BENTIU – Unity State education authorities have reinstated 24 primary and secondary school teachers that were suspended on September 25 after being linked to a peaceful demonstration calling for the release of eight SPLM/A-IO officials currently on trial.
The order issued by the Director General of Unity State Ministry of Education, Mayiel Gatkoi Chuol, punished the teachers at the Bentiu Internally Displaced Persons Camp, without citing what law the teachers violated to warrant their suspension.
It however came after teachers and students allegedly took part in the demonstrations calling for the release of SPLM-IO officials.
The protestors holding placards marched to a UNMISS base arguing the trial should cease and wait for the formation of the Hybrid Court for South Sudan, which was stipulated in the 2018 peace deal to address the legacy of civil war that erupted in December 2013.
Director general of the state education ministry, Stephen Mayiel Gatkoi Chuol, confirmed on October 13, that the teachers were suspended for allegedly participating in a protest at the Bentiu IDP camp. But Mayiel said they have now been found not guilty of any wrongdoing.
“All 24 headteachers who were suspended two weeks ago have been reinstated after investigations cleared them. Their suspension was linked to the IDP camp protest, but we found no evidence implicating them,” Mayiel said.
The suspension order sparked free speech concerns as Intrepid South Sudan (ISS) said it was in violation of the teachers’ rights and freedom of expression, assembly and association as articulated in article 24 and 25 of the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan, and articles 19 and 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, among other regional and International legal instruments.
“Peaceful protest is not a crime whatsoever and, therefore, should not be penalised or discriminated upon under any circumstances,” the watchdog stated.