S. Sudan media advocacy group, deplores suppression of media freedom in the country

November 24, 2019 Amnesty International, Newsbeat, South Sudan

Amnesty International condemns repression of press freedom in South Sudan (Photo: Supplied)

Nov 25th, 2019 (SSNN)-The Union of Journalist of South Sudan (UJOSS) has denounced repeated suppression of the press freedom in South Sudan, where journalists are targeted and incarcerated in the line of duty.

In a statement, the Chairperson of UJOSS, Oliver Modi stated that the media advocacy organization, in the past three months, has documented more than 10 incidents of press freedom violations in different parts of South Sudan.

“The Union of journalists in South Sudan has registered more than 10 incidents, which include one case in Tambura, one in Aweil state, one case in Eastern Lakes state, one case in Western Lakes state, six cases in Juba and one case in Yei River State,” the group said.

The head of UJOSS, Modi pointed out
that such incidents have scared foreign and local reporters to cover news stories in South Sudan for fear of reprisals by government authorities.

“These issues have made journalists scared to report the truth and this came at a time where journalists are to be set free to report what is happening in the country more especially on the revitalized peace agreement and also the formation of the government and we need journalists to be free to tell the truth in South Sudan,” Modi stressed.

He called on Kiir’s government to ensure the safety of all journalists and refrain from repressing innocent media practitioners who do not engage in political activities.

“Journalists are not politicians and criminals, journalists are in the front line of development in any country. My call to the government more especially the legislature, judiciary and executive needs to understand that the role of the media has been factored in the transitional constitution but there are people taking the laws of South Sudan into their hands and as a union of journalists,” he added.

“We will not allow these mistakes to continue in 2020,” he said.