South Sudan national security holds 35 detainees
April 17, 2016 (JUBA) – South Sudanese government under the leadership of President Salva Kiir has been holding in detention without charges for a long time up to 35 detainees under the custody of the country’s National Security Service (NSS).
The report entitled, ‘Denied Protection of the Law: National Security Service Detention in Juba, South Sudan’ revealed that 35 men are in the National Security Service headquarters in the Jebel neighbourhood of Juba, the capital of South Sudan.
The report has confirmed the details of the arrest of 16 of detainees and was still working to establish the other details such as the date of their arrest and the apparent reasons for detention.
None of the 35 detainees have access to legal counsel, and they have not been charged or presented in court.
“Some of the detainees are held incommunicado, without any access to family members or the outside world. The conditions of detention are extremely poor,” it said.
The Agreement on the Resolution of the Crisis in South Sudan (ARCSS) requires the parties to the conflict to “ensure the immediate and unconditional release of […] all those detained in connection with the conflict.” Despite this provision, these 35 men remain in detention.
Amnesty International calls on the government of South Sudan to immediately and unconditionally release from detention all individuals who have not been charged, or charge them with a recognizable offence and bring them before a competent civilian judicial authority.
“Any detainee charged with an offence should immediately be transferred to a lawful place of detention, allowed to receive visits from family members and access to legal counsel. They should also be provided with independent medical assistance,” it said.
“We also call on the government to initiate prompt, effective and impartial investigations into NSS detention practices, including enforced disappearances, torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”
The identities of those under detention which the report has published include: 1. Alison Mogga Tadeo, 2. Aloro John, 3. Andria Baambe, 4. Angelo Banaveso, 5. Ayume Dada, 6. Benjamin Taba, 7. Chandiga Felix, 8. Daniel Bakumba, 9. Davide Peter, 10. Eli Duku Nimaya, 11. Emilio Paul, 12. George Livio Bahara, 13. Gwagbwe Christopher, 14. John Mboliako, 15. Jorem Eseru, 16. Joseph Bangasi Bakosoro, 17. Joseph Ngec, 18. Justin Yasir, 19. Justine Peter, 20. Justine Wanawila, 21. Kennedy Kenyi, 22. Lado James, 23. Leonzio Angole Onek, 24. Lokolong Joseph, 25. Loreom Joseph Logie, 26. Martin Augustino, 27. Michael Sokiri, 28. Mike Tyson, 29. Ochaya Godfrey Saverio, 30. Ocitti Richard Okumu, 31. Otihu Lawrence, 32. Paul Baba, 33. Richard Otti, 34. Sokiri Felix Wani, 35. Tartisio Oshini.
(ST)