Activist calls for immediate release of protestors

Activist calls for immediate release of protestors
Activist Soro Jokudu. [Photo: Courtesy]

A civil rights activist has called on the police to immediately release protestors who are unlawfully being detained by the police for expressing their freedom.

The six protestors were arrested on Sunday for protesting against the skyrocketing prices in the market.

In an exclusive interview with City Review, Soro Jokudu Juba-based activist condemned the authorities and called for their immediate release from police custody.

“I condemn the act in the strongest terms possible and I call for their immediate release because this is just a way of provoking people and trying to silence people from speaking about issues that affect them,” Soro said.

He said that peaceful protest is part of the constitutional rights of citizens that can’t be denied.

“Our transitional constitution is very clear, it allows freedom of assembly, so those young people were just exercising their constitutional rights. It is very unfortunate that the police went and arrested them,’’ he added.

“Until now they are still in their detention and people are not allowed to access them.’’

He blamed the government for failing to tackle issues that affected the citizens as per their mandates.

“As a government, you can’t be silent about unemployment and you can’t be silent about skyrocketing prices, and you expect people to be silent again while you are seated there as the government,” he said.

He reiterated that the government remains silent on the depreciation of the South Sudanese Pound that led to increased prices of goods in the market.

Soro revealed that the authorities had transferred the young men to the main prison, saying it was an abuse of people’s right. 

“We heard from the legal people who are following the case from the side of the protestors and that they have been transferred to the main prison in Juba. It is an unfortunate situation that the police are trying to abuse the rights of the citizens,” he said.

He added, “It is not right to arrest the protestors who were protesting peacefully [and exercising their right.”

He said that the random arrest of citizens justified a lack of knowledge of government mandate.

“This action of arresting the citizens who are practising their rights is a clear indication that the government is not ready to work for the people, is trying to suppress the people and is acting as if it does not know its mandate,” he complained.

He insisted that the young men arrested were not criminals and that they had to be released. 

“We want to make it very clear the people who were arrested are not criminals,” he said

He said that according to the lawyers the excuse police gave was that investigations are still on for the six young men to be released.

“I think there is just a way the police is trying to play with the issue and they just want to keep these guys behind bars since they are those who are fighting for their rights this is just unfortunate,” he complained.  

He condemned some of the government officials for threatening the citizens who demanded their rights.

Soro called on the government officials to improve the situation of the citizens to reduce the case of protest. 

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