By Deng Ghai Deng
First Deputy Speaker of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA), Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, on Wednesday, said he was blocked from leaving the country at Juba International Airport.
Oyet said he was on his way to attend to an urgent personal matter when he was informed by a National Security agent that his travel had been cancelled allegedly by the Director-General of National Security Services (NSS), without any apparent reason.
In a statement, Oyet expressed his frustration and concern over the incident.
“The National Security agent informed me that my travel has been cancelled by the DG of National Security Services…no apparent reason was given. This is yet a testimony that there are those enhancing dictatorship and lack of civil liberties in the country on top is the DG of National Security Services,” Oyet claimed.
Oyet, who is also the Deputy Chairman of the opposition SPLM-IO led by First Vice President Riek Machar, decried the lack of freedom of movement in the country.
“I shall proceed yet again to the airport tomorrow and see what will happen to me. I will never accept Akol Koor to breach my fundamental human rights and freedoms while being paid by the Republic to protect our people.”
Oyet vowed to continue his fight for civil liberty and freedom of movement saying he will raise the matter in the parliament for deliberation.
However, NSS spokesperson John Kumuri, in a press statement, termed the First deputy Speaker’s utterances as meant to bent public opinion negatively towards the Director General (DG) and National Security Service (NSS).
After detailing the circumstances that led to the security stopping Rt. Hon, Oyet Nathaniel Pierino from traveling, NSS spokesperson revealed an incidence of insubordination and cautions the public over conduct of the First Deputy Speaker.
“Therefore, the NSS calls upon the public to treat such behaviour as undermining of authority and act of insubordination that is meant to divert the public attention negatively towards the DG and ISB as a whole,” NSS spokesperson said in a statement.
In the statement, Kumuri expressed displeasure of the National Security Service over erroneous placement of the institution’s mandate by the First Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oyet Nathaniel Pierino.
“The National Security Service- Internal Bureau has received news of alleged obstruction of Revitalized National Legislative Assembly’s First Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, a news that does not mirror the mandate of the service,” he stated.
As a matter of necessity, the National Security Service is mandated under section 13(3) of the National Security Service Act, 2014 to maintain security, protect the constitution, national social fabric and safety of South Sudanese from internal or external danger, the NSS spokesperson explained.
He stressed that, in this respect, the security and safety of airport travelers and most especially of the post constitutional holders, is the role of the service and this implies that any government official, whether being senior or junior should avail their travel permission from their respective institutions to airport security controllers. This guarantees official knowledge of the government employee’s traveling manifest especially in the event of security and safety breach that may arise.
National Security Service disclosed that Rt. Hon. Oyet’s travel was impeded by flaws in his travel document.
“However, Rt. Hon. Oyet Nathaniel Pierino did not avail his official travel permission or leave from R-TNLA and instead provided a document signed by him in his capacity as the First Deputy Speaker of the August House, permitting himself a leave permission,” NSS spokesperson said.
“The document was received by airport security agents and scrutinized and found out to have been a self-permitted” leave solely signed by him and according to procedures and channels of permissions or leaves understood by the security agents operating within the house, all such documents are solely written and signed by the Speaker of the R-TNLA who is constitutional vested with powers to oversee the daily activities of the National Parliament”.
NSS described the scenario surrounded the First Deputy Speaker, as undistinguishable to undermining the authority of the Speaker of the Revitalized Transitional National Assembly, an act that attracts prosecution.
“So, the act that the national MP conducted by issuing a “self-permitted” leave is unilateral and an act of insubordination that is meant to undermine the authority and administration of the Speaker of the August House of which, it is punishable by the law and equally portrays lack of acquaintance with the R-TNLA rules and regulations as well as the NSS Act, 2024” Kumuri said in the press statement.