As we take pride in South Sudan's first anniversary, we also need to express our collective worries over the trend and methods employed to silent those who express public sentiment about corruption in the country.
We should be worried, because the ability to speak one's mind on national issues without any fear of being persecuted is the litmus test to true freedom and citizenship. It is something South Sudanese should defend irrespective of their political leanings.
Personally, this year's anniversary has been tainted by the callous actions of those who kidnapped and gruesomely tortured the leader of South Sudan's Civil Society Alliance, Mr. Deng Athuai.
South Sudan can not afford to emulate Khartoum with respect to how its treat those who express divergent opinion. Many people who fell during the war, both combatants and non-combatants didn't die for the replication of the system they abhorred. No one who voted for independent South Sudan would like to see the continuation of policies they rejected from Khartoum in their country.
The current leadership in Juba needs to reassure the apprehensive public that they are different from Khartoum by expeditiously investigating and bringing to book those who are behind Mr. Athuai kidnapping and gruesome beating. The same applies to the case of Mayol Kuch who was murdered by those who show no hesitation to torture citizens at will.
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