South Sudanese People’s Liberal Party has criticised the proposed amendment to the South Sudanese Penal Code introduced by the National Minister of Justice last week, calling on parliament to reject the amendment until the formation of the transitional government.
Justice Minister Paulino Wanawilla Unango had proposed amending the 2008 Penal Code Act to include crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and defilement in rape cases.
Peter Mayen Majongdit, party chairman, said that no such legislation should be passed during the pre-transitional period, before the formation of transitional government and assembly.
“We are in the pre-transitional Period…. There is going to be the formation of the transitional national assembly. The transitional assembly’s job is to legislate some laws. Therefore there is room to amend any other act that has been passed previously.”
He said the amendment of the penal code is a violation of the signed peace agreement.
Mayen added, ‘’The move by the ministry of justice to amend the penal code prior to the formation of the national transitional assembly is a violation of the agreement.”
He said the government is rushing to push its agenda before the implementation of the signed agreement asking why the penal code should be amended now rather than during the period of the government of national unity.
The PLP chairperson added that if the government has good reason for amending the code they should have waited for the transitional national assembly.
“The government wants to rush now because they will not find now any objection to anything that they want to pass. Other laws have to be amended, I agree. But other laws that require amendment have to wait. We call on the parliament to reject it and wait until the formation of the transitional government.”