Watchdog warns against torture of journalists after NSS arrests

JUBA, January 6^th 2023 (Sudans Post) – A South Sudan civil society watchdog has warned the government and its security agencies against torturing of media personnel following the detention of six journalists working for the state-own South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) over a viral video of the president.

Kiir – who has been the leader of the world’s youngest country since at least independence from Sudan in July 2011 – was seen wetting on himself in public while commissioning the first phase of the Juba-Bahr el Ghazal highway at Terekeka County of Central Equatoria last month, sparking questions over his health.

On Tuesday, the National Security Service (NSS) operatives arrested at least six journalists working for the state-own South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) over the release of the video to the public and fears of torture of journalists – something not unusual in South Sudan – has masked the media arena in the country.

In a statement this afternoon, the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) expressed concerns and warned the government against torture of journalists and that any ongoing investigation should be carried out in the context of laws without harming the media personnel.

“CEPO is expressing concerns over reports of detention of six journalists working for the SSBC and urges the government concerned authorities to come out to response to these questions, otherwise the incident of mistake to make public the alleged video of the president should be handled with care and should not lead to loss of lives or torture of the journalists,” CEPO said.

Edmund Yakani, the Executive Director of CEPO called on the authorities to treat the publication of the president’s video as mistake without the use of harm to make accountability and urged the government to instate apply what the rule of law says about such incidents.

“The incident should be treated as a mistake without claiming human lives and torture. Let the rule of law applied if the detained journalists are in conflict with the law or intentionally committed that mistake,” Yakani said.

“So, it should be handled professionally within what the law says to this type of mistake if committed. The investigation process should also take into account the family affairs of the journalists in term of family access and taking care of family welfare,” the prominent journalists said.

JOURNALISTS BODY CALL FOR EXPEDITIOUS PROCESS

In a statement this afternoon, the UJOSS called on the authorities to expedite and conclude the investigation process for the detained journalist and said the journalists should be taken to court if they are found to have committed a misconduct.

“UJOSS calls for speedy conclusion to the investigation of the six staff of South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) who are currently in the custody of the National Security Service. The staff are suspected of having knowledge of the release of ‘a certain footage’ to the public,” the body said in the statement signed by its President Oyet Patrick Charles.

“If there is a prima facie case of professional misconduct or offense then let authorities expedite an administrative or legal process to address the issue in a fair, transparent and in accordance with the law,” the statement added.

It further said that the body “will continue to work with other stakeholders including the National Security Service to ensure a good environment for all journalists to foster mutual understanding for the development of South Sudan.”