JUBA – A member of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO) Alfred Gatmai Koang was arrested allegedly by the National Security Service agents inside Freedom Hall which hosts the trial of the party’s senior leaders, a source disclosed.
Gatmai was whisked away by NSS officers immediately after returning from a washroom to his seat at the court house where eight SPLM-IO officials including First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar are on trial, the SPLM-IO National Youth League said in a statement.
It is not the first time that individual activists, journalists and political supporters are arrested from the court venue. Last month, Machar’s cameraman Bading Tuak, a journalist identified as Ruot George, and an activist named Ter Manyang were arbitrarily arrested at the court vicinity.
Gatmai, who was arrested on Wednesday, October 8, is the Information Secretary for Mayom County’s SPLM-IO caucus.
The SPLM-IO Youth League said he had committed no offense and was at the court premises like other attendees following the proceedings.
“He was handcuffed and taken to an unknown location,” the SPLM-IO Youth League spokesperson, Gattiek Wichar, said.
Wichar points fingers at NSS operatives, accusing the agency of overstepping its constitutional mandate and systematically targeting outspoken youth leaders within the SPLM-IO as part of a broader effort to silence dissenting voices through arbitrary arrests and intimidation.
“The SPLM-IO National Youth League condemns in the strongest terms possible the unlawful and illegal detention of Alfred Gatmai and demands his immediate and unconditional release,” Gattiek said.
The NSS is yet to release a statement confirmingor denying the allegations.