A section of youths from Lakes State residing in Juba has expressed dissatisfaction with the decision to arrest their colleagues in Rumbek for speaking out against corruption in Lakes State, calling on the government to release the detained youths.
A group of youth calling itself “Open Parliament” has gone public to criticize Lakes State government officials of graft and nepotism, maintaining that the group advocates for good governance.Moses Thon Majok said that some youths from Lakes State residing in Juba organized a demonstration on Tuesday, presenting their petition to the Speaker of the Council of States, Chan Bol.
Mr. Thon revealed that the Speaker advised the demonstrating youth to lobby for calmness among the youth in Lakes State, explaining that their grievances require a legal process rather than violence.
Meanwhile, Lakes State Youth representative in Juba, Antipus Gorom Mangar said that the grievances of Lakes State youths belonging to the Open Parliament are known all over South Sudan, cautioning them against resorting to violence.
Mr. Thon also confirmed the existence of corruption and nepotism in Lakes State, citing lack of health facilities, youth unemployment, and arbitrary termination of jobs for some civil servants, as indicators of mismanagement of public resources and nepotism.
He urged those responsible for the arrest of the youth to facilitate their release, warning that Lakes State could face a revolution similar to what is happening in Syria and Yemen.
The aggrieved youths are demanding for freedom of expression, expecting those handling public recourses to be transparent and accountable to the citizens.