South Sudan defends suspension of radio and TV staff members

By Ngor Arol Garang

May 29, 2010 (TURALEI) — Authorities from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services of the Government of South Sudan have strongly defended the suspension of 28 staff members most of which are from the Arabic departments of South Sudan’s radio and television.

This came following reports of the alleged closure of the station by staff members reported to have gone on strike on Friday the 21st of May over the delay of their rental allowances, which coincided with the ceremony of the President of the Government of South Sudan being sworn in after winning the elections in April.

Their strike angered security forces, triggered crackdowns on staff members who participated in a non-violent and non-political strike and resulted in the immediate arrest of eleven individuals.

On Tuesday the 25th of May, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning transferred arrears to the account of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services which subsequently started paying unclassified staff members and initiated the immediate transfer to individual accounts of classified staff members the same day.

The Director- General of Southern Sudan Radio and TV, Arop Bagat, stated in an interview with Sudan Tribune from the regional capital of Juba that the staff payment is confirmed.

He added that “the ministry started paying them the same day, as I did tell you in the previous interview that these arrears will be transferred to the ministry account on Tuesday.”

Asked about the suspension of 28 staff members, he said that the decision suspending ring leaders was reached by an administrative committee in accordance to the public service rules and regulations.

In an attempt to explain the government’s actions, he said ” what do you do to staff members who have gone against public service rules and regulation; even if in your house what do you do to a child who misbehaves notwithstanding care being shown by the family, what do you do to such a child so as to avoid repeating the same mistake or allow other children not behave the same way”, he asked

The Director-General called for their suspension to not be politicized by adding that it is an administrative issue taken by the committee not by individuals; Arop stressed that rules and regulations prohibit taking decisions by employees without giving proper and convincing reasons.

“The decision taken by staff members who participated in the strike was wrong because they knew their money was coming the next day and of course it came as I was the one following all procedures involving the release of their arrears,” he explained.

He however said suspension does not mean dismissal.

“It is an initial administrative step usually taken by a committee pending final decision”, he said revealing that a board of inquiry will again be formed to conduct proper examinations behind the strike.

“A board of inquiry will soon be formed to look into this case and if it finds that they have a ground, they will return,” he said , adding that he hopes all of them will return. The findings of the board of inquiry may come out with recommendations with legitimate ground to return to their duties.

However, a staff member who declined to be named blamed the administration saying that it is infringing upon individual rights to express their anger in addition to delays following the payment of the arrears.

“If there was a proper system of administration, why did it take such a long time to pay these arrears”, he asked.

The staff member questioned the administrative abilities of the ministry, claiming that their reaction was to cover-up their mistakes.

“They do not look at how best to settle in house problems. They are always aggressive and behaving violently as if is the only way to address grievances” he explained.

(ST)