Jonglei governor says committed to free media

By Phil Thon A Deng

July 27, 2010 (BOR) – Governor of Jonglei State, Kuol Manyang Juuk, has said his government will respect freedoms of media outlets and expression stressing he would “do everything” to support flow of information.

Speaking in Bor on Tuesday at media workshop organized by Agency for Independent Media (AIM), Governor Kuol Manyang described the role of media in post war countries like Sudan as a pillar that helps to impart comprehension of rule of laws to the public.

“We cannot succeed without media,” he said of government’s response to public outcry expressed in the press.

“Journalism is…an important organ [in our society] through the information to the people in the maintenance of law and order. It makes people more conscious of their own environment. Information is part of life,” he added.

Jonglei is one of the Southern Sudan’s states with low media coverage given inadequate telecommunications and tattered roads network. Until April 2010, when Radio Jonglei 95.9 FM came on air, Jonglei citizens at home relied entirely on print and online press that are scare given the off-and-on Juba—Bor damaged road limited internets cafes.

The vast-populous State always witness deadly cattle rustling oil-rich State, and nevertheless, grafts international media headlines.

Tuesday through Thursday three training is under the theme: ‘Strengthening conflict sensitivity reporting for local journalists’ and is funded by Pact Sudan with assistant from Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Both independent and government reporters are attending the workshop presided over by AIM Director David de Dau. Students from Dr. John Garang Memorial University of Science and Technology and PACT Sudan and peace commission officials as well as experts on conflict reporting are taking part in the workshop in Garden Resort Hotel in
Bor.

HOT DISCUSSIONS

The main item of the agenda, conflict reporting, has already sparked tense discussions with government officials and news reporters at opposing prospective. As authorities interpret news on conflicts such cattle raid and child abduction as creating hostilities in tribes involved.

The media delegates on the other hand claims that sources of information are cited and it’s, thus, a due of the governments to be responsible and provide security to her citizens.

(ST)