Security operatives arrest several staff of Southern Sudan Radio in Juba
May 22, 2010 (JUBA) – In a surprising move on Friday, the day the elected President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit, was sworn in, security operatives stormed the Southern Sudan Radio station and arrested seven staff members for allegedly leading the recent strike.
Speaking to Sudan Tribune on phone, one of senior staff who was present at the radio station during the time of the arrest said the seven arrested are members of the ten-member committee set up earlier by the staff to follow up with the GOSS ministry of information and the ministry of finance on the delayed payment of their 12-month arrears of housing allowances.
He said the arrested staff were forced into vehicles on Friday by the security personnel who took them to unknown location. He added that the security personnel were still looking for the other three members to arrest them too. Tanks were even rolled around the radio station to scary the staff, he said.
On Tuesday, Southern Sudan Radio and TV were briefed by the committee about the failure of the ministry to pay their 12-month housing allowance from 1st January to 31st December 2009 despite the intervening directive from the office of the President to pay the said arrears.
That meeting, according to him, resolved to effect the sit-in strike from Wednesday during which staff should report to the station at 8:00AM but do not work until 5:00PM when they go back home. However, Southern Sudan TV did not take part in the strike and continued to broadcast, probably fearing the reaction of the government.
Most of Southern Sudan Radio staff effected the strike and did not take part in the inauguration ceremony of Salva Kiir which was supposed to be broadcasted live on radio. “This has angered the security personnel who could have been directed by the ministry,” said one staff.
“But they have unfortunately reacted emotionally and dictatorially by arresting our staff instead of taking into consideration the cause of our grievances that led to the strike,” he lamented.
Our committee members should be released and our grievances looked into, he said.
(ST)
Mr Famous Big_Logic_Boy
Security operatives arrest several staff of Southern Sudan Radio in Juba
Backwardness is the issue in South, threat to the media is one of the worse logogram ever. Why can’t people grow up and make use of law properly. All Arresting, killing, abduction, looting, murder, land grabbing, rapping, attack, ridding and rubbish. Where is the real government for people in South Sudan?
julius mowanga
Security operatives arrest several staff of Southern Sudan Radio in Juba
Lately,the minister of Information and Broadcasting urged the journalists not to involve in politics,but they have to stick to their jobs’ demands only through their Union.Today we see the reversal stance by the same Minister,peresecuting the TV and Radio staff,what a chamleon!!!!
Welcome to the world of SPLM/A-GOSS Dictatorship……
babadit
Security operatives arrest several staff of Southern Sudan Radio in Juba
I think those staff members of Radio juba should be fired out from there, they brought a disgrace to the gov’t of south sudan over small isusse that can be solve within an hour, they did not attend president’s innogration which is sedetion
Gat nyaraan
Security operatives arrest several staff of Southern Sudan Radio in Juba
i find it really amusing
How in the world do a government go bully its own employees with tanks and guns? Oh because they demand for their allowances and arrears not paid for full year(1 Jan to 31 Dec 2009).
what will be the government defend for this silly measure if people ask?
king
Security operatives arrest several staff of Southern Sudan Radio in Juba
What a government? As the put it in this article, tanks were ever roled into the Southern Sudan radio station to scare employees. The GoSS is abussing it power and they are discrediting themselves in the eyes of international communities. You can’t use tanks on civilians. That is really sickening. I bet international community are going to ban or bar GoSS of buying more deadly weapons like tanks because simply they don’t know how to use them other then abuse them. You see now how they putting themselves into corner that will be difficult for them to come out. Someone who order this operation should be fire or resign period. This GoSS become terrorist of it own people. What a crook government.
R. TOOL
Security operatives arrest several staff of Southern Sudan Radio in Juba
Allowances is gift not a salary. If they go on strike because of their salaries being low then I am with them. These people haven no right to go on strike, because allowance is freebies. However, if they go on strike they need to be fired immediately.
As for this loser Athor, he will die useless dirt bag, I have no respect for some one who kills innocents people. The Arabs had kill 2.5 millions southern, and this idiot is adding more bodies into the count. He will rot in hell.
Kur William
Security operatives arrest several staff of Southern Sudan Radio in Juba
Please I don,t think there is a need for tanks to scary the radio staffs. you just act like conventional army then to desereve that such allegatiom that you are not trained like adefences army.
okucu pa lotinokwan
Security operatives arrest several staff of Southern Sudan Radio in Juba
The South Sudan radio staff,should follow the correct channel for their right,the house allowances you have right to,but not to get it through strike.Since your president is the one who gave it to every staff in every ministries.
During the rule of he NCP party in the south Sudan,who will go on strike in claiming his/her right in the south Sudan,brothers and sisters let us respect this new government of ours,if our president issued adecree again in taking away the house allowances who will said not?.Please work hard to developed your country than money minded staff.
Sudan virus
Security operatives arrest several staff of Southern Sudan Radio in Juba
The top radio operators in south Sudan/high executives are all pro unity bribed by Bashiir’s NCP.
The security personnel should take note of that and act accordingly.
Please, radio operators act responsibly.