South Sudan arrests 6 over demonstration

South Sudanese authorities on Tuesday said six people were arrested for taking part in the demonstration on Monday over deployment of massive security in Juba.

The South Sudanese Police spokesman Brigadier Justine Buolo told Xinhua the suspects were detained after the police quelled the mini-demonstration that threatened to paralyze the business district of Custom.

"There were some six people detained yesterday and investigations are ongoing. They were saying it was peaceful demonstration but we dispersed them," Buolo told Xinhua.

"What happened is that rumors were spread because we had police deployed on the roads," he added.

The heavy police deployment along major streets in the capital caused fear and panic in the public domain.

The war-torn country is currently grappling with economic hardship with inflation peaking at 835 percent leading to high prices of commodities like fuel and food amid ongoing fighting since December 2013.

The more than three year's conflict that pitied President Salva Kiir's loyal troops against his former deputy Riek Machar's Sudan People's Liberation Army-in opposition (SPLA-IO) affected the country's oil production which contributes 98 percent of hard currency revenue to the economy.

Meanwhile, President Kiir's spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny revealed that the demonstrators were politically motivated after being bribed by some yet unknown individuals.

"There were some demonstrators who came out yesterday (Monday) but they were contained. They were paid some money to demonstrate but the investigations will reveal the person," he said.

This came after the entire judicial officials in the youngest nation went on strike last week demanding the sacking of the Chief Justice (CJ) and salaries increment.

Ateny also disclosed that efforts were underway to resolve the crisis in the judiciary as a high level committee is working to iron out the outstanding demands of the striking officials.

"The committee is still engaging the judiciary. Sacking the Chief Justice is a prerogative of the president and he cannot be forced to sack the CJ," Ateny added.

South Sudan descended into violence in December 2013 after political dispute between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Machar led to fighting that pitied mostly Dinka ethnic soldiers loyal to Kiir against Machar's Nuer ethnic group. Endit