The ministry of presidential affairs on Wednesday defended the National Security Service saying it is one of the most disciplined forces in the country.
The press secretary in the office of the president, Ateny Wek Ateny (pictured), told journalists that the NSS ‘adheres to its mandate while protecting the interest of the nation.’ Ateny was responding to Dr Peter Biar Ajak’s allegations on the floor of the US Senate during a hearing on March 10, where Ajak accused the government of using the NSS to detain and torture critics as well as suppress the freedom of the media.
“Obviously, this makes it anything but rogue, those in NSS custody are properly cared for and accorded due process, including fair trial,” Ateny said.
He went on saying that the NSS ‘adhered to the R-ARCSS and still continue to make significant improvement.’
He added the NSS ‘carried out training of its members on the law and human rights issues, holding its members accused of crimes and other abuses accountable and establishing exchange programs across the NSS units in the ten states.’
He also said the security unit set up ‘information desk to receive public complaints and reports which they relay to the legal department directorate for advice to safeguard human rights.’
National Security Service Spokesperson David John Kumuri said the security organs are undergoing reforms according to the R-ARCSS
“If you look at the national security service, we are already absorbing the opposition in to the system of national security service and also one of the reform is that the national security service now has a public relation office and you can now access the NSS at any time and you can now bring in your complains,” Kumuri explained.
He added that there were reforms ongoing and that the army was going to be professionalised in future.
“You know to reform an army and security apparatus is a process you cannot expect a reform in one-day,” he explained.
Kumuri highlighted that the responsibility of the NSS was to detect, prevent and cartel a crime from happening.
Kumuri accused hold out groups such as the National Salvation Front for propagating the laying ambush along the road.
“All of us are aware of the insecurity issues going on along the roads, National Salvation front is not part of the R-ARCSS that is why you see a lot of ambushes along the road and you can also agree with me that there is peace in the country and if you look at from when the A-ARCSS was signed, there is already peace in the country,” he said.
But NAS distanced themselves from the ambushes after deadly road attacks claimed the lives of motorists in Yei Juba road days before a similar attack occurred in Juba-Nimule road.