S. Sudan asked to improve human rights record ahead of vote

November 9, 2013 (JUBA) – South Sudan will have to “demonstrate its commitment to protection and promotion of human rights”, in order to boost its bid for a seat at the Human Rights Council, various organisations said in a letter issued Friday.

At least 14 entities, in a letter addressed to South Sudan president Salva Kiir, raised alarm over abuses allegedly committed with impunity against civil population, human rights defenders and journalists by national army and security forces.

“Across South Sudan, National Security Services (NSS) officers and other security forces have unlawfully harassed, arrested and detained journalists, leading to self-censorship and a chilling effect in the media,” partly read the letter, signed by both local and international non-governmental organizations.

South Sudan is one of five African countries running for four seats on the Council; the United Nations body responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights across the globe.

The other countries are Algeria, Morocco, South Africa and Namibia.

Although South Sudan was not directly asked to relinquish the contest, to held on 12 November 12, the concerned organisations urged government to hold “abusive security” forces to account, investigate inter-communal violence in Jonglei state, fully fund South Sudan Human Rights Commission, ratify key international instrument, pass media law and cooperate with the Council.

“The Human Rights Council provides an important moment for South Sudan to demonstrate an enhanced commitment to addressing human rights concerns,” the letter stressed.

South Sudan gained independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011 after an overwhelming vote for secession in a referendum that was part of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which ended over two decades of the North-South Sudan civil war.

Since then, however, the new nation’s leadership has been in the spotlight for restricting journalists and threatening human rights advocates, practices it labeled against Khartoum during the conflict.

South Sudan is a new country, but that is all the more reason why it should set itself firmly on the side of respecting human rights,” Daniel Bekele, Africa director at Human Rights Watch said in a press release issued on Thursday.

South Sudan’s leadership should make a public commitment to improve its human rights record ahead of the elections and put its promises into effect before February, when the winners will take their seats, he added.

The concerned bodies, in their letter, also highlighted issues such as the killing of civilians last year’s peaceful protest in Wau, abuses commitment by South Sudan army in Jonglei’s Pibor county while fighting a rebel insurgency and last year’s murder of political commentator Isaiah Abraham in the country’ capital, Juba.

South Sudan army (SPLA) court, in October, sentenced to death five soldiers for killing of civilians in Pibor county, according to its spokesperson, Philip Aguer.

(ST)