Petition Letter: Dr. Marial Benjamin must apologize to the people of Abyei and resign from his ministerial post
5 min readRe: Petition letter requesting President Kiir to take a disciplinary action against Hon. Marial Benjamin and apologise to the people of Abyei
To: Excellency the President of the Republic of South Sudan, Hon. Kiir Mayardit,
Cc: The honourable the Speaker, Mr. Manasseh Magok Rundial, and Representatives of the National Legislative Assembly,
Cc: The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Marial Benjamin.
March 22, 2016 (SSB) —- This petition refers to the letter by Hon. Marial Benjamin in response to the Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Right Assessment Mission asking the government of the Republic of South Sudan to:
- Improve on Human Rights;
- Provide accountability;
- Support and facilitate reconciliation and Capacity in South Sudan.
On the contrary, the government of the Republic of South Sudan is conscious and way step ahead in observing international covenant and treaties on the human right. Although, the emergence of the civil war in 2013, set the government at the puzzling position to tackle the number of accusations labelled against its institutions, including national security by the international community and human rights agencies. The government is committed to meeting further international demand in areas of human right. And I presumed steadfast progress has been made so far by the government in the peace development framework.
The assertions by the international community and its allied agencies on the human right are perpetual denunciation aimed to tarnish the image of the government of the Republic of South Sudan. Despite the impediments around the compromised peace deal on the side of rebels and the part of some.
His Excellency the president, Hon. Kiir Mayardit, the people of South Sudan and friends are still firm in nurturing orchestrated peace deal by the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD) and Troika countries. All these are indications of immense improvement in the national security sector and persuasion for peace, reconciliations and unity intended to bury hatches among feuding communities and political parties.
However, the responses presented by Hon. Marial Benjamin in his letter on 6th March 2016, risk the government on its long observed expedition for peace, reconciliation and unity as elements to address the gross prevalence of the human right abuses under current civil war. The Republic of South Sudan Transitional Constitution cherished and preserved the Constitutional Rights that protects its citizens at home and overseas, including people of Abyei region.
Unfortunately, these constitutional rights that safeguard South Sudanese rights and integrity have been breached by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. In this regard, I am kindly entreating to remind Hon. Marial Benjamin and the government of the Republic of South Sudan that persistent bids on Dr. Luke Biong as a non-South Sudanese is not only abuse that constitutes the violation of life and dignity of Dr. Luke Biong, but also the withholding of people of Abyei citizen rights, freedom and liberty in South Sudan. The people of Abyei have been part and parcel of historical struggle for the independent of South Sudan.
Hence, deserve to enjoy citizenry rights and privileges of the people of the Republic of South Sudan as enshrined in the Transitional Constitution, Article 97. While the plebiscite of Abyei region was not implemented in 2011 as scheduled in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) frameworks, the Abyei people have spoken through their unilateral referendum in 2013, voting unanimously and overwhelmingly 99.9% to be part of South Sudan. This itself was an intrinsic and fundamental justification that people of Abyei are South Sudanese. Moreso, the government of South Sudan has in one way or another recognised the people of Abyei`s existence as part of South Sudan that:
- Number of employees have been working in the systems of the South Sudan both government and private institutions, including Dr. Luke Biong and Hon. Deng Alor who have held high executive portfolios within Ministries of the government of South Sudan, in contrast to the government of North Sudan. There are no non-South Sudanese who have ever held such positions.
- Despite, political wrangling between South Sudan and Sudan over the status of Abyei and future of Abyei people, a built confidence is at the highest stake among the South Sudanese that Abyei is and will always be part of South Sudan as it was transferred to Kordofan in 1905 from South Sudan; a defined area of the nine Ngok Dinka chiefdoms.
- The presidential Republican Order No. 03/2015 for the Establishment of Abyei Special Administration Area, 2015 A.D, purported the claim to the circumstance of the Abyei region. The Republican decree to established Abyei Special Administration Area was manifestation and demonstration by the president that Abyei region is part of South Sudan as he attached the Abyei Special Administration to the highest supreme office (President Office) to oversight on the Abyei region and its natives.
Regrettably, the current reiterate provocations and isolation of Abyei people, associating them as non-South Sudanese is appalling and a grievous mistake construed as a catastrophic systemic failure within the ministry of the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and lack of nobility and temperament by Hon. Marial Benjamin to adhere to the government ethics and performance of his duties. Otherwise, denial of Abyei people`s rights, freedom and liberty in South Sudan is absurd, inconsistent and repugnant to the Transitional Constitution Article 97.
Therefore, I am appealing to the government of South Sudan, and the parliament to request the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to publically apologise to the people of South Sudan and Abyei region and take further disciplinary action against him. The government of South Sudan must also support the path for the recognition of Abyei region pending on the last referendum outcomes conducted by Abyei people in 2013.
Vote yes if you agree for the request of this petition.
Principal Petitioner: Mabor Majur Chadhuol
He can be reached by his email: Maborcd77@gmail.com
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