USA, please keep distance from our media laws
By Nhial Bol
January 14, 2011 — As we prepare to celebrate an independent South Sudan, the question on many lips of the people is the possibility of democratization of the world’s newest state. We definitely don’t want South Sudan to follow the Eritrean scenario, a country without a bill of rights. We are happy that domestic colonialism is gone; however there are sign that dictatorship is lurking. Already we are facing a new situation of strange advisors paid by USAID in our legal and media systems; and some of advisors are involved in what we view as internal affairs of our country. US media advisor to our President is already in gear in a move seen to undermine our freedom and security in South Sudan.
South Sudan will be a showcase of USA failed policy because all indicators show that US involvement in our power structures will bring disappointments to the people of South Sudan. We expect the U.S. and all other members of the international community to respect the achievements of our struggle, but already U.S. service companies such as Bearing Point or Deloihe are telling our leadership to ignore our demand for media bills to be enacted into law. The U.S. involvement in the media policies of South Sudan is a wrong start in the wrong direction. We want the USA to pledge respect for our independence and those strange advisors should leave us to handle our affairs. Democracy cannot stand without a strong media and we hope the U.S. advisors who are giving wrong advice should take note that their presence in our internal affairs will one day undermine relations. We strongly urge the U.S. government to withdraw the so called Presidential Media advisor because he is too involved in our laws’ issues.
We are brand new and weak; however we looking to ensure our perpetual existence. We need the media laws to be passed both as a matter of pride and to enable us to promote democracy in our new country. We think the U.S. should distance itself from our internal issues. We are breaking away from the North because we want freedom, not for the U.S. to send advisors to undermine our freedom. Meddling in our internal media issues is sending a wrong signal to South Sudanese journalists about the future relations between us and the USA.
A foreign Presidential Media Advisor is the beginning of unwarranted interference in our internal affairs. South Sudan should not send signals to external powers that we are weak to run the state on our own.
Nhial Bol is the editor in chief of the Citizen Newspaper
Gatwech
USA, please keep distance from our media laws
Brother Nhial Bol,
With due respect to your opinion I think you are trying to shoot down the efforts made by the USA based on unfounded allegations to the contrary.
The US is one of the leading world democratic countries that fully provide freedom of the press/media. It would be an unprincipled move by the USA to groom dictatorship in South Sudan by not importing its democratic principles to the new to be born independent state.
For sure you missed what the USA is driving at: They want to help the South establish good governance with accountability, and of course coupled with all the rights, including to right to free media in South Sudan.
Or may be you know exactly what I am trying to explain to you, but you instead attacked the very democratic change the USA wants to see in South Sudan after referendum. The Presidential media advisor will mean advising the President on the importance of the freedom of the press and existence of laws that guide their activities. It would be unusual for the USA to do the contrary.
What you should understand is that USA is a country whose relations with other nations is based on existence of related democratic institutions in such foreigh countries and that would include South Sudan.
Unless you hate the coming change through the assistance of the USA, you will like their help in pushing the South toward good governance with accountability. Only some “banydits” will not like the change.
Thyinka
USA, please keep distance from our media laws
Some people are not aware than USA relates to other nation based on their political and economic interest and not on the interest of the local population.
I applaud Nial Bol for calling out the so called “Presidential Media Advisor” from USA. If USA relates to other countries based on their democratic principles why do they do deal with Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other hereditary governments or the dictatorship of Hosni Mubarak. Don’t look to the USA to do what is right for you. It is time to leave behind dependency syndrome…USA will not always act in the interest of Southern Sudan against it own economics or political interest.
LL Reuben
USA, please keep distance from our media laws
Mr. Door,
I preciated your kind words sir. I, completely agree with you that my thinking capacity is relatively close to that of an ape or of the cave creature, and thus yours is of the human like. You should be proud of yourself sir for being much superior to the likes of myself. Thanks for those kind words sir. Bring your human brain to South Sudan, don’t waste time where your brain is not valued please.
Thanks once again.