S. Sudan Peace Ambassador deplores slain of Journalist in Juba

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

August 21, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudan Peace Ambassador, Gatwech Koak Nyuon, on Friday condemned the killing of a Journalist in the capital, Juba.

Unidentified Gunmen on Wednesday shot dead a South Sudanese reporter, Peter Julius Moi of The New Nation newspaper, only few days after President Salva Kiir publicly threatened to kill journalists who deemed to report against state.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune, Gatwech urged the government of South Sudan to immediately and thoroughly investigate the case and bring the perpetrators to Justice.

“The death of Peter Julius Moi in Juba is a signal to any individual beings that the Country and its citizens are under life threatening condition” he said.

The peace ambassador accused the government in Juba of repeated failure to carryout proper investigations over previous murder cases committed against Journalists and activists.

“More journalists have been killed and there had been no single tangible report produced related to who killed them,” he said.

and responsibility seriously to hunt down criminals.

Moi, who was shot twice in the back, is the seventh journalist to be killed this year in the conflict hit east African country.

Gatwech commended Media houses, The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the Union of Journalists in South Sudan for their commitment to press freedom despite facing daily threats.

President Kiir’s latest remarks targeting journalists have drawn serious criticism from media freedom groups and diplomats.

CPJ’s East Africa representative, Tom Rhodes said in a statement “The leader of any country threatening to kill journalists is extremely dangerous and utterly unacceptable”

“We call on President Salva Kiir to retract his comments immediately” added Rhodes.

Addis Ababa based political analyst, Abraham Nega told Sudan Tribune, that the murder of Peter Julius Moi was a shocking development in the world’s youngest nation.

Nega said the president’s threat remarks are contrary to freedom of expression and such threats by a leader of a nation will create a climate of fear among the Media people.

Union of Journalists of South Sudan said the killing of the journalist was intentionally and politically motivated.

The South Sudan government is expected to issue a statement to clarify the President’s remarks.

(ST)