Correspondent sacked from radio post in Rumbek
December 7, 2008 (RUMBEK) – Manyang Mayom, the Sudan Tribune correspondent in Rumbek, was sacked from his post at the state-owned Radio Rumbek FM-98 after disagreements with a government minister.
Mayom has covered diverse issues in Lakes state, including most recently a power struggle in Rumbek, the capital, between the governor and the speaker of the state.
In July he was beaten with guns by SPLA soldiers affiliated with former militia leaders from outside the state, most of whom do not speak Arabic or Dinka, the predominant local languages.
Mayom was subsequently questioned for Sudan Tribune’s news story regarding his beating. “I told them that I’m a media man and all media people around the world must feel concern about me,” said Mayom on Friday.
In a termination notice to the reporter, Madong William Mading, the director general of the Ministry of Information, Telecommunication, Culture, Youth and Sports in Lakes, cited disciplinary notices dating to 2006.
The Director General stated that administrative measures had been taken against Mayom and he was assigned to cover only “health, commercial and UN agencies activities in the state, but you turned down that assignment for reasons of your own.”
“Recently you have been deeply involved in the reporting of the recent crisis of Lakes state legislative assembly members with their assembly leadership and the executive wing of the government on the other part,” noted the termination notice.
The letter went on to fault Mayom with reporting “things that are not to be reported without your reports passing through the director concerned. This is an indication that you are not loyal to your authority as you do not abide by instructions and directives of your bosses.”
Minister of Information and Communication Agad Chol Mabuong also faulted Mayom for disloyalty to the state government and indicated that she could dismiss more local reporters.
The journalist said that he had been employed as a news reporter in the government since 2005 and not 2006, as stated in the removal letter.
The SPLM Women’s League Chairwomen Mrs. Rebecca Yar Kuc said Friday that “SPLM party must make sure not to discourage the skillful person of media while elections are close to being held.” She also added that she would to raise the issue on journalist Manyang Mayom in the SPLM Lakes state secretariat office.
Sudan Tribune is an independent non profit web site based in France. Its goals are to promote plural information, democratic and free debate on Sudan.
The Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005 grants freedom of the press in the Sudan. Requiring the approval of the government authorities to publish news articles seems to some extent similar to the censorship on the press implemented by the Sudanese security service in Khartoum.
The Sudanese journalists in Khartoum protested last month against the censorship of the press and demanded the national parliament to revise the Press and Publications Law. The ruling party of southern Sudan, SPLM, had supported the move and last Friday its political bureau reiterated its commitment to the freedom of the press and urged its partner in the national government, the National Congress Party, to review the bill before the end of the current session.
(ST)
MANKIND
Correspondent sacked from radio post in Rumbek
Reinstate Manyang Mayom to his position please!
Why are big bosses harassing journalists in SouthSudan?
It is unnecessary to terminate someone’s duty just because of minor disagreement.
How can the South government go forward then.
Ajang Aguer Pageer
Correspondent sacked from radio post in Rumbek
I really wonder which kind of press freedom SPLM demands from the notorious NCP when it is participating in press censorship.
Those ‘bosses’ SHOULD/MUST be removed from their posts because they don’t really know what they are doing!!If political turmoil can not be reported,what else do they want to be reported?In fact those issues like health,NGOS… are all related to politics,thus,reporting on them and leaving the source(politics) of all activies is a sheer stupidity rooted in those who can’t see the realilty of human life in relation to politics.
I hope SPLM is wiser than these rogues who are too insensitive to see what their enviroment entails.If no one is ready to bring Mayom to his right position,I hope President Kiir will take punitive measures against these criminals who fight for positions only instead of carrying out their duties.In addition,they should also be warned that any other kind of harrassment to Mayom or any other journalist is a crime punisahble by law.
Maruon Ayiei
Correspondent sacked from radio post in Rumbek
What is the different with censorship in Khartoum and the one which is imposed on Manyang Mayom of Sudan Tribune in Lake State? Is that absurdity or just poor leadership in Rumbek? I saw some distrubing word like disloyality to his bosses, not loyal to the state. What all this about, a regime like NCP lunatic or bounch of cowheaded in the state. What is going on in south Sudan is one of the weired senario in which they called themselve different from clique in Khartoum. I hope you will not be pleading for help when you are busted in 2009 election. Keep your poor planning foot and enjoy the recipe of that bad leadership. Manyang was an asset to the people of Lake State. He was not creating a toxic environment in the state or was he creating anything contrary to the interest of people. Bad move by Madong and his like.
Mr Famous Big_Logic_Boy
Correspondent sacked from radio post in Rumbek
This is all about the culture of junglese, you have been created with entire spirit of being liars, you always act like your new to the media. Last time BOl was arrested in Juba with his fake newspapers publishing all his own ideas to get with POUNDs now it is this Mayon talking rubbish to the public to gain with more salary. You better stop this spirit otherwise this is why i beleive that, relying on kiir as the man to go for the race in 2009 is just like being directed by a blind or inexperience baby. Arrogance always deserve money.
queen
Correspondent sacked from radio post in Rumbek
The Government of Lakes state is crazy. Manyang Mayom is most powerful journalist who was been speaking out for the truth issues of stupid government of Lakes state. I still request the govt of Lakes to reinstate Manyang back to his position immediately. Manyang is a man of work with aiming vision to New Sudan. Long struggling journalist Manyang Mayom can not be discourage by people of interest in Lakes state. Please Manyang go a head with your work and God is behind you. The government of Lakes state is in beer and the don’t they right.
I appeal to SPLM office to intervence seriou because I see this will ban back to SPLM leadership later. The Information minister must to be wise enough to think twic before mad act. Plesae Mr. Manyang, you daily speak for truth and I need you to go on for truth digging in Rumbek. You increase it more to become hot and hoter against this unsless government of Lakes. the government who fought herself stupidly. the government of Juba also must to look into this case very seriou
thank
Peter
Majok junior
Correspondent sacked from radio post in Rumbek
It is a gross violation of human rights by creating antagonistic environment toward reporters,it seem to be a threat to them not reported the truths.I know it will happened in Lakes because,the justice systems in Lakes state is totally corrupt,however,it’s really unfair to sacked the journalist Manyang Mayom,he was the only reporter who dedicated himself volunteerly to fulfiled the needs and to expressed the rights of his ordinary citizens of Lakes state,by expressing their different perspectives as well as to informed them about what exactly happened to their government,which was the true role of journalism.I wish the government of Lakes state should reinstate Manyang to his position promptly before further strikes.Also,it’s a surprised to hear people like Matoung Willaim to involved into such scandale and political turmoil in Lakes state,he is a good man.All in all,it’s imperative that Manyang must return to his postion by the government as soon as quickly.
By Majok Junior.
wannawilla S M
Correspondent sacked from radio post in Rumbek
To the like of Manyang Mayom, the carrier of journalism is not just writing or release media items any how. there are some journalistic ethics and codes of contacts one MUST abid by.
Those who are talking of FREEDOM of expression, do you know that in UK, if you write against the ROYAL FAMILY, you are in trouble. you can write against the House of Common as a journalist. But never try or just dream to against the ROYAL FAMILY.
So when we talk of freedom of expression, it does not mean that our pen should just write any how without full-stop. So, journalism has got ethics a journalist should follow.
Maker Deng
Correspondent sacked from radio post in Rumbek
It is totally disgrace for the state government to sacked young intellengent men like Manyang Mayom,He has been so good in reporting and all youth of lake state in and out side apperciate his job.Please, inexperience leaders of lake state leave him alone if not you are going to sack many or prisoned more
Wunashuei
Correspondent sacked from radio post in Rumbek
I think this is a good lesson for those fake reporters who called themselves journalists.
I hope Mr. Philip Thon Aleu in Bor has read this article and may be he heard of what happen to Mr. Manyang Mayom. My dear reporters I always disagree with you by one thing only, ‘’reporting without analysis’’. This is only the thing which is lacking from most of the Journalists in Sudan, some will just hurry to air out the news before they think of the impact or implication of the peace of information he is trying to send to the media. I think Mr. Manyang report on SPLA high officers in Malou, spoil the name of one of the High ranking officers in the SPLA Maj. Gen. Malaual Ayom. Rushing to the web with peace of information which has got no concrete evident has put many people to abuse the image of the SPLA and the SPLM as well. Can’t u see how the wrong information can affect the public image or the institution itself. I always go with the democratic Society but I stand with the true democracy which value the right of all institutions as well as individual, that is the true democratic society Southern Sudan journalists should have to marry not just reporting on one side only and leaving the other this will undermine the freedom of press.
So my advice to my fellow Journalists in Sudan particularly South Sudan is that there is no bias in report but they should critically analyses the peace of information they have before they air it out in order to serve the interest of both the Media family and the public as well.
I know many of you will react negatively but please watch out where you are your time will come soon.
God Bless those Journalists who report on reality ground!!!
Thanks