Journalists Still Insist On Dialogue With Minister A group of Journalists representing main independent media houses in Juba has maintained their resolve to continue seeking dialogue with the Minister of Information and Broadcasting Hon. Michael Makuei. 10 December 2013
By Waakhe Simon Wudu *JUBA – 10 December 2013 [Gurtong] – *This follows the insistence by the minister requiring all journalists to register with the Ministry. A meeting held today and led by a committee of the journalists to discuss a way forward to resolve the standoff between the scribes and the information ministry agreed to continue seeking dialogue with the Minister. Chaired by Alfred Taban as the head of the committee, members said they are still lobbying for attention from authorities over the issue. Last month Makuei issued a verbal order calling for all journalists to individually register with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. There was no clear reason stated as to why the registration was called for but the report on the health of the president last month is suspected to have provoked the move to register all journalists. When approached over the matter, the Speaker of the National Parliament Hon. Manasseh Magok demanded a documented order of the Minister so that the legislators can review it and have a stand on. Up to now, the minister has not issued an official communication regarding his verbal order. Last week, a meeting led by the representatives of the media and the Minister, Makuei was fruitless as the minister said there is no room for dialogue over the matter. Journalists said they are ready to comply as long as it is legally justifiable. Concerned activists said the move is uncalled for while the US Special Envoy to South Sudan and Sudan, Donald Booth last week said his country is monitoring the challenges facing the media and freedom of expression in the fledgling nation. Posted in: Home<http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/CategoryView/mid/519/categoryId/1/Home.aspx>, Governance<http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/CategoryView/mid/519/categoryId/6/Governance.aspx>, Media News<http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/CategoryView/mid/519/categoryId/129/Media-News.aspx> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/SouthSudanKob/CAJb14oo4awYyLAKGjiBDSRHFjm%3DAUNsjMotcM8Q6n_fxTZTBcA%40mail.gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
