The oldest member of the national parliament is questioning
the government of national unity as to why individuals who have embezzled or
misappropriated public funds have not been held accountable.
Hon. Victoria Adhar Arop Chon, an 81-year-old lawmaker,
criticized the August House on Wednesday for not questioning the executive as
to why corrupt individuals are not held accountable.
“Why are we leaving those who are taking the money, and they
are not taken to law. Why?” Adhar paused. “I want to ask our people who have
studied the law to tell us which law is granting freedom to these people who
have stolen the things of the population. Which law? When you have stolen
something from another person, are you not supposed to be put in prison?”
Victoria Adhar, who has been a member of parliament since
2005, attributed the hunger and crisis in the country to corruption and the
misappropriation of public funds intended for public services.
“Our people are dying of hunger and children are dying of malnutrition
and we are the first of the three branches of government,” Adhar stated. “The
other day, a man collapsed of hunger.”
In the months of June and July, over 40 people have been reported to have died of hunger in Greater Pibor Administrative Area - A situation similarly experienced in other parts of the country.
With civil servants having gone ten months without pay from
the government, the country is faced with a severe economic crisis,
characterized by sharp increases in the prices of food items and basic
services.
Last month, during the oath-taking ceremony of the current
Minister of Finance and Planning, President Salva Kiir acknowledged that the
country possesses resources sufficient to pay civil servants and provide
services.
However, he noted that these funds are being mishandled and
redirected to accounts not belonging to the government.
“What is happening now is that people have multiple bank
accounts, and the money being collected does not come to the government’s
coffers,” Kiir claimed.
However, Kiir never provided an explanation for why his
administration does not hold those accountable for diverting collected income
from government accounts.
According to Hon. Adhar, individuals who divert government
funds are stealing from the public, which is why the population suffers from a
lack of services.
She insisted that these perpetrators should be identified
and held accountable, as well as those who supply civilians with firearms to
kill themselves within the communities.
“Those who are selling guns to the citizens, if they are
soldiers, why are they not fire squad?” Adhar asked. “If there is invasion, who
will fight? Where will we get the guns?”
In addition to the general economic challenges, the frequent
occurrence of armed conflicts and cattle raids within the communities has
escalated insecurity and violations of human rights, exacerbated by the
widespread availability of firearms among the civil population.
Adhar challenged the parliament to act for accountability.
“We are just sitting in the assembly readings books, and we
don’t take action,” said the war veteran mama Adhar. “We don’t fear death. If
they come and kill us, let us tell the truth. This is what I have been saying
since 2005 when I came from the war.”
In regard to the dire economic situation, the parliament has
summoned 10 ministers to answer questions from lawmakers on how to resolve the
hunger crisis.
