MENU

The People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) Calls For An International Investigation Of Kidnappings Of South Sudanese Refugees In Neighbouring Countries

THE PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT   PDM

Republic of South Sudan

The People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) Calls For An International Investigation

Of Kidnappings Of South Sudanese Refugees In Neighbouring Countries

PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

24th February 2017

Following the July 2016 conflict in Juba and the ascent to power of the Juba faction of the SPLM- IO led by General Taban Deng Gai, a new wave of violence has spread to the most peaceful regions of Central Equatoria which until then existed as the only beacon of stability and peaceful coexistence since the outbreak of South Sudan’s civil war in December 2013. State sponsored kidnappings, abductions and deportation of refugees is also becoming a regular occurrence targeting activists and members of opposition groups exiled in neighbouring Kenya and Uganda, as is abductions and unlawful detentions of journalists and concerned citizens in the country who express alternative views.
SPLM-IO members Dong Samuel Luak and Aggrey Ezbon Idri both went missing in Nairobi Kenya, on the 23rd and 24th of January 2017 respectively. Their whereabouts are not known and a Kenyan court investigating the case has reached an inconclusive verdict. Prior to their disappearance, James Gadet Dak, a refugee in Kenya and spokes person of the SPLM-IO, was arrested and deported back to South Sudan by the Kenyan government, despite pleas from the UNHCR authorities forewarning otherwise. It is worth noting that the fate of James Gadet Dak remains unknown to date as he has been denied access to legal counsel or any visits.
Kidnappings, abductions and/or deportation of refugees and asylum seekers is a violation of International Refugee Law and the ‘UN Declaration on the protection of all persons from enforced Disappearance’ and should be condemned in the strongest possible terms. PDM, therefore, acknowledges the upright stance adopted by some leading politicians in Kenya who have expressed their disappointments with the prejudiced view taken by the government of Kenya on the conflict in South Sudan; and welcomes the recent statement by the UN Expert Group on Enforced Disappearances, calling on the Kenyan and South Sudan governments to reveal the fate of the two South Sudanese activists abducted in Nairobi, Kenya last month.
At this point in time, the people of South Sudan are deeply frustrated with the continued lack of accountability for the perpetrators of the crimes and their handlers, and doubt the ability of Kenya to act responsibly as part of the UN protection force or as a member of the IGAD peace process given the compromised position it has openly adopted. To deter such violations and protect the dignity of vulnerable South Sudanese citizens, refugees and asylum seekers, the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM):

• Petitions the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to commission an inquiry into the recent kidnappings of South Sudanese in Kenya and document the      violations and abuses of human rights and atrocities committed by the government of South Sudan and its external networks.

• Calls for the perpetrators of the kidnappings to be brought before competent courts to ensure that those responsible for abuses of human rights and violations of international human rights law, including attacks targeting civilians, are held accountable.

• Urges the African Union to establish without delay the hybrid court for South Sudan provided for in the 2015 peace agreement.
• Appeals to the UN Human Rights Council to use its powers to reverse the deteriorating situation and help end the unlawful detentions and appalling treatment of civilians held unlawfully in-country, including journalists, human rights activists and humanitarian workers.
• Reiterates its support for the UN Human Rights Experts Call for the international community to establish an independent mechanism to assist in investigating violations in South Sudan, to include kidnappings in neighbouring countries in advance of the establishment of the hybrid court, especially given the disappointing ruling yesterday by the Kenyan courts on the disappearance of Dong Samuel Luak and Aggrey Ezbon Idri.
• Urge all neighbouring countries to desist, disengage from, discourage and prevent the kidnappings, abductions and deportation of South Sudanese refugees living in their countries

 

understanding that it is against the refugee law and international human rights instruments they are bound by.
PDM underscores the importance of documenting critical evidence and the establishment of an independent mechanism to investigate the kidnappings, abductions, unlawful detentions, illegal deportations and other crimes against humanity, that are on the rise in South Sudan and across its borders.

 

Dr. Hakim Dario PDM Chair
Signed: ____________________

For all comments, queries and opinions, please communicate to press@pdm-rss.org

CC: – JMEC, AU, UNSC, TROIKA, IGAD,
– SS Community Leaders,
– Media Houses
– Amnesty International
– Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia
– Defend Defenders
– Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
– Human Rights Watch
– Humanity United
– International Commission of Jurists
– International Refugee Rights Initiative
– International Service for Human Rights
– National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders Uganda
– Pan-African Human Rights Defenders Network
– South Sudan Human Rights Defenders Network

ABOUT PDM: The People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) is a popular grassroots Movement formed by concerned South Sudanese in the country and the Diaspora; in response to the political crisis and fast deteriorating economic, humanitarian and security situation in the Republic of South Sudan. It seeks to offer the way forward amid heightened ethnic polarisation and devastating conflict in the country, encouraged and abated primarily by President Salva Kiir’s divisive Government policy, incompetent, oppressive and corrupt leadership.

 

Editor’s Note: The views expressed in the “Press Releases Page” are solely the opinions of the writers. The veracity of any claims made are the responsibility of the author’s and are not necessarily endorsed by The Malakal Post. The Malakal Post, reserves the right to edit press statement before publication. If you would like to submit an opinion article or analysis, please email your article at: info@malakalpost.com

 

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

OPINIONS

  • In response to Santino Aniek in his unfounded diatribe on the person of Dr Lam Akol
    December 16, 2020, Wednesday malakalpost 0 comments

    In response to Santino Aniek in his unfounded diatribe on the person of Dr Lam Akol Date: 16 December 2020. Nyamilepedia electronic journal published on 14 December 2020 an article in the name of a certain Santino Aniek who claims to be a South Sudanese living in “Upstate New York, USA.” The article purports to … Continue reading

  • WHERE THE PRESIDENCY GOT IT TERRIBLY WRONG
    December 11, 2020, Friday malakalpost 0 comments

    WHERE THE PRESIDENCY GOT IT TERRIBLY WRONG By: Dr Lam Akol 10/12/2020. On 9 December 2020, the Presidency held its fourth meeting with all its members in attendance. A press statement following the conclusion of the meeting informed the public that the Presidency took resolutions on three important matters related to the Transitional National Legislature … Continue reading

  • THE FALLACY OF THE SO-CALLED NATIONAL DIALOGUE
    November 10, 2020, Tuesday malakalpost 0 comments

    THE FALLACY OF THE SO-CALLED NATIONAL DIALOGUE On the 3rd of November, the National Conference of the “National Dialogue” was opened in Juba amid a fanfare that it represented the voice of the people of South Sudan. “Our people have spoken” was a recurrent and repeated phrase by the organizers of the Conference in self-congratulation … Continue reading

CONTACT INFORMATION

map

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

Striving to be the most accurate, most thorough and most interesting source of South Sudan news; to be the primary source of information for, by and about the South Sudan.

ABOUT US