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South Sudan Civil Society AllianceNATIONAL ISSUES DISCUSSED WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL LEGAL ADVISOR AND APPEAL TO MEET THE PRESIDENT
Juba 10, 2013 (SSNA) — Ladies and gentlemen of the press, today the leadership of South Sudan Civil Society Alliance would like to make this statement on the information we shared with the office of the President. The Alliance leadership led by its leader Mr. Deng Athuai Mawiir Rehan met on June 7, 2013 with Honourable Telar Ring Deng, the Presidential Advisor on Legal Affairs. The Alliance wanted to meet the President H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit face to face in order for the Alliance to explain to him directly the issues of national concern. It was however thought by the Alliance to meet with the Presidential Advisor first so that an arrangement is made for the Alliance to meet the President. The meeting was successful as the Advisor assured the Alliance that he would forward the issues discussed to the President and a meeting would be arranged. The following 6 points were the main issues contained in the Alliance brief note as raised to H.E. The President of the Republic through the office of the Presidential Advisor on Legal Affairs:
1. Constitution: It is now the wish and the common talk of South Sudanese citizens that they need far more better Constitution and we would like to bring to your attention their concerns.
2. Human Rights and security situation: The general human rights situation in the country is of great concern starting from Juba to rural areas, there are a lot of issues of detentions without trials mostly by national security and moreso, the general security situation of our people is deteriorating.
3. Amnesty: The recent amnesty you gave to rebels was a good gesture and shows your true heart and nationalistic leadership to unite our people. We appeal to your kind leadership that the amnesty should also include those in detentions without trial for long and some are in Juba for more than two years. These citizens like General Gabriel Tanginye and his two deputies being in detention since May 2011 and Advocate A. Sule the former head of the United Democratic Front who had been in detention for more than one year and all of whom are without trials.
4. National Security Bill should be passed because the institution is operating without legal framework and this gives the members of the security wide powers to do anything they want.
5. Elections: Your Excellency, we request your office that your office has to ensure that elections are held timely and in peaceful and transparent atmostphere and we strongly believe your office will ensure as that. This is to maintain the gains for which you had led our people’s struggles through.
6. Co-operation with Civil Society: We request your office to allow us to be in regular touch with and also ensure that the harrassment of civil society members by other institutions is regulated. Thanks for your wise leadership over our nation. May God bless you and our nation.
For more, inmformation on this statement, contact the Alliance’s Official spokesperson and Secretary General Mr. Biel Boutros Biel on +211 915 364 531 or E-mail: [email protected], Juba, South Sudan
South Sudan Human Rights Society for Advocacy (SSHURSA) is a non political and non profit making organization founded in 2007 with its visionbgeared towards building an enlightened Human Rights abiding South Sudan. Its mission is to monitor, document human rights vioaltions in South Sudan and train general public on the respect and importance of Human Rights, fundamental freedoms of an individual, democracy and Rule of Law to creating responsible, justice and good governance oriented South Sudan. SSHURSA pays particular focus on the rights of women, children and other vulnerable groups.
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