A physical altercation between two Members of Parliament and security personnel has sparked outrage among South Sudanese who widely believe that some soldiers are acting with impunity.
Addressing journalists in Juba Monday, Oliver Mori Benjamin, the Spokesperson of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly, revealed that a female MP and a male colleague were assaulted by soldiers guarding the Dr. John Garang Mausoleum this morning for allegedly using the road.
He explained that the incident occurred when three national MPs were using Dr. John Garang Mausoleum’s road to the National Legislative Assembly.
“One of the honourable ladies was slapped and mishandled by the guards simply because she had entered through the Customs Roundabout and was coming across Dr Garang’s Museum, a shorter route for her to reach the parliament. That was where she fell into that. There were three, not only one, one lady and two male MPs,” he said.
The lawmaker pointed out that the information was supposed to be raised during today’s sitting. However, it was too late, as the time for information had already passed.
“It came to my office, but it was too late because the Speaker had already arrived. But I think some members who got up trying to raise it were already aware,” he said.
Mori condemned the incident, saying the assembly doesn’t condone such behaviour, and pledged to address the issue through the parliamentary committee on security and public order.
“So we are taking it up seriously. Even after the sitting, if you saw me, I was here with the chairperson of the committee on security and public order. The committee of security and public order is taking the issue very seriously. Any assault on any individual is taken seriously by the parliament, whether he or he is a member of parliament or not,” he said.
When asked about the names of the assaulted MPs, Mori declined to disclose them, saying it’s against the law to disclose the names of the victims.
“We don’t publish names. If you want, if a case has been opened in the court, which I don’t know, then you will follow it in the court and get the names. What I can assure you is that two members of parliament were assaulted today as they tried to enter from the Customs Roundabout through Garang’s Mausoleum, taking a shortcut to reach the parliament,” he said.
Reacting to the incident, Ter Manyang, the Executive Director of the Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA), condemned the incident, saying it’s not right for the security personnel to assault lawmakers, calling for the need for sensitization on the role of MPs.
“The security personnel are not supposed to assault the MPs. And this is clear that these people don’t know the roles of the lawmakers,” he said.
Ter noted that this is not the first time lawmakers have been assaulted by security personnel. According to him, there was also one incident last year where a lawmaker was attacked and his ID card was broken.
The civil society activist further called on the authorities concerned to ensure those assaulted the lawmakers are held accountable.
South Sudan’s transitional constitution says no criminal proceedings shall be initiated against a member of the National Legislative Assembly or the Council of States, nor shall any measure be taken against their person or belongings without permission from the Speaker of the appropriate House, except where he or she is caught committing an offence for which the police may arrest without warrant.
It further says in case a member is charged with a serious crime, the appropriate House may waive the immunity of the member concerned.