S. Sudanese media finding it difficult to report fairly on crisis: activist
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December 29, 2013 (JUBA) – A civil society activist has complained
that South Sudan’s media is finding it difficult to report in a
balanced and accurate manner on the ongoing political crisis in the
country.
JPEG - 22 kb
South Sudan army soldiers hold their weapons as they ride on a truck
in Bor, 180 km (108 miles) northwest from capital Juba December 25,
2013 (REUTERS/James Akena)
Speaking in an interview with Sudan Tribune on Sunday, an executive
member of a civil society coalition who did not want to be named for
safety reasons said the media is not adequately reporting alternative
views that diverge from the government position.
“The government says it was an aborted coup and should be reported as
such. Of course there are people with different opinions about what
happened but they don’t say it in the media,’’ said the source.
Following the outbreak of fighting between rival factions with the
Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) two weeks ago, president Salva
Kiir accused his former deputy Riek Machar of plotting a coup to
topple his government. Machar denies the accusations.
The civil society source said the South Sudanese media is afraid of
contradicting the government position.
‘‘Media personnel are also cautious and afraid to talk about issues
that would anger the government and bring them into the loggerhead
[with government] again".
Even before the current political crisis in the country broke out,
South Sudan journalists were already having an acrimonious
relationship with the government following their rejection of a
directive by the information and broadcasting minister, Michael Makuei
Lueth, to register with the government.
But in response to criticism of the un-conducive environment in the
country for independent journalism, Interior minister Aleu Ayeny Aleu
said South Sudan is a ‘‘democratic country’’ with freedom of the media
and expression.
“We are a democratic country. Everyone is entitled to their opinion
provided what they say does not incite violence, hatred and all those
bad things which discourage love and unity of our people, ‘’Aleu said
on Sunday.
"So why does anyone feel threatened? If you have not said anything
dangerous to the state, against law and people of this country, why
should they fear to talk if they know about what happened,’’ wondered
the Interior Minister.
But an independent journalist who also did not want to be identified
for fear of reprisal said it has been difficult reaching and getting
to people with different opinions from those of government.
“The focus now is how to resolve this crisis. Politicians are avoiding
narratives of what happened. They are saying let’s not scratch the
wounds. So media is focusing on what is being said by the politicians.
But of course there are people with different opinions,” the
journalists said .
(ST)
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