October 05, 2016(Nyamilepedia) ——- South Sudanese Military Police arrested Elias Waya Nyipuoch, former Governor of Wau state, on the morning of 26 June this year following a meeting with president Salva Kiir.
For more than three months, like other governors who have been arrested here, he has remained in detention at the Giyada military barracks in the capital, Juba, without charges or fair trial.
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Elias Waya Nyipuoch, former governor of Wau state and a member of minority tribe, was summoned to Juba by President Salva Kiir on 23 June and was relieved of his position as governor the following day.
According to Amnesty reports seen by Nyamilepedia, South Sudanese Military Police entered his residence in the Rock City neighborhood of Juba on 26 June at 10am with a letter signed by the Chief of General Staff, Lt. General Paul Malong, ordering his arrest.
Read: South Sudan President Kiir Played Major Roles In Wau Death Toll, Western Bhar el Ghazal
Amnesty International says the military police arrested Elias Waya Nyipuoch and detained him in a cell at Giyada military barracks in Juba, where he remains in detention.
Elias Waya Nyipuoch has not been informed of the reasons for his arrest. He has also not been charged with any offence, presented in court, or provided access to a lawyer.
The Rights organization calls on all concerned citizens and sympathizers to write letters to president Salva Kiir, Gen. Paul Malong Awan, the Chief of general staff and Michael Makuei Lueth, the Minister of Information and Broadcasting to demand release of Governor Nyipuoch.
“Please write immediately in English, Arabic or your own language: Calling on the South Sudanese authorities to either immediately charge Elias Waya Nyipuoch with a recognizable offence and present him in court, or release him,” Amnesty International said.
Amnesty International added that we are calling on them to ensure Elias Waya Nyipuoch has access to a lawyer; and calls on them to end arbitrary detention in the Giyada military barracks where Elias Waya Nyipuoch is currently being held
Elias Waya Nyipuoch holds the rank of Lt. General in the South Sudan military but most all his bodyguards have been disarmed which sparked a violence conflict in his home town of Wau fitting Dinka majority against the Fertit and Balanda minority tribes.
The senior general fought with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) during the Sudan civil war between 1983 and 2005. In 2012, he left active military service when he was transferred to the military’s reserve list.
Following the change in South Sudan’s administrative boundaries to create 18 additional states, President Salva Kiir appointed Elias Waya Nyipuoch as Governor of the newly formed Wau state, on 24 December 2015.
Between 24 and 26 June 2016, there was heavy fighting in Wau town, resulting in destruction of civilian property, death, and the displacement of tens of thousands of people.
A committee established by President Salva Kiir to investigate the fighting described in its report ‘total mistrust’ between state security organs and Elias Waya Nyipuoch, but did not identify him as playing a role in the violence.
Amnesty International has documented numerous cases of arbitrary detention and torture at the Giyada military barracks in Juba, where Elias Waya Nyipuoch is being held, since the beginning of South Sudan’s ongoing internal armed conflict in Dec 2013.
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