Civil society organizations in South Sudan’s Western Bahr el Ghazal state capital Wau say at least seven of their members have been arrested after they protested abuses allegedly carried out by security forces in the town.
The arrests took place over the weekend following the presentation of a letter from the Western Bahr el Ghazal State-Civil Society Organization Network Forum to Wau Mayor Elia Kamilo Dimo, according to the Unity Cultural and Development Centre (UCDC).
UCDC’s executive director Angelo Bensencio Mongu is among the detainees.
The letter, written by fourteen organizations and available for download below, accused security forces of beating, shooting, and looting civilians in Wau in November since deploying in parts of the state capital.
‘Constant terror’
According to the letter: “The residents in Bakari Jedid, Hai Khamsian, Hai Bazia Jedid and part of Hai Ngobu are living in constant terror since the security forces are deployed in their residential areas.”
The alleged abuses by security forces listed in the letter include the beating of civilians who were watching television in a club on evening of 15 November, the shooting at a businessman on 16 November, the stealing of vegetables from citizens on 20 November, and the shooting of a mentally disturbed person on 22 November.
“These behaviors and actions of some of our security forces are very disturbing and unacceptable because it is clearly human Rights Violation,” the letter said. “We totally reject and condemn these behaviors in the strongest term possible and appeal to the Municipal authority to take possible measures to address these issues.”
Following the presentation of the letter, Wau Mayor Elia Kamilo Dimo summoned the organizations to his office on Saturday. On Sunday, speaking to Radio Tamazuj, he accused the organizations of supporting armed rebellion.
The mayor alleged that the organizations do not monitor the abuses committed by opposition groups in the state. He also claimed that the activists withdrew their statements.
CEPO calls for ‘dialogue, not confrontation’
The Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), whose state coordinator Stephen Robo was arrested, called on Western Bahr el Ghazal leaders to release the detained activists, noting that South Sudan’s bill of rights gaurantees all citizens the unrestricted right to freedom of expression and dissemination of information.
“The concern raised by the civil society in Wau is not an opponent position. It is just informing the government that something is going on wrong requires their attention,” CEPO said. “It high time for us to have the culture of dialogue among ourselves as South Sudanese and we need to avoid confrontational approach.”
National Security involvement
UCDC said in a statement that their executive director Angelo was arrested after receiving a phone call from National Security Services (NSS) agents. NSS agents also visited the UCDC office on Saturday evening to look for Angelo, the statement said.
UCDC further said security agents searched the house of the director of Woman Training and Promotion (WOTAP) Linda Ferdinand, who was not in Wau at the time.
The UCDC statement alleged that the arrests were due to the letter the mayor, but are also related to the government’s accusations that civilians in Wau support rebel groups.
“Recently the state also announced that there are rebels within its territory and launched a crackdown on suspected supporters, a step that led to arrests of many youth and intellectuals,” UCDC said.
“The [civil society organizations] and other rights groups and international organizations expressed concerns over such practices and are calling for peaceful coexistence and better relationship between the state authorities and the citizens.”
According to UCDC, some of the other arrested people include:
- Arkangelo Julo Kuot, Deputy Chairperson for Youth Organization for Community Development (YOCD)
- Charles Nyiyuo, Coordinator for Lulu Work Trust (LWT)
- Simon Utuol Angok, Programs Coordinator for Kuajina Community Development Program (KCDP)
- Monica Elario of Saint Mary Association, also Registrar of state Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Development.
Civil society and government in Wau have been at odds for some time. In April this year, state authorities introduced new policies which limited the number of local organizations to only 32 compared to 152 the year before, according to the UCDC statement.
In December 2012, security forces shot and killed a group of peaceful protestors who were demonstrating against the relocation of Wau county headquarters to Ngo-Bagari, a village south west of Wau town.
Here is the full text of the civil society letter in question:
Date: 24th, November, 2015
To: Wau Municipal Mayor
Sub: WBGS-CSONF Petition on the behaviors of some individual Forces deployed in Bagari Jedid
Western Bahr el Ghazal State-Civil Society Organization Network Forum (WBGS-CSONT) who their logos and names blow have noted that the residents in Bakari Jedid, Hai Khamsian, Hai Bazia Jedid and part of Hai Ngobu are living in constant terror since the security forces are deployed in their residential areas.
Some of the deployed security personnel are harassing and looting any civilian they may meet at night on the road and accused him/her of being rebel activist.
Since the deployment of the security forces in the residential areas the movements of the civilians are restricted especially from 07:00pm.
On 15 November, 2015 around 10:00pm allegedly the deployed security forces arrested civilians in the watched club in Hai Jezera, harassed and beat them in the watching-club.
On 16/11/2015 around 09:00pm allegedly the security personnel’s opened fire at one of the businessman on his way back home, luckily enough no one injured but the car was hit by bullets from all sides.
On 19/11/2015 a mourning family with their friends, relatives and family members accompanying the dead body for burial in Holly Family’s Cemetery along the road to Bussere at the check point, the funeral convoy was stopped by the Security personnel on the duty and searched only the dead body claiming that it might not be the dead body
On 20th/11/2015 around 08:00am the security personal seized vegetables from citizens on their way for marketing in Wau from Bussere.
Lastly 22/11/2015 there was a mental disturb person who was shot by the same security forces in Bagari Jedid around 07:00pm. On the same night the security personnel beat badly one of the residents in Bagari Jedid who stays nearer to the Payam of Wau South.
These behaviors and actions of some of our security forces are very disturbing and unacceptable because it is clearly human Rights Violation. We believe that the role of Security personnel is to provide and protect the civilians but not interference with their normal lives.
Therefore we totally reject and condemn these behaviors in the strongest term possible and appeal to the Municipal authority to take possible measures to address these issues because these events have serious impact on the current peace agreement signed between the Government and the SPLM/A-IO, as well as on the statement of the president in the National Legislative Assembly on 18th November, 2015 where he was clear calls on his government and citizens to support him in the implementation of the peace agreement and work for national unity and reconciliation. Also the actions affect social cohesion in the Wau town in particular and WBGS in general.
These are some few concrete testimonies which we would like to bring before your attention for possible action to reduced tension between the local resident and the security forces which are deployed in the area.
Western Bahr el State-Civil Society Organization Network
Forum (WBGS-CSONF)
1. Justice and Peace Commission (J&PC) /Catholic Diocese of Wau
2. Women Training and Promotion (WOTAP)
3. Lulu Work Trust (LWT)
4. Women Organization for Food Basket (WOFB)
5. Initiative for Agriculture and Development (IFAD)
6. Youth Organization for Community and Development (YOCD)
7. Kuarjiena Community Development Programme (KCDP)
8. Women Association Ngobagari (WAN)
9. Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO)
10. Women Development Group (WDG)
11. Christian Action for Relief and Development (CARD)
12. St. Mary Association (Catholic Church)
13. Women Initiative for Development (WID)
14. Unity Cultural and Development Center (UCDC)
Cc:
1. The State Minister of Local Government and Law enforcement Agency
2. The State Minister of Gender, Child and Social Development
3. Wau County Commissioner
4. Partners
5. Media Houses