Juba, June 19, 2013 (SSNA) — The South Sudan Human Rights Society for Advocacy (SSHURSA) lauds and welcomes the move taken by the President of South Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit in suspending and lifting the immunity of the two cabinet Ministers Hon. Deng Alor Kuol and Hon. Kosti Manibe Ngai of the Ministries of Cabinet Affairs and Finance & Economic planning respectively. This is a move in the interest of the public and SSHURSA hails the President for the bold action taken.
“This is a long over due and I think practically, President Kiir has truly acted in the interest of the people and this is what has been expected of him” Said Biel Boutros Biel, the Executive Director of SSHURSA. “In the eyes of the law, the two ministers remain only as suspects of corruption allegations placed on them and therefore, are still innocent until their guilt is proved otherwise, howevever, worth to mention is that since their immunity has been lifted and altogether they are suspended from their official duties, is indeed in the right direction as full and fair investigations will lead to the material facts of the allegations and as usual, we call upon the President to do more”Biel added.
As SSHURSA hails the action taken by His Excellency the President, it also appeals to him to equally act on the most serious alleagtions levveled against some of the Executive members of government as follows:
1. He should suspend and lift the immunity of the Deputy Minister of Interior Lt. Gen. Salva Mathok Gengdit accused of murder of Banyjioth Mathoat Tap. As long as he is still the Deputy Minister of Interior, no fair, free and impartial investigations would be expected of the case.
2. Reveal identities, suspend and lift the immunity of the 75 alleged corrupt officials in and out of the government whom he had written a letter to in May 2012 over the disappearance of public funds entrusted to them. They should be investigated with urgency on equal note.
3. SSHURSA appeals to National Parliament to summmons and question the Ministers of Interior, National Security, Information and Justice for failing to avail results of investigations as who was responsible for the assassination of Isaiah Abraham in December 2012.
For more information on this Press Release or on what we do, contact SSHURSA through its Executive Director on: Tel. +211 915 300 382, 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 vision geared 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.