SPLM-DC Secretary General Condemns the Continues Harassment of SPLM-DC Members in Southern Sudan even after Elections
An SPLM-DC car belonging to the office of the SPLM-DC in Western Bahr Ghazal was seized by SPLA and SPLA security agents while attempting to return to Wau after going to Raja to collect Elections report from our branch office there. It was seized at Basaliaya 24 miles from Wau on the 16th May 2010.
The driver was beaten and kept under arrest by the SPLA soldiers at Basaliya for two days .When the news reached our acting chairperson Mr. Ali Gandi Abu Anija who also was Secretary of the SPLM-DC state office until September 2009 when George Peter the chairperson together with 3 others were detained by SPLA soldiers at Mapel base until today. After hearing news of the seizure of the car and arrest of the driver Mr Ali Abu Anija decided to go to took to the SPLA soldiers at Basaliya so that they can release our car but unfortunately he was also arrested and severely beaten by the soldiers security forces detention the driver and the car. The driver was then freed and told to go but Ali Abu Anija and the car continued to be detained from 18th May 2010 to 20th May 2010. He was only released on Thursday, the 20th May 2010 after much intervention from us appealing to UNMIS and GoSS government authorities in Western Bahrl El Ghalzal. The car was still under seizure in Basaliya until yesterday when it was reported to being sent to Wau where it would be released to us later which has yet to happen also.
In Upper Nile state we in the SPLM-DC leadership have heard news of people being arrested and tortured as suspected as having voted for SPLM-DC during the Elections. There are news of intimidation and dismissals of SPLM-DC supporters from the Government departments in other states in Southern Sudan.
The SPLM-DC Secretary General condemns the continued arrest, harassment and torture of members of the registered party SPLM-DC in Southern Sudan. The SPLM-DC is now a party with members in Parliament; be it in Juba or the Southern states or in the National Assembly and this despite all the Elections ringing which went on in the Southern Sudan which clearly shows the overwhelming support of the masses in Southern Sudan for SPLM-DC which still guaranteed SPLM-DC some victory despite rigging. Hence the authorities in southern should adhere really to democratic principle rather the making a show to the world when they claim to swear in leaders from elections while at the same time continues to harass, torture and intimidate opposition parties like the SPLM-DC. Opposition is a healthy idea for all governments around the world.
Eng Charles Barnaba Kisanga
Secretary General
SPLM-DC
Khartoum-Sudan