S. Sudan journalists prevented from attending independence celebrations

July 8, 2011 (JUBA) – Members of the press in South Sudan say they are being prevented from attending Saturday’s independence celebrations by bureaucracy and corrupt officials.

Officials from the ministry of information and broadcasting service of the government of South Sudan on Friday denied complaints from members of the local media that government officials acting in collaboration with security organs have placed bureaucratic procedures over procedures surrounding access to press cards.

Journalists in Juba have complained to Sudan Tribune that South Sudan’s security services have been put in charge of issuing press cards for the region’s July 9 independence celebrations.

“The government officials have decided to place security organs in the center of press cards. These are people with few words. They do not cooperate. They only ask two words. Have you have registered. Show us your ID card (identification card), and if you take second to produce it, they push you out. They are rude and unfriendly”, said Moses Duku, a reporter for English daily the Khartoum Monitor.

Duku claimed that he and four other colleagues were not issued cards despite the fact that they have registered including have been the first to appear at the premises of the public information center.

“I remember that I was among the first few journalists to register on the fourth of July, 2011 and I was also among the first journalists to come here this morning with all my documents.”

“There was nothing which I did not produce”, he explained, calling on the ministry of information and broadcasting service to immediately intervene by discouraging security organs from placing repressive and bureaucratic procedures.

Ater Garang Ariath, a journalist who reports for the Juba based daily English The Citizen, said he too experienced difficulties in getting press card to cover the Independence Day.

“I have been here before these offices were opened and yet I have not gotten any [press card]. They said they have given all cards to our managing director and that I cannot be given again, he said, explaining that only three press cards have been given to their newspapers on the basis of seniority.

“Can you image that only three cards have been issued to over 15 reporters of us who reports for The Citizen”, said Ariath. “They gave only gave Nhial [Bol]”, referring to his editor in chief and two other colleagues, while complaining that the system was corrupt.

“The organisers spoiled everything. They refused to give cards to journalists who would cover the event. They are giving cards to friends and relatives. This is corruption”, argued the visibly angered journalist.

The media made complaints against restrictive procedures as the capital of the new nation of the Republic of south Sudan is increasingly receiving members of the press from various countries invited to attend celebrations of the new independent nation on July 9.

Officials from the ministry of information deny placing restrictive measures to members of the press seeking cards, arguing that the government of South Sudan promotes a free press.

“We do not restrict media from accessing cards if they have valid identifications and if they have registered,” said Gabriel Ayuen, who said works at the public information center.

“I work here as you can see. I have been since morning. I did not even go for lunch nor did I take any breakfast since I started issuing press cards”, he said.

Ayuen, however, said he had heard “unnecessary complaints” since press cards began to be issued.

“Some of them even decided to misbehave. They decide enter our office by force without cooperating with guards. A lot of them came asking for press cards even those I know have never been members of the media”, he said.

“We only had problems with people who did not apply at the time a public note was made. A clear and precise public note was made and circulated. In the note we asked all media houses in Juba to come for registration at the public information center office but only few of them came for registration. So these are the people making these complaints”, he said.

South Sudan, despite having its own government since 2005 has no clear press laws and journalists are often harassed by security services. In June the editor in chief of The Citizen Nhial Bol says his life was threatened by police over his criticism of the South Sudan’s interim constitution.

(ST)