By Yang After Yang
The governor of Lakes State, Rin Tueny Mabor has launched the State customary law and public order acts, 2022 in Rumbek on Tuesday.
The launch of Lakes State customary law and public order acts was attended by members of State transitional legislative assembly, civil society, women, Youth, UNMISS human rights Representatives, chiefs and government officials as well as members of the organized forces and law enforcement agencies in the State.
Addressing the masses in Rumbek freedom square on Tuesday, Governor Gen. Rin Tueny Mabor said the customary law and public order acts were discussed by the cabinet and Lakes State transitional legislative assembly before they become laws in the State.
“We have started using them since last year before these laws were passed into law. These are called Rumbek customary laws which are specifically for Lakes States,” he said.
Governor Tueny said that everything is mentioned in the customary law and public order acts of 2022.
The speaker of Lakes State transitional legislative assembly, Madam Agum Chagai said the customary law was brought and formulated in Lakes State assembly since May 2022 and the assembly worked on it until July 2022.
She acknowledged the presence of all the members of the assembly present to witness the launch of customary law.
“It is not the first bill to be passed into law in Lakes State assembly but it is the first law to be passed by the Lakes State transitional legislative assembly,” she said.
She said this customary law is like other laws but it is a little different from the rest of the laws passed by this assembly.
“This customary law was passed last year, but today it is being given to you as a law. It prohibits early and forced marriages of young girls, stealing of other people’s property, killing and cattle raiding in Lakes State,” she said.
The UNMISS acting head of field office in Rumbek Lakes State, Khalifa Farah, said the governor of Lakes State has made a significant improvement in the Lakes State’s security and stability.
“We thank Lakes State legislative assembly for producing this piece of legislation. We believe supplying this law alongside other relevant laws will go a long way to strengthening the rule of law and human rights, contribute to protection of civilians and improve the overall peace and security and environment in Lakes State,” he said.
“We believe this law will make improvements in human rights for girls and women in Lakes States. It encourages girls’ education, prohibits early and forced marriages and it punishes many other related crimes, including rape and sexual related crimes, which are women’s rights violations,” he noted.
Farah said it will also regulate the issue of blood compensation according to the culture of people of South Sudan and Lakes State.
“The Lakes State customary law will be in its own, and it will improve Wath-alel customary law and practice in Lakes State,” he added.
The Paramount Chief of Rumbek Central County, Sultan Madol Mathok said the customary law which was launched yesterday will improve the general security situation in Lakes State.
“There is a customary law passed for us which talks of disarmament of civil population. As chiefs in Lakes State, we will interpret this customary law into action to disarm the civilians,” he said.
He said the police should do their job well by working together with civilians and chiefs to enforce the customary law in the state.
“The police should work to implement the rule of law. Now, since last year up to coming year, people are moving freely and small things occur. We shall complete them with our work,” he said.