The lawyer of Pan African Law Chambers, currently defending the case of the detained former Juba mayor Kalisto Ladu, has written a letter to the UN human rights body, saying his client is being “continuously tortured” at the detention centre at Blue House, the headquarters of the National Security Service (NSS).
In a letter dated May 20 and addressed to Musa Y. Gassama, the representative of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in South Sudan, Lawyer Wani Santino Jada revealed that the recent torture of Mr Kalisto Ladu was on May 10.
“Reference is here made in respect to the above-mentioned subject supra. I have been notified of continuous severe torturing of Kalisto Ladu at the Blue House, and the recent was on 8th/5/2024 and 10th/5/2024,” the law firm said in a document seen by Radio Tamazuj.
“It should be noted that the Republic of South Sudan is a signatory to the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT). The CAT is an International Human Rights Treaty aimed at preventing torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment worldwide,” the letter adds.
The law firm urged the UN rights body to bring this matter to the attention of South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir so that the “torturing of Kalisto Lado at the detention centre can stop.”
“Article 101(1) specifically outlines the powers vested in the President, the authority and responsibilities that come with this position, granting the President control over the armed forces and other security apparatus within the country and needs to restrain the NSS officers from the said act.,” the law firm emphasized.
Security agents violently arrested Kalisto Lodu, a former mayor of Juba City Council, on March 30 from his home in Juba, according to his wife and relatives.
Kalisto is being held in the Blue House by the National Security Service. His arrest came after he spoke against land-grabbing and criticized the country’s leadership for mismanagement of resources.
South Sudan’s constitution requires detainees to be produced before a court within 24 hours. Despite this, authorities routinely detain suspects for long periods, including during investigations and subsequent trials.
The National Security Service law gives agents broad powers to arrest and detain citizens without a warrant or charge.