December 5th 2019 (Nyamilepedia) – A South Sudan civil society group has called for justice seven years after unknown assailants killed prominent South Sudan journalist and political commentator Isaiah Ding Abraham.
On the night of December 5, 2012, unknown gunmen nocked Abraham down with a gun from outside his fence in a Juba suburb. The government said it was investigating the incident but never made public the findings. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) also assisted in the investigation.
In commemoration, the South Sudan Human Rights Society for Advocacy (SSHURSA) called for respect to freedom of speech and expression in the world’s youngest nation which has been designated as a dangerous place for journalists and activists.
“SSHURSA commemorates Isaiah Abraham’s 7th anniversary, calls for respect for right to life, freedom of speech and expression in South Sudan,” the advocacy group said in a statement seen by Nyamilepedia.
“Isaiah had stood up and spoken for those who could not speak for themselves. Isaiah’s numerous writings which warned South Sudanese state authorities of the dangers of disrespecting rule of law and human rights, were never listened to,” the group added;
“Over the last seven years on his assassination, we continue to ask:
1. Who assassinated him?
2. Who sent them to kill him?
3. Where are his assassins?
4. When is justice going to be done?”
“Despite sanctimonious proclamations made on 3 January 2013 by the South Sudan’s former spokesperson Barnaba Marial Benjamin that the suspects of Abraham’s assassination were apprehended by the government; yet seven years have passed on, without justice being done.
“Neither identities of the proclaimed suspects have been shown nor has anyone been tried for his assassination. South Sudan government has failed to provide any single response to the above questions. Such a conduct casts doubts over the state’s innocence over Isaiah’s assassination.
“As we commemorate Isaiah’s painful demise, we also commemorate the heroic work of slain journalists and other South Sudanese who have been disappeared and died.”
