Findings of a research carried out in six counties of Jonglei state indicated that the majority of people was opposed to death penalty and preferred compensation rather than hanging the perpetrators.
South Sudan Law Society Research Director David Deng said on Friday most people in Jonglei state preferred customary law of compensation to death penalty.He added people in Akobo people favoured capital punishment due to impunity and lack accountability while in Pibor people were against it because Murle did not trust the state.
Chairperson of Constitutional Review Commission Akolda Man Tier said international law does not prohibit death penalty but the issue is left to the distinct countries.
He said the best South Sudan can do is to impose restrictions for juveniles and elderly and postponement in cases of pregnant and lactating mothers.
These statements were made at a public lecture in the University of Juba titled “Dilemmas of accountability: local justice systems in South Sudan and their implications for constitutional development.”