CEPO slams arbitrary arrest, detention of journalists
The Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation (CEPO), Edmund Yakani, has condemned what he termed a “violation of rights of journalists” by the security apparatus in the country.
This comes after eight journalists, including two from The City Review, and an activist were arrested and their gadgets confiscated by the state security agents while covering “an unauthorized press conference” organized by disgruntled members of parliament at the parliamentary building on Tuesday morning.
Yakani said he was “deeply saddened” by the information when the journalists were just released without any charges after subjecting them to some inhumane treatment that violated their rights and media freedom in South Sudan.
“I want to condemn the behavior of the security for bad treatment of journalists at the parliament this morning (Tuesday) when they went to cover a parliament event,” Yakani said. “They were briefly arrested and released.”
Yakani continued: “I am saddened by that. Parliament is a public place to be accessed by all including journalists, and they should be allowed access to the parliament without hindrance. “
He called on the authorities, especially the law enforcement agencies, to provide a safe working environment for journalists to conduct their work without any interference.
Last year, the President of the Union of Journalists in South Sudan, Patrick Oyet urged the government to investigate all crimes committed against journalists in the country and bring the perpetrators to book.
“My appeal is that protection should be provided to journalists, this protection is not like extraordinary protection, and by protecting journalists you are protecting human rights which is a right of everybody,” Oyet said.
Oyet said since June 2021, UJOSS has registered several cases of threats and detention of journalists without trial across South Sudan, including in Juba and the states.
“We have more than 15 cases where somebody has been threatening not to cover stories. In Juba, we had several detentions without trial, in Juba; we have about three very serious cases. Then in the states, we have several cases of threats and detention.”
Tuesday’s parliament incident marked the latest in a series of violations of rights of journalists and freedom of media that have been endured by media houses in South Sudan.
This has continued to take place despite the fact that the South Sudan Transition Constitution 2011 as amended contains rich provisions for the media freedom and rights of journalists as they continue to face hindrances in the course of executing their vital roles of informing, educating, and entertaining their the public.
Article 24 (1) provides that every citizen shall have the right to the freedom of expression, reception, and dissemination of information, publication, and access to the press without prejudice to public order, safety, or morals as prescribed by law.
Subject article (2) states that all levels of government shall guarantee the freedom of the press and other media as shall be regulated by law in a democratic society.
According to the activist, violating journalist rights equals a violation of Article 32 of the constitution, which provides for the right of access to information by citizens.
