What Legislative Performances entrusted to the South Sudan National Legislature?
Beny Gideon Mabor, JUBA AUG. 9/2011, SSN; After the reconstitution and transformation of the former Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly into the National Legislature compromising of both Council of State as the Upper House and the National Assembly as the Lower House, respectively, is an achievable milestone in the democratic transformation of the post-conflict new nation. Although there are serious legal implications and challenges in line with international constitutional framework and political transitional processes, the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan serves the purpose as a political document of the day. The enlargement of the National Assembly memberships other than exiting constituent representatives and the creation of the Upper Chamber which was not part of the Interim Government is taken without any legal basis and contrary to the policy of transitional arrangement worldwide. But what can you do when it is best the practice on other hand for political decisions sometimes to override legal procedures? I am afraid this should not be the Government advantage and repeat it many times as it may derail the gentle promise of constitutional governance to authoritarian rule. The 1st President of the Republic of South Sudan Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit rejected authoritarian title and is seen committed to democratic governance and collective exercise of power. The lead example of building this nation on solid foundation lies in unity of the people and that is why many rebels are continuously granted amnesty by our President despite calculated loss of innocent lives inflicted on our vulnerable civil populations throughout South Sudan for cheap claim of power and wealth. President Mayardit will forgive them but let us not forget what they did and remember that history and blood of the deceased will not forgive them and their grandchildren. Anyway the die is cast and let us congratulate ourselves that the new Republic of South Sudan adopts bicameral legislative organ right at the beginning of our nation. However, the legitimate question remains what is much expected of these parliamentarians to do? The National Legislature is entrusted with multiples duties on top is the very solid foundation on which our nation will be built in order to suit the procedures and interests of other families of nations, mainly the commitment to international legal instruments and obligations of a member state. They are further vested to discharge functions and powers in a manner prescribed by the Transitional Constitution and the law to include but not limited to tireless watchdog of the Executive organ of Government in the delivery of three components of institutional provision namely the basic services, protection of lives and properties and development. What about the parliamentarians themselves? You are also integral part of development through your constituency development fund program, where currently one geographical constituency is luckily represented by more than two Honorable Members. Worriedly, the absence of the political colors, constituency background and other representation such as civil society organizations of the new appointed Honorable Members of both Houses is confusing and may not allow the community of the said parliamentarians to check them properly with respect to uses of public fund and beneficiaries of the development projects, if any in the near future. In conclusion, your harmony and cooperation with other organs of Government will constitute major fight against threatening corruption and replace it with constitutional governance that recognizes a Bill of rights, respect for the rule of law, accountability and transparency. Beny Gideon Mabor is South Sudanese columnist and be reached at [email protected] -- Beny Gideon Mabor Tel: +249-928879891 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +249 928879891 end_of_the_skype_highlighting COMMENTS, PLEASE CLICK HERE Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author(s) and do not represent those of the website. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "JFD info" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/jfdinfo?hl=en.
