Unity State fires Radio FM journalist after 13 days of detention

May 13, 2010 (JUBA) — Authorities from oil rich state of Unity have fired Radio FM journalist, Bonifacio Taban after 13 days of detention in Bentiu State Prison, without charges.

On Friday, 23rd April, Bonifacio Taban Kuich was arrested while covering the general protest across Bentiu town, following the announcement by the State High Election Committee and the National Election Commission (NEC) that the SPLM incumbent caretaker governor, Taban Deng Gai, had won the gubernatorial election against his main independent rival, Angelina Teny.

During the demonstrations two people were reported shot dead by security forces and several others seriously wounded, one later died in hospital, adding the dead to three in number.

Bonifacio was briefly detained at Bentiu Teaching hospital before being released for another detention which lasted for 13 days connected to coverage of the killing of four Angelina Jany Teny supporters on Friday 23rd April 2010 in Bentiu, after the NEC announced elections result in favor of incumbent Governor Taban Deng Gai.

Explaining how he was arrested, he said he decided to investigate the story involving death of the four people through those who survived the shooting at Bentiu Teaching Hospital where the other injured demonstrators were taken. Just some three hundred meters from radio station, so I could try and get firsthand accounts of what had happened at the demonstration.

At the doors of the hospital he was met by the guards, who gave him permission to enter after he showed them his equipment and Bentiu FM journalist ID, he said.

On reaching the ward where the injured were being treated, I took my camera out to take some pictures of the patients with their permission but this angered a medical doctor, Sabina, in charge of the hospital to take away camera with recorder and handed them over to security personnel. Although other medical staff present pleaded Dr. Sabina explaining that “I was authorized to work as a journalist and that I was well known by the hospital staff, she defiantly ignored voices of the workers and called security apparatus to detain me for an hour in one of the hospital rooms”.

While he was detained, the Director of the local radio, Mr. Mamuon Diew Kai from Bentiu FM called him to find out where the journalist was. Bonifacio just managed to tell him about his detention, before his telephone was confiscated. .

“Immediately my Director sent some of my colleagues over from the station to assist me, and I was taken without my equipment back to the radio station. On seeing my Director, I told him what had happened and he instructed (xxxx), one of my colleagues to take responsibility for my equipment,” he said.

Bonifacio alleged that later he found out that Mr. (xxxx) was also working “as security agent for Taban Deng Gai,” he explained saying he went home that evening, shaken from the experience, but safe back with my wife and family.

In the following morning, Saturday 24th April 2010, when he went to the office at 10am to find that the Governor’s security had arrived waiting to arrest him. They drove him to the State Security Headquarters.

“It becomes apparent that my colleague (xxxx) had taken the equipment and camera to Governor Taban Deng to show him the pictures I had taken of the wounded demonstrators;” he said adding this had angered him in reference to Governor Taban to authorize his arrest.

While in detention, the journalist was interrogated about with whom he worked and he gave Radio Bentinu and Sudan Votes website

“Then they asked me again without believing my response and started to beat me on my knees and my buttocks. There was no need for talking to them and once they had beaten me, they threw me back in the cell and poured water on me, leaving my clothes and cell floor covered in water.

“This beating and interrogation went on for 13 days and it was usually during the evening hours that I was ever taken out for interrogation. In my cell were four other inmates, two of whom were accused of murder,” he explained.

Appreciating those who came to his aid while in prison for release, he said he would have not been released if it was not courage from his family and humanitarian assistance from UNMIS, Amnesty International and Sudan votes.com.

“Without the help of my family, UNMIS, Amnesty International and sudanvotes.com, I might not have come out to tell you this story today. I want to particularly thank UNMIS Human Rights Officer Pilar Cuesta and Mr. Kwame who were persistent in talking to Mr. Maduk Dau, Chief of Police in Unity State to demand my release,” he said.

The journalist said his detention was clearly politically motivated, as he had all the appropriate permissions to work as a journalist in Bentiu Hospital where he had worked many times before.

“The political nature of my arrest was confirmed by Mr. Maduk Dau, Chief of Police who told UNMIS that my arrest was at the request of the Governor, due to “exposing his bad corrupt leadership to the world,” he said.

“On Monday 10th May, 2010, I went to Bentiu FM office to continue my duties but I was told I had been dismissed effective from the day of my arrest, he said stressing that independence of the media in Unity state is still beyond our reach. I am yet to receive back my trade tools of camera, notepad and video camera, and still I am receiving death threats from high ranking security officials in Unity State.”

We, as South Sudanese, are told that our Government is here to protect and fight for our rights. But my experience has proved very different. I have no quarrel with the SPLM; I want to simply uphold my right to work as an independent journalist in Southern Sudan, he emphasized.

(ST)