"We the willing, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much, with so little, for so long, we are now qualified to do anything, with nothing" By Konstantin Josef Jireček, a Czech historian, diplomat and slavist.
South Sudan’s coat of arms, in which the eagle symbolizes vision, strength, resilience and majesty, and the shield and spear the people’s resolve to protect the sovereignty of their republic and work hard to feed it.
The gov’t has passed into law a controversial Security Bill despite stiff protest from members of the official opposition party–SPLM-DC (and curiously, some SPLM members from Equatoria) who stormed out of the House.
MPs from the gov’t side simply went ahead, voted and passed the bill into law (probably pending presidential signature). One opinion is that democracy (the majority) carried the day against intransigence from a belligerent minority.
Another opinion is that the majority (gov’t, but not necessarily democracy) has bulldozed its way into law, much as Khartoum used to do against South Sudanese.
Pick your opinion and supporting evidences. You may call it an arm-race between the “constitutional gov’t” of President Salva Kiir Mayaardit in Juba against the “democratic rebellion” of Dr. Riek Machar in the bushes.
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See below a comment from Dr. Lam Akol:
The official opposition in South Sudan Parliament today stormed out of the sitting debating the National Security Service Bill. This followed the refusal of the Speaker to allow time to study suggested amendments to the bill. The Minority Leader had invoked the Conduct of Business Regulations that stipulate that 72 hours should be allowed for studying any amendments tabled before the House. The SPLM caucus had just concluded a meeting and one of them was reading suggested amendments to the bill when the Opposition raised the point of order. The Speaker rejected the demand causing the opposition MPs to walk out. They were followed by the MPs hailing from Equatoria. Despite the lack of quorum, the Speaker went ahead and the controversial bill was passed. It is now abundantly clear that the government wants to ram this repressive bill down the throats of the South Sudanese.
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See below a comment from Danis Daniel:
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…So I hear after seizing your property and arresting you without a warrant…they will NOT materially provide for your basic needs while in detention…AND you will be prevented from contacting your families or lawyers if the communication is determined to “prejudice progress of any inquiry or investigation of the case….And you or your family will do nothing to safe you(self) BECAUSE the Officers of the Service will be IMMUNE from criminal prosecution and CAN NOT be removed from office except by presidential order. And the officers will only be punishable by death if they offend the agency in acts of jeopardy, not, when they offend you, the ordinary citizen(s), cos they are immune to you. And there will be so many of them everywhere, because the law allows for the recruitment of networks of paid ‘agents’/informants who are not permanent employees of the Service. WOW…!!
PaanLuel Wël is the founder and editor-in-chief of PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd, a news website that covers news, opinions, analysis, history, culture and literature of South Sudan and the world. Founded in July 2011 by PaanLuel Wël to create a platform for free expression and constructive dialogue, the website features articles from various contributors, including columnists, commentators, poets, authors, activists and academics. PaanLuel Wël believes that media can play a vital role in informing, educating and empowering the people to participate in nation-building and social transformation. He also believes that media can foster a culture of dialogue, tolerance and diversity among different communities and groups, and hopes to inspire and mentor the next generation of South Sudanese writers and journalists.
