A Lakes State university student has called for public direct inclusion in the state’s constitutional review process.
Dut Benis Marial, who studies at South Sudan Catholic University, told Good News Radio that the state’s citizens have very little knowledge of what is contained in the Transitional Constitution passed recently by the state’s Legislative Assembly.He noted that members of the public have not been given a chance to access the reviewed Constitution.
He said he expected that the Parliament would educate the public before passing the Transitional Constitution, explaining that a Constitution is an agreement by the people which is later upheld as the Law.
MP David Kockedhie Puondak, representing Rumbek Town Constituency, clarified that the Transitional Constitution is now the supreme law of the State and parliamentarians passed it as representatives of the electorate in the state’s Assembly.
He said the Transitional Constitution will be sent to Juba for compatibility certification.
He appealed to the citizens of Lakes State to get familiar the new Transitional Constitution and uphold the rule of law.
MP Abraham Makoi Bol Kodi said the public was invited to send their views to their MPs during the constitutional review process.
He added that the Lakes State Transitional Constitution is in line with the National Constitution model.
These reactions on the Lake’s State Constitution were made during a public dialogue organized by South Sudanese Network for Democratic Elections (SUNDE) on Saturday at Akon Buoi Community Hall in Rumbek.