South Sudan minister avoids meeting with journalists over media bill
December 29, 2009 (JUBA) — South Sudan Minister of information and broadcasting service, Paul Mayom Akech, has on Monday avoided meeting with representatives of different media houses operating in the regional capital of Juba over media bill.
The media laws have been the centre of controversies between the press and authorities of the regional government of South Sudan.
On Monday 28, representatives of different media houses in Juba entered minister office requesting a meeting with him over media laws but their demands were turned down.
Reliable sources from within the office of minister said the minister was attending International telephone conference and that gave him no time for talks with journalists without mentioning time he would meet them again.
This prompted most media to write hot comments in editorial pages questioning authenticity of demonstrations staged by Southern ruling party, the SPLM, against suppressive and restrictive strategies employed by the central government dominant party, the NCP, on tackling most sticking points. The media have also called for immediate deliberations and passage of the bill in its originality as per 2008 submission.
Akot John, a South Sudanese freelance journalist, called on activists and civil society organizations to join media fight what he termed as unjust suppression and complete denial of public right to access information.
“The victims of this public denial to information are South Sudanese poor majority. It was about poor majority of the Sudanese particularly South Sudan and the other marginalized people aspiring for justice and better livings which necessitated the formation of the SPLM,” he said.
He said the intention of GOSS leaders to copy and paste northern style of governance is quite foreign in South Sudan.
“As media, in collaboration with other activists and sympathizers, we will not accept anybody govern this region through fear and tyranny as supreme order of the day, he said adding that it is important for government to respect and attend aspiration of her citizens than embracing power of the nation because nations are products of the people movements.”
(ST)
Oduck Bol
South Sudan minister avoids meeting with journalists over media bill
You can complain and complain,but he or they have right to ban whatsoever they do not need public to hear against them. Also,they are the bosses;believe in that. Change your career or keep challenge them,but 80% percent you may fall in their trap.
Take this imply
Others may advice,but the decision is belong to King or (BOSS) alone.
Dinka Boy
South Sudan minister avoids meeting with journalists over media bill
The journalist must learn the code of ethic,and the fundamental ways of prevailing the message to the public.
I know must of this journalists are not well trained,but i really encouraged them to learn beyond their capabilities.
Thanks
Dr.Agany
South Sudan minister avoids meeting with journalists over media bill
Hahahahah Akech doesn’t know what to say because he hasn’t received directives from his so call one boss. Please trace him!! If Goss is allowed to practice tyranny, the whole of southern sudan will be misgoverns. That government is full of notorious and whatever they do should be made public for the benefit of all. All of us are war victims, no single group will be allowed to take advantage over others. I encourage people like Nhial Bol not to fear and leave us to be robbed in daylight! GO ON MEDIA GROUP!! OTHERWISE CALL A GENERAL DEMONSTRATION AND TELL THE PUBLIC OF WHAT IS GOING ON. When a person fear others to participate, then he or she might be covering something that public do not know.
Panda-Oyee
South Sudan minister avoids meeting with journalists over media bill
Bravo SPLM!
Maintain that position of restricting media because we are still in war with Arabs and who knows these journalists can be spying if they are allowed to put their noses in everything.
These journalists must change their career or be patient until 2011 Independence outcome.
M.Cool.J
South Sudan minister avoids meeting with journalists over media bill
But why should Akech do that while as a minister he is assumed to be responsible and welcoming.
Oh!!!He is a dinka!He qualifies to act foolishly and childishly.
These bamboozlers are really failing us!But time will come soon I can see it now.
Time1
South Sudan minister avoids meeting with journalists over media bill
Journaists have to underand that media freedoms means responisbility and professioal work within acceptable behavior of the media, freedom of media does not mean violation of other peoples rights and dignity by the media, be it national or international media, if the media gets freedom but violates the freedom of others then it will not work, there has to be rules and regulations which guides the free activity of the media, this includes human rights and privacy laws, ethics, safeguard of human dignity and culture, factual content and verificaion, provocative and false content reporting, national security and others all make up the rules ad regulations which guide the media development process.
We all want free media in south sudan but it has to be regulated by the ministry of information regulatory body, those complaining media does not mean freedom to act out of law all countries in the world now have media regulations, why should south sudan be an exception?
karl marx
South Sudan minister avoids meeting with journalists over media bill
I hope Mr Paul mayom should a pologised to the media.running away from the journlists wouldn’t solve anything but it will fuel the problems…ministers are there to work for their citizens and media as an eye to them…..if you are innocent then why do you run away…..this tells us is coruption in the minstry.
thanx