Taban Lo Liyong, a professor of literary criticism was suspended without pay for writing an article in which he differed with the government’s position regarding establishment of 32 new states to replace the current 10 states, noting that it would be inequitable and unconstitutional. CCS wrote to the University’s Vice Chancellor requesting a review of the case and to support Liyong’s right to freedom of expression.
April 3, 2020
Professor John Apuruot Akec
Vice Chancellor
University of Juba
P.O Box 80
Bulluk, Juba City
South Sudan
+211 (0) 912564006
ja_akec@yahoo.co.uk
Your Excellency:
The Committee of Concerned Scientists is an independent organization of scientists, physicians, engineers and scholars devoted to the protection and advancement of human rights and scientific freedom for colleagues all over the world.
We write to express our concern regarding the treatment of Taban Lo Liyong, a professor of literary criticism, who was suspended without pay on February 12 from his teaching position for an opinion article he wrote concerning the states and their boundaries. Professor Lo Liyong argued, in his article, that replacing South Sudan’s current 10 states with 32 new states would be inequitable and unconstitutional. For that article he was accused of “inciting ethnic hatred” and “bringing the name of the university into disrepute.”
We ask that you review this decision, as punishing a faculty member for exercising his right to freedom of expression, a basic human right and a cornerstone of academic freedom, is more harmful to the reputation of your university than the opinions of Professor Lo Liyong. We urge you to reinstate Professor Lo Liyong without delay.
For the future of South Sudan, it is vital that universities become spaces where, as Human Rights Watch has observed, “students and faculty can engage in uninhibited dialog on matters of public importance.” These students are the very leaders of your country’s future.
Thank you for your attention and willingness to help in this most important matter, and we look forward to hearing your decision regarding rectifying this situation.
Sincerely,
Joel L. Lebowitz, Paul H. Plotz, Walter Reich, Eugene M. Chudnovsky, Alexander Greer
Co-Chairs, Committee of Concerned Scientists
cc:
Ambassador Garang Diing Akuong
Embassy of the Republic of South Sudan
1015 31st Street, NW
Suite 300
Washington, D. C. 20007
Tel: +1 (202) 600 2238
Fax: +1 (202) 644 9910