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NAIROBI - 20 Sep 2018

Activist Peter Biar Ajak allowed access to legal team: Wife

Photo: Peter Biar Ajak
Photo: Peter Biar Ajak

South Sudanese political commentator and activist Peter Biar Ajak finally allowed to meet his legal team in Juba last week, his wife told Radio Tamazuj.

Ajak, founder of South Sudan Young Leaders Forum, was arrested by South Sudan's National Security Service (NSS) in Juba on 28 July while boarding a plane to the town of Aweil Town.

Nyanthon James Hoth Mai, wife to Ajak also said that the family has been allowed access to Ajak.

“Actually last week, for the first time, he was allowed to see his lawyers,” she said.

She said they have not received any official charges against her husband but once investigations into his case are over, the investigation team will make public the charges.

“Yes, we (family) have been allowed to visit him occasionally and every time when I met him for a very short period of time of five minutes but the process is still on-going and we are waiting to hear the outcome of the investigations,” she said.

She added that the family has also been allowed to bring him food and reading material.

“In terms of his condition from what I am seeing from outside is ok, very much. At least they can move around, they interact with other detainees and they are most of the time out. Beside that and then we take him food from home, he has access to reading materials but I have never really get into what is going on behind the prison,”

Nyanthon condemned the continued detention of her husband saying it unlawful to detain him longer than the stipulated 24 hours without presenting him for trial.

“It has been eight weeks and if the government haven't really come out with something concrete that means they actually has nothing, so we are actually calling for his release. And if they think they have sufficient evidence against him take him to court. You can't just leave somebody hanging not knowing what he has done,” Nyanthon stated.

She urged President Salva Kiir to honor the peace agreements signed by releasing all prisoners of war and political detainees.

“We are in peace period which we have just signed last week and I think it makes sense to implement peace that can reach out to prisoners of war and political detainees. If our government can really give that gesture to those who are detained to release them, I think it will be really an important step to welcome peace for South Sudanese,” she appealed.

National and international rights groups including some US senators have called for Ajak's release.