The family of the former political detainee Kuel Aguer says security personnel prevented him from travelling to India for further medical attention.
According to his daughter, Adhel, Kuel Aguer was to travel on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, to seek treatment for a cartilage illness he has been suffering from since he was in detention.
But he was prevented from boarding a flight at Juba International Airport yesterday.
According to Adhel, the family in December last year wrote a letter to the government to allow him to travel to India for treatment, but no permission as not granted.
She is now appealing to the government of South Sudan to allow her father to travel for the treatment.
“During the checking one of the CID personnel stopped my brother and demanded an authorization paper from the government that permits our father to travel outside the country. My brother told him that our father was freed by the court and he doesn’t have any case,” said Adhel.
“My brother also told him our father is travelling for treatment onboard and the CID personnel said no, we must go to the office of the CID and get an authorization letter and attach it with your documents,
“Last year in December we requested permission for our father to travel outside for treatment but there was no answer till today.”
For his part, the police say they are not aware that security personnel prevented former political detainee Kuel Aguer from travelling to India for further medical attention.
The police spokesperson, Major General Daniel Justin said they are not aware of the incident.
“I don’t have any information, nothing like has reached us, no no. I doubt if it’s CID, it might be personnel from National Security, we don’t have anything like that,” said Daniel Justin.
Brigadier General James Dak, the deputy police spokesperson reaffirmed that the police are not aware of Kuel Aguer’s prevention from travelling to India for medical treatment.
“I don’t have any knowledge about it, I have no details about it,” said James Dak.
“Sorry, whoever is banned not to leave the country whether by boat, by land, or by air, there must be a reason and the orders given to police to execute the order may come from national security, or from the police authority,
“The police authorities have no right to stop a person travelling and have no right to restrict anybody according to the bill of rights and the constitution. But they are given orders, so now let us trace where that order comes from.”
Kuel Aguer was released from prison in December Last year after a special court found he was not guilty of any crimes.
He was accused along with six others including activists.