WHY DETAIN PEACEFUL PROTESTERS?
By Kiden Stela Mandela
The critical economic inflation in the country had caused innocent civil servants to come out over the weekend (Sunday) to call on the government to improve the situation in the country and fight for their rights. Now it is almost six months in the country that prices continue to increase every day in the market due to appreciation of US dollars over the South Sudanese pounds.
The citizens are the victims of the volatile prices in the market and are unable to sustain themselves. Already some have died of hunger and nobody cares about the situation.
One of the government officials said “Investigation is going on to find out the root causes of the demonstration held by the protesters, the market is infiltrated gradually where by the international factors that USD is appreciating worldwide against the currencies, countries are facing unexpected high inflation including food inflation”. It’s true but all countries are not like South Sudan where the agriculture sector is dead and insecurity threatens even farmers who would have supported this country locally in terms of food production.
Politicians with their interest to serve in their positions threaten citizens saying the government of South Sudan does not have either water cannon for flashing or tear gas on citizens who carry demonstrations along the streets in Juba, its only live bullets. The question is does the government buy guns for killing citizens who are fighting for there rights or what is the logic behind? Is it because these politicians have stocked enough food in their stores and are not affected by the inflation in the country? Everywhere the government of the people is supposed to listen to its citizens even in one minute but not to pay deaf ears all the times.
The South Sudan Transitional Constitution 2011, art 25 says “The right to peaceful assembly is recognized and guaranteed; every person shall have the right to freedom of association with others, including the right to form or join political parties, associations and trade or professional unions for the protection of his or her interests. Its membership opens to any South Sudanese irrespective of religion, gender, ethnic origin or place of birth; b. a programme that does not contradict the provisions of this Constitution, democratically elected leadership and institutions; and d. disclosed and transparent sources of funding. And also art, 32 says “Every citizen has the right of access to official information and records, including electronic records in the possession of any level of government or any organ or agency thereof, except where the release of such information is likely to prejudice public security or the right to privacy of any other person. So why should the government detain peaceful protesters including a journalist who is on duty doing her work?
I’m appealing to the authorities to quickly release the female journalist and the innocent civilians who are trying to protest peacefully in the country due to the economic hardship.
God Bless South Sudan
Be right there!