National Security Services Under Fire for Activists’ Detention, CEPO Demands Answers
By Majur Chol Khor
The Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), is strongly urging the national security services to officially inform the public about the reasons behind the detention of activists from the national organization, Junubin Chronicles. The Executive Director of Junubin Chronicles, Mr. Peter Ajak Biar, has been missing for over two months now, without any proper explanations from the state authorities.
In addition to Mr. Biar, his office colleagues, Mr. Bill Kur Nyiel, Mr. Bafora Santelo, and Ms. Delighty Keji, have also been detained for unknown reasons.
Mr. Edmund Yakani, the Executive Director of CEPO, expressed his concern over the detention of activists without clear explanations to the public.
He emphasized that detentions should be carried out by the police and should be accompanied by a warrant of arrest issued by the public prosecutor. The arbitrary detention of activists amounts to a shrinking of civic space and may also constitute human rights violations.
“We are respectfully asking the political leadership of the country to intervene without delay and either release the recently detained activists or present them to the police or court of law for due legal process,” Mr. Yakani stated.
Yakani described the acts as deeply disturbing and tarnishing the image of South Sudan, which should be upholding the rule of law.
“If the detention of these three activists is connected to the investigation into the disappearance of Mr. Biar, then the process should be handled by the police unit.” He added.
Yakani condemned the detention of the three activists as an unacceptable act and called on the leadership of the national security service to hand them over to the police if they are in conflict with the law.
The country is currently going through a critical process of ending the prolonged political transitional period and conducting elections that meet the required standards of being credible, free, fair, and peaceful. Various government authorities should avoid actions that contribute to the shrinking of civic space, Mr. Yakani stressed.
CEPO hopes for the security and safety of the recently detained activists, Mr. Bill Kur Nyiel, Mr. Bafora Santelo, and Ms. Delighty Keji, who are colleagues of the missing activist, Peter Ajak Biar. The organization calls for their immediate release or a fair legal process to take place.
According to the details statement share with Alhuriya on Thursday, the three youth activists were detained on Thursday, January 4th, 2024.
The circumstances surrounding the detention and the lack of progress in finding Biar Ajak Marol have sparked outrage and calls for intervention.
The situation remains tense as the families and supporters of the detained activists anxiously await their release and the resolution of Biar Ajak Marol’s disappearance.
