5 December 2014 - The culture of impunity in South Sudan must stop and human rights abusers be held accountable for their crimes, a University of Juba law lecturer said today during a UN Radio Miraya debate.

“Every time we shield the perpetrators the culture (of) impunity becomes deeply entrenched and they get away with everything,” Harriet Kuyang Logo, also a legal consultant, said during a debate on “Human rights’ violations and options for accountability and peace in South Sudan”.

“When you look at the veracity of these crimes, when you look at the pain that the people have gone through, they need to know the government’s role in trying to prosecute the perpetrators,” Ms. Logo said.

“That has got to happen and if it doesn’t happen there is going to be a much deeper ethnic hatred in this country,” she added.

The legal consultant noted the existence of ample evidence of human rights violations perpetrated by the two warring parties.

According to investigative reports, people had been subjected to killings, forced disappearances, sexual violence and destruction of property, which were against human rights principles and international humanitarian law.

“The destruction of life, property, and everything is very appalling,” Ms. Logo said. “And as a human rights expert in this country, I am always asking myself why this conflict negated our decency as human beings.”

She questioned the capability and independence of South Sudan’s judicial system to prosecute perpetrators of human rights. But she observed that the country had a traditional justice system which could be used for reconciliation and accountability.

Ms. Logo said most crimes had been committed by armed men, including those in the military, which should have the strength to prosecute human rights violators. “But can the military justice system prosecute all these people?” she asked.

The challenge, she added, was bringing high-level military officers to court.

South Sudan Human Rights Commission representative Duku Chaplain said his organization’s investigative report, finalized in March 2014, had noted inhumane and cruel killings.

“And it goes … (against) the commitment that the government and all other actors have made to the promotion and protection of human rights in South Sudan,” said Mr. Chaplain.

He said lack of information, a poor communication system, personal interest, political interference, and conflict of interest among actors were major obstacles to accountability for such human rights abuses.

Another panelist, University of Juba Law Professor Anthony Ayok, said reform in the judiciary, military justice system, army and organized forces was vital for accountability.

Participant Keluel Agok of South Sudan Youth United against Tribalism said the current crisis, which was sparked by political differences, had taken on an ethnic dimension and used youth to further its aims.

“Therefore, our message in the South Sudan Youth United against Tribalism is very clear -- that we the youth have to refrain from fighting,” Mr. Agok said. “We need peace and to be free from tribalism.”

He said his organization also condemned the killings of civilians in places of worship like mosques and churches, as occurred in Bentiu and Malakal.

The Radio Miraya debate was held to commemorate Human Rights Day, which is celebrated on 10 December each year.