South Sudan Commemorates Press Freedom Day Journalists in South Sudan joined the world in commemorating the World Press Freedom Day in Juba. A number of Journalists witnessed the day as the government and stakeholders delivered keynote speeches on the faith of the media after 9th July.05 May 2011 Journalists recording GOSS president Slava Kiir speech during referendum day [©Gurtong]By Waakhe Simon Wudu JUBA, 4th May, 2011 [Gurtong] - Journalists in South Sudan joined the world in commemorating the World Press Freedom Day in Juba. A number of Journalists witnessed the day as the government and stakeholders delivered keynote speeches on the faith of the media after 9th July.
Hon. Joy Kwaje was the Chief Guest of Honor at the function. She heads the Committee of Information at the Southern Sudan legislative Assembly. Kwaje confirmed her struggle to ensure that the media bill is passed in the house and ready for the new government to come. “All of us agreed whether the executive or legislature that we would like to see the media bill passed,” she said. The Hon. Member of Parliament however, told journalists not to give up with their work despite the absence of the bill. “That should not actually detour you from playing your role,” Kwaje reminded them. Senior government officials from the Government of Southern Sudan, GOSS attended the function held at the New Sudan Hotel. Organized by the Southern Sudan’s Journalists Union, Oliver Modi, the Chairperson of the Union explained the role the media plays in the virtually independent nation during the implementation of the historic Comprehensive Peace Agreement, CPA. Modi said that the media has played a great role in disseminating information to the unreachable audience and provided a quick means for the two parties SPLM and NCP and the GOSS in keeping peace in the country after more than two decades of civil war. He further pointed out that, challenges affecting the operation of especially the dominant independent media hoses are far reaching. Many media houses suffered in the hands of the Government in South Sudan while trying to deliver information to the mass. Modi noted with concern that, “Here in Southern Sudan, UJOSS has serious concerns about the recent arrests and harassment of journalists. This year, a journalist from the daily newspaper the Citizen was beaten by security forces as they tried to report on a demolition at Juba University,” he recalled while adding that, “the Citizen’s editor Nyial Bol was also arrested after reporting on the attack of his driver and journalist.” He also remembered Juba’s Bakhita Radio and Liberty FM that were threatened with closure by Central Equatoria security for dubious reasons. The editor of the Juba Post, Michael Korma, was harassed by police after publishing an article that the government said was a threat to national security as the Police confiscated the newspapers. The UJOSS representatives said that this year’s celebration in Juba is aimed at reminding the State Governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom. “This year’s World Press Freedom Day also marks the 20th anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration for the promotion of free and pluralistic media,” Modi said. The Declaration was adopted after a conference held in Windhoek (Namibia) on the development of a free African press. It emphasized the importance of an independent press for the development and preservation of democracy and economic development. Two years later, the UN General Assembly established World Press Freedom Day.” George Garang is the Undersecretary of the GOSS Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Speaking on behalf of his Minister, he advocated for the media to report on the principles of responsibility, honest and accuracy. “What we report should be balanced not to incite and cause problems,” Garang said. He pointed out that, 34 radio stations are currently operating in South Sudan; 24 of these were private and the rest were government controlled. South Sudanese Journalists, who play greater role in keeping the media working, expressed varied reactions and feelings in commemorating the Day. Oriem Francis is a four year-long serving journalist of the popular Bi-Weekly Juba Post Newspaper. He said this day plays a greater role in reminding the government of challenges and unfavourable environment practitioners in the media sector especially the Independent ones face. Inadequate logistics and resources for facilitation of journalists to get a story he said is an outstanding factor that limits journalists from making comprehensive coverage. Jacob Lupai, a known Opinion writer in different media houses in South Sudan explained to Gurtong in an exclusive interview that, ignorance among many South Sudanese and the government on the role of the media in the region has limited access to information. Lupai believes that, the media which has helped the government in devising strategies for addressing socio-economic problems in the region will have a fair environment of operation in the new sovereign government to come. The delayed media bill which is a key guiding policy is seen by many media practitioners as a stumbling block to free and fair environment for media operations in South Sudan. Lupai believes that, the bill which is expected to come out in the new government will guide journalists and the government as it will provide a legal framework for smooth functionality. Modi earlier on commented that, it was very difficult for the Union to judge the work of a journalist due to the bill’s absence. If the GOSS can have a rule of law based on democracy that respects the fundamental rights of life, then the challenges affecting media operations in the region can be addressed. Norwegian People’s Aid, NPA is one of the greatest long operating organizations in South Sudan long before the onset of the civil war in Sudan. It plays a vital role in providing capacity building to the media sector. Jan Ledang is the NPA Country Director, South Sudan, Juba. He underscored the role of the media in providing and disseminating information during the Sudan’s historic elections and the South Sudan’s referendum. Mr. Jan drew the attention of the house when he said “silence kills democracy”. As the virtual nation awaits its independency, the media is the tool for ensuring the growth of the nation socially, politically and economically. He affirmed NPA’s continued support to the media in the region. “We believe there is no functional society without the media,” Jan affirmed. He called mass sensitization especially on the government officials and citizens of South Sudan who do not understand the role of the media in a society like South Sudan. One of the key speakers during the function was the Chairperson of the Southern Sudan Human Right Commission, Advocate Lawrence Korbandy. He assured the media practitioners of ensuring that, the right to information by the press is protected. “Within the media we would like to see that, your freedom is protected,” he said. However, he was quick to warn the media of the conservative culture of the Sudanese people. Korbandy said that, the region was still developing and had not reached to a stage of a developed nation. He reiterated that, even though the constitution gives a chance to press freedom, journalists should be mindful of the conservative culture to avoid conflict. Posted in: Home -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "JFD info" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/jfdinfo?hl=en.
