The minority leader in South Sudan’s parliament slammed the National Security bill as ‘terrible’, saying that the proposed security system is copied from Khartoum, and puts citizens at risk of abduction to ‘ghost houses’.
Onyoti Adigo Nyikwec, deputy chairman of the SPLM-DC party, is quoted by Catholic Radio Network, Radio Miraya and Radio Tamazuj as voicing harsh criticism of the bill, which was debated hotly in parliament earlier this week.
He told journalists that South Sudan’s government is following in the footsteps of Khartoum by imposing the National Security Service instead of legitimate law-enforcement organs like the Criminal Investigation Department.
He recalled that the National Security was non-existent in 1960 and that security organs were under police service. He said that the National Security system was introduced by dictators like former President Jaafar Mohammed Nimeri.
Adigo said he objects powers given to National Security Service to arrest, confiscate, search and detain suspects at will and with immunity.
“We are concerned that if they arrest you, where will they take you, is it in a ghost house like when we were in Khartoum? Or will there will be specific places to be taken – police or prison?”
File photo: Onyoti Adigo