Radio Rumbek faces political criticism, operations troubles
By Manyang Mayom
March 12, 2010 (RUMBEK) – Radio Rumbek FM-98, facing staff shortages and other technical shortfalls, was also at odds with the state authority last week over a broadcast by an independent candidate who insulted the SPLM party.
The state-owned broadcaster has had clashes between management and politicians in the past. In 2007, Director James Magok resigned from Radio Rumbek FM-98 and flew to Nairobi after a disagreement with ex-minister Adak Costa Mapuor. He has since returned to management.
Maker is contesting as an independent candidate at Pagoor constituency No. 28 whereas Daniel Awet Akot is contesting in Cueibet constituency No.1 against independent candidate Dr. Amon Mon Wantok Ater as well as three other political parties’ candidates.
Both Joseph Maker Mathiang and Dr. Amon joined to launch insults against Daniel Awet, describing him as failed leader during his past term as Lakes governor. “He messed everything – he still called himself governor of the state when he addresses the public – he threatened all chiefs to vote only SPLM official nominees into power in those two constituencies of Cueibet and Pagoor,” said Maker over Radio Rumbek FM-98 on Thursday evening.
Speaking at a dinner organized by SPLM Lakes state secretariat at Palm-tree hotel, caretaker Governor Telar Ring Deng commented that a “positive step would be taken against Radio Rumbek FM-98,” but Telar did explain what kind of step he would take about state-owned radio.
Governor Ring affirmed “we are not utilizing the law correctly – the National Election Commission law is not practiced accordingly”. He may have been referring to criminal defamation statutes. A top party official, Deputy Secretary General Dr. Anne Itto, also seemed to refer to the issue at the same event. She said that other political parties aim to “waste time in court”.
The incident followed a campaign event held by Daniel Awet in his home area on Wednesday, where he told a gathering of chiefs to educate the public to vote for only SPLM candidates in the forthcoming April elections. Awet asserted to the crowd of chiefs that those independent candidates are not loyal to SPLM and actually they are poor people who would not deliver services — which Joseph Maker objected to seriously. Maker said that “we are not indigent people – we are strong leaders who will serve you correctly”.
Besides political issues, the radio station also faces technical problems, the director of Radio Rumbek FM-98 conceded in an interview with Sudan Tribune last week. James Magok said that his management lacks staffing to cover all duties of radio programming. Only 37 staffs are serving the station for both radio and television broadcasting and “lack of transport has also become another headache,” he said.
In March 2, 2010, Magok suspended presenter Mabor Riak Magok over what he describe as a “quarrel with a new employee”. Mabor’s suspension amounted to one month without payment. Some state ministry officials criticized the move as unlawful.
Last year, Radio Rumbek went off-air due to what the director described as a technical problem with the transmitter – it was announced that it would be off air more than 45 days but later on the Lakes state Advisor for Peace and Reconciliation intervened putting more pressure and the radio station was back on air before the 45-day deadline. The SPLM Lakes state secretariat described that 45-days suspension as an effort to sabotage its political mobilization campaign phase.
Magok defended himself saying that Radio Rumbek has many challenges such as lack of professional studio equipment and lack of staffs training capacity. The BBC World Trust held a training in Rumbek as well as Sudan Radio Services (SRS) did the same on basic information.
Government officials and the public have criticized the daily radio programming for not meeting the general interest.
(ST)
James John
Radio Rumbek faces political criticism, operations troubles
I don’t understand why SPLM/A are carrying????
Dinka Boy
Radio Rumbek faces political criticism, operations troubles
SPLM/A oyeee.
Time1
Radio Rumbek faces political criticism, operations troubles
The other problem is south sudan media or journalists, they really do not know their duties, journalists should understand what their rights and duties are, also a journalists should be smart and not involve in political rivalry or taking sides, just be neutral and air or report what is going on with evidence or proves, so incase anyone crys out then they can verify their claims, also the media like Radio should use this opportunity to educate the listeners, politicians, law enforcement and general population at large in their daily programs, they have to bring issues and programs that talks about human rights, civil rights in terms or elections, questioninng their MPs and representatives, social rights, youth and women rights, this is how the people will learn their rights, but you cannot preach about rights and democracy by spreading rumours, insults, critism and so on, you will only lead yourself into more problems and not be able to achieve your object accordingly. the journalists need to look into themselves and the country and say to themselves, what is their mission really as media people, to cause more trouble and hatred or to help rebuild and country and enlighten the people?