By Obale Emmanuel, Radio Emmanuel
TORIT. The Representative of Monyie-miji, a Youth Union in South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria State, has appealed to the state governor to pardon and release four of its members who were on Thursday convicted for assaulting NGO staff working in the state capital, Torit.
The Monyiemiji in their first letter to the governor and UN Agencies in the area petitioned with concern what they referred to as “the unjust employment procedures” by the UN Agencies and Non-Governmental Organizations.
According to the youth group, the procedure is unjust and does not favor the majority youth group from the state’s three counties of Torit, Ikwoto and Lopa. In May the youth group took to suspend operations and seek redress to the horrendous employment issues. Four of its members allegedly assaulted Red Cross staff in the process.
Court in Torit has Thursday passed a verdict, convicting each of the four for three years.
In his speech during the celebration of the country’s Tenth independence anniversary, the representative Mr. Orupi David appealed to the Eastern Equatoria State governor to release the four.
“Allow me to use this occasion to appeal to your able leadership to draw your attention to the outcry of the youth unemployment in this State.” Said Mr. Orupi
“Hon. Governor, I appeal to you kindly please to release and pardon our brothers monyomiji who are under detention as you normally forgive your opponent hon. Governor”. He continued.
It was purported that over 20 members of the Monyie-miji youth Union were intercepted by the national security for destabilizing the state security following their protest and the 72 ultimatum for NGOs and UN Agencies to evacuate the three counties. They were later released.
Mr. Olupi urged the entire youth of the state to renounce from taking laws into their hands and unite for the sake of peaceful coexistence and reconciliation. Something he believes young people will reap from
“I urged all the monyomiji not to take laws into their hands for the betterment of this State. I therefore call upon all the youth of EES to remain united for the sake of peaceful coexistence, reconciliation and healing processes in which young people will be the beneficiaries of this great nation”. Olupi Calls
Similar protests from different youth groups across the country targeting youth unemployment has been reported in various parts of the country.
In his move to address the alarming call by the youth, H.E Salva Kiir, the President of the Republic of South Sudan formed a high level committee consisting of Two Vice presidents and some high-level cabinets to investigate the cause of unemployment and seek lasting solutions.
