Relatives say detained Yei Bishop, activist in poor health

The relatives of detained civil society activist Justoson Victor Yoasa, Bishop Jackson Jemba Antipas, and his brother Guya Robert have said the health of the threesome has deteriorated and that they have not been allowed access to family or lawyers.
A Military Intelligence unit of the SSPDF arrested activist Justoson Victor on 25 August, Bishop Jackson Yemba of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church on the 26. August while Guya Robert, the Bishop’s brother was picked up the next day 27 August.
According to their relations, the trio was accused of being supporters of the People’s Coalition for Civil Action (PCCA), a group that called for countrywide demonstrations on 30 August to demand the resignation of President Salva Kiir and his deputy Dr. Riek Machar due to poor leadership.
Victor's relative, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, told Radio Tamazuj that despite calls by activists, community, and religious leaders in the Yei River County authorities to release the detainees, the three remain in military detention.
“What we have been hearing on social media is that they would appear before the Yei court in front of a judge is not true. They locked up without access to lawyers and family members,” the source said. “We heard that they would be arraigned in court on Tuesday but today is Friday we did not hear anything that they will be in court. We do not have problems with the government and we want to see that these three men are charged in court so that we know what they have done wrong.”
He added that Victor’s health condition is deteriorating without access to medical care and proper feeding.
“We heard yesterday that Justoson Victor is not feeling well and one of our brothers handed over some panadol to one of the soldiers so that he can access medication. Since we don’t have access to any of them, we don’t know his health condition,” he said.
A family member of Bishop Jackson Yemba and Guya Robert, who preferred to remain anonymous for security reasons, said the Bishop’s health condition is deteriorating. He begged the Yei County commissioner to pardon or try his two family members so they could return and join the family at home.
“Right now they are all stressed up, especially Bishop Jackson Yemba, and here at home his wife is so stressed. In the prison they are so stressed up and they are not in good health and I am kindly requesting the government to release them so that they can provide support and care for their families,” he said.
Earlier in the week, the Yei River County commissioner, Aggrey Cyrus Kanyigwa, told the media in Yei town that the three suspects would be released through court after 30 August.
He said that in the absence of county judges, the county legal prosecutor would handle the matter and ensure that the three are released.