Rt. Hon. Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, first deputy speaker of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA). | File Photo |.
First Deputy Speaker of South Sudan’s Transitional National Legislative Assembly, Oyet Nathaniel, on Wednesday, 25 September, said he was blocked from leaving the country to attend to an urgent personal matter regarding his life.
Oyet Nathaniel represents the main opposition group, Sudan People’s Liberation Movement In-Opposition (SPLM-IO), in the Transitional National Legislative Assembly as part of the power-sharing deal in conformity with the 2018 agreement on the resolution of conflict in South Sudan.
In a press statement shared with Golden Times on Wednesday morning, Nathaniel said security agents blocked him at Juba International Airport on orders of the Director General of the National Security Service, Internal Security Bureau, Gen. Akol Koor Kuc, despite getting approval from Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba to travel abroad.
“This morning, I have been prevented from leaving Juba International Airport, to attend to an urgent personal matter regarding my life. The National Security agent informed me that my travel has been cancelled by the DG of National Security Services, Gen. Akol Koor, no apparent reason was given. This is yet a testimony that there are those enhancing dictatorship and lack of civil liberties in the country on top is the DG of National Security Services,” Nathaniel said.
Oyet Nathaniel said the National Security Services has unequivocally turned the Republic of South Sudan into a police state and a prison worse than the Sudan Khartoum-based regime against whom we fought our way out to independence.
He said his party shall never accept an inch of the civil liberties, freedom of movement in and out of the country, and political space to be abused by those paid to protect the citizens.
“I said you give the phone to the security officer at the counter, but he refused to talk. Instead, he was seen calling somebody I think could be the Director General of the National Security, Gen. Akol Koor. So, he did not approve, and the plane even left my bags on the runway,” he added.
Oyet Nathaniel, who is also the Deputy Chairman of the opposition SPLM-IO led by First Vice President Riek Machar, decried the lack of freedom of movement in the country.
He vowed to proceed yet again to the airport tomorrow Thursday, 26 September, and see what would happen to him.
“I will never accept Akol Koor to breach my fundamental human rights and freedoms while being paid by the Republic to protect our people. I shall be consulting with Parliamentary Caucuses across the board with a view of holding those responsible for such human violations to account,” Nathaniel asserted.
The country’s security agency also restricts the movement of the First Vice-President, Dr. Riek Machar Tony, barring him from leaving the country.
The Spokesperson of the National Security Service, Internal Security Bureau, David John Kumuri alleged that the first deputy speaker did not follow the due process put in place by the government for senior government officials planning to travel outside the country.
John appealed to the government officials to follow due process to avoid inconveniences at Juba International Airport.
