Kiir’s gov’t has nothing than ‘brutality’ to offer to the citizens – PCCA

JUBA – South Sudan government under President Salva Kiir Mayardit is brutal and has nothing to offer to the people of South Sudan, civil rights movement People’s Coalition for Civil Actions (PCCA) said in a statement on Wednesday.

This comes after at least six people including a woman were shot dead by security forces during a protest in Malakal, the capital of Upper Nile State, against a government decision relocating them to counties and smaller local administrative units.

In a statement, the PCCA condemned the incident of shooting and decried what it called ‘growing brutality’ by President Salva Kiir’s government.

“The People’s Coalition for Civil Action (PCCA) strongly condemns the shooting of peaceful protesters in Malakal yesterday 5 September 2022,” the PCCA said in the statement dated September 7^th a copy of which was obtained by Sudans Post.

“This is not an isolated case, we noticed with deep concern, a trend of growing brutality and repression of our people. Last month, security agents shot a youth twice in the foot and arrested a dozen others for protesting peacefully over youth unemployment and skyrocketing prices in Juba. A journalist covering the story was also arrested and detained,” the statement added.

The statement further lamented comments of by the deputy mayor of Juba town in which he threatened to kill protesters with live ammunition, saying the world’s youngest country does not has no rubber bullets to use against protestors and also condemned the incident in Bentiu, the capital of Unity State, where six displaced citizens were arrested and tortured by security forces for urging Unity State Governor Nguen Manytuil to resign

“Mr. Thiik Thiik Mayardit, the Deputy Mayor of Juba City Council, and a cousin of President, Salva Kiir Mayardit, proudly said in a press briefing, that the government will shoot to kill citizens as the country has no water cannons and rubber bullets. This statement is considered a standing order, so the security forces are authorized to shoot and kill peaceful unarmed civilians in the country. This is an international crime and a crime in our own penal code,” the statement said,

“Considering this, government security agents on 3^rd September 2022, raided a camp of internally displaced persons in Bentiu, Unity State, arrested and tortured five youths, accusing them of supporting a call for the dismissal of the Governor for his role in the extra-judicial executions of soldiers on the 8^th of August 2022,” it added.

The statement said that “The latest shooting of unarmed peaceful civilians in Malakal, represents a new pattern of brutality by the government. These public employees were exercising their constitutional rights to protest peacefully. The RTGONU resembles no sense of a functioning government as it is presiding over lawlessness and brutality.”

“It has no answer to difficult economic, security, and political challenges facing the country, so it resorts to violent repression of citizens who are legitimately angry. This government, that has nothing to offer, then decided to give itself, through a coup, two more years, after the expiry of its term. The citizens are rightly resisting this dictatorial move.

“The PCCA extends its sympathies to the victims and their families and calls on human rights bodies to document these international crimes. We congratulate the men and women of Malakal for embracing non-violent discourse to claim their rights. The brutal response of the government is a crime for which the perpetrators will be held to account, no matter how long this takes.”