Africa-Press – South-Sudan. Jonglei State government has promised to protect human rights as per the Constitution of South Sudan by committing to respecting the cultures and norms of various communities in the state.
Jonglei State Ministry of Information and Communication made this commitment when it issued a clarification on what transpired when Yar Ayuen Mabior was said to have been stripped naked by the Head of Joint Operations, Brig Gen Ajak Ayuen Mach, and his forces.
The State Minister for Information and Communication, John Samuel Manyuon, stated that the information circulating that Yar Ayuen was stripped naked, harassed and her clothes burnt was false. He called on the public to disregard it.
“The state leadership under Denay Jock Chagor is committed to the protection of the human rights of its citizens, South Sudanese and all the people across the state.”
He claimed that Yar was indecently dressed, but later she accepted to change and handed over the clothes that were said to be too short to the police so that they could be burnt as her own decision in acceptance of such a law.
He noted that the law freeing Jonglei State of indecent dressing was advice from the Bor community as a way of uplifting their cultural norms and that the state government welcomed the decision.
“The government of Jonglei State was involved and seconded the call from the Greater Bor Community to promote, protect, and uphold their traditions, culture, and norms as also stipulated in the South Sudan Transitional Constitution 2011 as amended, part two, bill of rights article 33,” he said.
“Ethnic and cultural communities shall have the right to freely enjoy and develop their particular cultures.” Members of such communities shall have the right to practice their beliefs, use their languages, observe their religions and raise their children within the context of their respective cultures and customs in accordance with this constitution and the law.”
Case
dropped
Last week, Yar said that she had dropped the case after she was convinced by the elders of the Bor Community to engage Brig Gen Ajak Ayuen on legal matters.
Yar said in a video she shared on social media that the case would be solved by the community, adding that she was harassed and humiliated but would go by the pieces of advice from the elders.
“I am not an attention seeker. What happened yesterday was that the case was withdrawn to be solved in the community, “she said.
“The commissioner and many people from the Bor community said the case should not be handled in court but should be solved in the community. I have been convinced to withdraw the case. It is not that I was not harassed or humiliated. I have withdrawn the case.’’
Gender-based violence
On Friday, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Media Authority, Atong Majok Kur, described the incident of arresting women over indecent dressing as gender-based violence, adding that the South Sudanese Constitution was silent about what people put on.
Atong said the traditional court did not have the mandate to handle defamation cases as far as the constitution is concerned.
However, she dismissed the claims that Yar was stripped naked. Yar was sued by Brig Gen Ayuen last week for defamation after Facebook users commented negatively against the latter concerning the issue of indecent dressing.
But a lawmaker in the Reconstituted Transitional National Legislative Assembly, Mayen Deng Alier, said in a statement on Friday last week that harassing women because of the clothes they wear was an “inhumane treatment of women.”
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