UJoSS appeals for protection of journalists
The Union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJOSS) has called upon the government to end impunity against journalists across the country.
The President of UJOSS, Oyet Patrick, yesterday issued a statement noting that censorship was a violation of the right of access to information that could educate people or aid them in decision-making.
“UJOSS urges authorities at all levels to observe utmost restraints and allow journalists to freely do their work of informing and educating the public.”
He alleged that journalists in Bentiu, the capital of Unity State were blocked while covering elections of Youth Union, a decision he said was against Articles 24 and 32 of the Transitional Constitution of South Sudan 2011.
“The above practices are not in conformity with Articles 24, and 32 of Transitional Constitution of South Sudan 2011, as amended.”
Mr Oyet advised media houses to be reporting impunity against journalists to the media authority which is the authorised body to handle issues related to the media.
The national minister for information, communication technology and postal services, Michael Makuei Lueth, also told to The City Review that media houses and journalists must report cases of impunity to the Media Authority whenever they happen.
“Don’t they know where to direct their complaints? Tell them to go to the media authority,” Makuei directed.
Masked freedom
South Sudan has not recorded any killing of journalists since 2017, but there are persistent complaints of harassment, arrests, and restriction of access to information directed to some security agents.
Last month, some journalists were detained in front of the parliament while they were covering a press briefing convened by some members of parliament.
Other cases included the expulsion of Radio Miraya journalist, Manyang Mayom by authorities in Warrap State, stopping a press conference at the premises of the Association for Media Development in South Sudan (AMDISS), closure of Singaita 88.3 FM in Kapoeta and Radio Jonglei 95.9 where gadgets were reportedly confiscated.
Oyet urged the government to protect journalists by investigating, prosecuting and bringing to book the perpetrators.
“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 are rights of everybody,” he added.
Media reports indicate that at least 10 journalists had been killed in South Sudan since 2014 including Peter Moi, who was killed in August 2015.
In 2017, a US-British freelance war reporter, Christopher Allen was killed by a government soldier in Yei River County, Central Equatoria State in the course of covering fighting between forces and SPLA-IO.
Protracted impunity
Two weeks ago, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), said 455 journalists had been killed globally for their work since 2016, and the perpetrators had not been brought to justice.
UNESCO noted that many countries lacked a transparent legal frameworks to protect journalists but had developed frameworks that rather exposed journalists to high risks.
“In many countries, the laws do not sufficiently protect journalists from these threats. And, in some cases, the legal framework actually increases the risk to them,” the statement continued.
“Since 2016, 44 countries have adopted or amended new laws that contain vague language or threaten disproportionate punishments for actions like spreading ‘fake news’, ‘rumours’ or ‘cyber-libel’, leading to self-censorship.”
