Juba Accuses Opposition Leader of Mass Mobilisation Over Security Bill
20 October 2014
Juba — The South Sudanese government has accused the opposition leader of
conducting a mass mobilisation against the signing of the country's
controversial security bill into law.
Minister for information and broadcasting Michael Makuei Lueth has accused
Lam Akol, the leader of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement for
Democratic Change (SPLM-DC), has been holding secret meetings and making
press statements mobilising youth and women against the government.
Speaking at a gathering organised by the South Sudan Youth Organisation
Alliance at Nyakuron Cultural Centre on Saturday, Lueth claimed Akol was now
mobilising youth, civil societies and women to reject the signing of the
security bill into law by president Salva Kiir.
"This is an act of incitement and these destructive activities must stop,"
said Lueth
Lueth, who is also the government's spokesperson, has accused the mediation
team from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the
troika countries of failing to maintain a neutral position in peace talks,
saying there had been tendency to push for the participation of certain
individuals seen to be supportive of a particular agenda.
He claimed that IGAD mediators and the troika countries were too close to
Akol, saying the relationship with the SPLM-DC leader is now stronger than
that of the government.
However, the opposition movement has denied the claims, saying the
participation of its leader in peace talks was in line with the
multi-stakeholder round table discussions, which both the government and
rebel faction had accepted in June.
"President Salva Kiir and Riek Machar approved the IGAD communiqué, which
[is] the basis of [the] participation of the other political parties,"
parliamentary minority leader Onyoti Adigo said on Monday.
"This is why the IGAD still need his (Akol) participation at the peace
talks, because he was officially nominated and mandated by the political
parties' leadership," he added.
Adigo also denied allegations that Akol is working against the government.
"His opinion on the security bill is just like any other citizen who has
reservations on the content of the bill," he said.
Opponents of the bill argued that the bill, which grants security agents
sweeping powers to search, seize, arrest and detain suspects without a
warrant, does not confirm to South Sudan's transitional constitution.
"This has generated a lot of concerns and from the general public and people
have asked the president not to sign this bill into law," he said.
"We agree with these views and as the opposition party, based on the desire
of the people, we say this bill should be revised to conform to the
constitution," he added.
SPLM-DC MPs walked out in protest when the bill was tabled in parliament
earlier this month after the speaker refused to adjourn the session.
Adigo said at the time that the sitting should have been adjourned for at
least 72 hours, as stipulated in the parliamentary code of business conduct,
to give MPs more time to read additional amendments made to the bill.
About 20 MPs representing Eastern, Central and Western Equatoria states also
questioned the parliamentary proceedings and before leaving the House.
International human rights groups have also been critical of the bill,
describing it as oppressive and calling for it to be overhauled to comply
with international and domestic laws.
In a statement released ahead of the parliamentary vote, the US said it was
"deeply concerned" by elements contained in the bill that could potentially
restrict civil society space and hinder the formation and operation of NGOs.