Kiir told to pardon detained critics

JUBA – A South Sudanese activist has appealed to President Salva Kiir Mayardit to pardon activist and former governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State who had appeared in court on Monday to answer charges filed against him by the government.

Kuel Aguer Kuel was arrested in August last year after signing a declaration for a popular uprising in which they called on President Salva Kiir Mayardit and his first deputy Dr. Riek Machar Teny because they had failed to bring peace.

In a statement this morning, Yakani urged the president to forgive the activist as a good gesture of peace.

“CEPO with due respect and honor is urging the president to pardon activist and former governor of Northern of Bahr el Ghazal State facing court trail,” Yakani said in a statement extended to Sudans Post.

“Whatever mistake they have done that places them in conflict with law should kindly forgiven since the country is undergoing transitional process which spirit of forgiveness and tolerance should be embrace by the country leadership,” he added.

Yakani further stressed that “The trial of the critics of the government at this particular moment does not send any positive signal under the spirit of the R-ARCSS chapter 5 specifically championing reconciliation and healing among the south Sudanese.”

“Our President should be the champion of reconciliation and healing in the political process of transitioning the country from violence to peace. Among the key value of transitioning our country from Violence to peace is forgiveness and tolerance.

“It is an honorable appeal for his excellency president to pardon the activists and former governor of northern Bahr el Ghazal over any issue that they might made and turn them in conflict with the law,” he added.

He further called on “the leadership of the country to champion reconciliation and tolerance among the population of the country as one of the key principle for successful political transitioning of the country from violence to peace.”