A civil society activist has issued a condemnation of the reported
mistreatment of a female lawmaker by soldiers who were manning the Dr. John
Garang Memorial Park on Monday morning.
The unidentified lawmaker, who was en route to the
parliament, opted to take a detour through the Mausoleum, accompanied by two
men who escaped undetected by the security personnel.
Jackline Nasiwa, executive director of the Center for
Inclusive Governance, Peace, and Justice, stated in an exclusive interview with
The Radio Community that the use of violence to resolve conflicts is incorrect.
“As a peace activist on ending violence, beating women and
using violence to solve an issue shows level of intolerance, level of violence
mentality, and gender-based violence targeting women,” Nasiwa stated.
‘If that’s a woman crossing the John Garang Memorial Park by
mistake or it is a forbidden area, does it mean that she must be beaten?”
She stated that the use of violence to resolve issues is a
particularly inappropriate approach for men in uniform, who are responsible for
maintaining law and order.
“If you are maintaining law and order, this woman is
unarmed; she is an honorable member; even if she is not, she is just like any
other civilian, not supposed to be beaten,” Nasiwa argued.
“If she trespassed the John Garang Memorial Park, then she
should be taken to law, taken to police, and charged with trespassing, then the
law can take its course."
Furthermore, the peace activist emphasized that the Dr. John
Garang Memorial Park should serve as a tourist attraction.
“As citizens, we look at the John Garang Mausoleum as one of
the learning places. I am not comfortable with why the place is locked. It
should be a learning mausoleum for our children for the public to know who John
Garang is; it should even be a center of tourism.”
In response, the legislative assembly's spokesperson, Hon.
Oliver Mori Benjamin, has stated that they are conducting an investigation into
the incident.
“Already the Committee of Security and Public Order is
taking up the issue very seriously. We don't distinguish between a member or a
citizen,” he explained.
“Any assault on any individual is taken seriously by the
Parliament. Whether he or she is a member of Parliament or not, we are
concerned about that.”
