By Yang Ater Yang
Civil Society Organisations Network (CiSON) in Lakes State has urged the newly appointed Caretaker Governor, Gen. Rin Tueny Mabor Deng, to prioritise the protection of civic and political space ahead of the upcoming elections.
In a statement congratulating Gen. Rin Tueny Mabor on his appointment, the civil society network commended the government for its stated commitment to peace and stability.
Daniel Laat Kon, Chairperson of the Civil Society Organisations Network in Lakes State, said civil society organisations remain a neutral voice for citizens and play an important role in promoting democratic participation.
“We, the CSOs, as a neutral body and voice of the people, wish to urgently draw to the attention of the Caretaker Governor the importance of protecting citizens’ rights to freedom of expression and opinion, freedom of the media, and respect for the role civil society plays in promoting free and fair elections,” Laat said.
He said credible elections require an open civic environment where citizens can freely express their views, participate in public discussions, and engage in civic activities.
“Credible elections cannot happen when civic space is closed because democracy needs open debate,” he said.
CiSON called on the state government to publicly commit to protecting civic space and issue clear directives to security organs that peaceful assembly, media work, and legitimate civil society activities are lawful and should be protected.
The network also urged the governor to address harassment and arbitrary arrests by ensuring that citizens are not arrested or threatened for expressing political opinions or organising civic education activities.
CiSON further appealed to the governor to guarantee CSOs unhindered access to counties and payams to conduct voter education, peace dialogues, and election observation.
The organisation also proposed the establishment of a regular monthly forum bringing together the state government, security organs, civil society organisations, women’s groups, youth representatives, and the media to build trust and address emerging concerns.
The CSOs also called for greater protection of the participation of women, youth, and persons with disabilities in political processes, saying they should be able to participate freely and safely without fear or exploitation.
The network assured Governor Rin and his administration of its support and cooperation in maintaining peace and stability in Lakes State.
“Protection of civic and political space is not opposition to government; it is support for good governance and lasting peace,” CiSON said.