed to the government to avail information on the fate of the former state governor, Joseph Bakosoro who was arrested by security officials and eventually detained in the capital, Juba last week.
“Such delays in communication by the government can lead to wrong rumours which can mislead the public,” partly reads the cleric’s statement extended to Sudan Tribune.
The bishop, however, appealed to the population to remain calm as justice and the rule of law takes its course.
“Nobody should encourage any tension which leads people into unnecessary violence. Please refrain from spreading any wrong rumours”, added bishop Hiiboro’s statement.
Bakosoro was one of the governors removed through a decree by president Salva Kiir. The others were the governor’s of Warrap, Upper Nile and Central Equatoria states.
RIGHTS BODY CONDEMNS ARREST
On Tuesday, the director of South Sudan Human Rights Society for Advocacy (SSHURSA) condemned Bakosoro’s arrest and called for his immediate release.
Biel Boutros Biel, in a statement, accused the Juba government of violating the country’s transitional constitution, which calls for one’s trial within 24 hours of arrest.
“This is humiliation to him as a person and abuse of his rights to fair trial under article 19 of the Transitional Constitution of South Sudan 2011. This constitutional provision obliges arresting authority to bring the accused before the court of law within 24 hours as specifically stipulated under article 19(4) of the Constitution,” reads the statement.
The former Western Equatoria governor, was prior to his detention, blocked from traveling to his state by security personal allegedly acting on “orders from above”.
SSHURSA called on the government of South Sudan to produce Bakosoro before competent court of law, if at all it has any sustainable charges against him.
“Arresting a person and keeping him or her arbitrarily, is against the dignity and freedom of an individual and a stern reminder of the evils against which South Sudan sacrificed millions of lives for while fighting war of freedom with the Republic of the Sudan,” its executive director said, while urging the Juba government to respect the constitutional rights of every person in the world’s youngest nation.
“Without any further delay, the government should release of Bakosoro,” he added.
The government is yet to officially issue a statement on the arrest of the former governor.
(ST)