Several civil servants took to the streets in the Jonglei State capital, Bor town, on Monday to protest the prolonged detention of their colleagues who were arrested last week.
On Friday, the Jonglei Workers’ Union Chairperson David Mayen, the union’s secretary-general, Samuel Majier Loch, and Ruben Matiop of the teachers’ union were arrested by the police at the education ministry premises while trying to organize a peaceful demonstration over unpaid salary arrears.
The three had since remained in police custody. The peaceful demonstration was organized by the Jonglei Workers’ Union.
The union’s spokesperson, Ibrahim Geu, while reading out a petition at the state legislative assembly Monday, said the detained union officials had been denied bail.
“Even after spending 3 days in police detention without clear charges, they were denied bail,” he said. “The transitional constitution of South Sudan grants us freedom of assembly and association. We, therefore, demand the release of our leaders from police detention.”
The protestors also reiterated calls for the payment of their salary arrears and warned that they will continue taking to the streets if their demands are not met.
Meanwhile, Abraham Mading, the union’s deputy chairperson, said the prolonged detention of their colleague is unlawful and called for their release or arraignment in court.
Jonglei Police Spokesperson Majier Majak Daniel Tuor said they are holding the officials for investigation and that they might decide to grant them bail when investigations conclude.
For her part, Grace Mathot, the acting spokesperson of the state assembly, confirmed that they had received the protestors’ petition.
“We have received their petition and we will discuss it tomorrow,” she said. “After that, it will be taken to the August House.”