AFRICA/SOUTH SUDAN - Media concerned about the threats to freedom of expression

Thursday, 14 April 2016 media  

Juba (Agenzia Fides) - South Sudanese media are concerned about the statements of a government spokesman who asked inter alia to "stop direct calls from citizens to express their views on radio talk shows".
The Association for Media Development in South Sudan, (AMDISS), Union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJOSS), Media Women (AMWISS) and the National Editors Forum (NEF) have published a joint statement in which they express their concerns over the statements of the spokesman for the government in Juba,
"Requests such as stopping direct calls from citizens to express their views on radio talk shows amounts to undermining the freedom of expression and media in the Transitional Constitutions of South Sudan" the statement said.
"Warning opinion writers on their views on the political processes such as the 28 new states is another threat to media personnel".
"AMDISS, UJOSS, AMWISS and NEF appeal to concerned authorities to follow the right procedures and encourage the media fraternity to continue in their work to inform, educate entertain the citizens of South Sudan and be watch dogs against abuses in public offices".
South Sudan is going through a delicate phase of transition with the implementation of the peace agreement (see Fides 03/03/2016), which ended the civil war that began in December 2013. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 14/04/2016)


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