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.

Former governor Daniel Awet Akot, who is contesting for a seat in the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly, was insulted by independent candidate Joseph Maker Mathiang over the radio programme. This prompted criticism of FM-98 at an SPLM leadership event.

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)