Reporters Without Borders call for Sudan Tribune journalist to be freed
November 8, 2011 (JUBA) – Press freedom group Reporters Without Borders on Tuesday became the latest human rights organisation to campaign for the release of Sudan Tribune journalist Peter Ngor Arol Garang and another journalist Dengdit Ayok.
In a statement Reporters with Borders (RWB) said that the ‘arrests highlight the difficulties of working as a journalist in South Sudan and the risks that media personnel run in this young country, in which no law protects them.’
‘We call on the authorities to free Garang and Ayok without delay and to quickly pass laws that regulate the work of the media and protect journalists from arbitrary imprisonment of this kind.’
As no formal charges have been made against the journalists and no extension sought in a South Sudan court, their detention beyond 24 hours is illegal.
Also on Tuesday, the Association for Media Development in South Sudan (AMDISS) issued a statement saying they were ‘very concerned’ that the National Security Services (NSS) had shut down the Destiny newspaper, which Ngor and Dengdit edit, ‘without any recourse to ‘due process’ for handling press and broadcast complaints.’
The AMDISS statement urges the security services ‘to respect and operate within the rule of law, and further urges the Government of South Sudan and the National Legislature to prioritise passing overdue media legislation bills to protect press freedoms.’
The arrests of the journalists is believed to be due an article published by Ngor in the Destiny criticising South Sudan’s president Salva Kiir for allowing his daughter to marry an Ethiopian man. The article was written by Dengdit.
In a press release today Sudan Tribune said that although it did not share ‘the sentiments of the article, we strongly defend Ngor and Dengdit’s right to freedom of expression and the independence of the media.’
Neither journalist has had access to legal counsel during their detention online petition created by Sudan Tribune calling for the two journalists to be freed had been signed by over 360 people.
The Committee to Protect Journalists‘ East Africa Consultant Tom Rhodes on Monday 7 November said it was “alarming to see the world’s newest nation already arresting journalists under vaguely worded accusations.”
South Sudan became independent in July as part of a peace deal that ended decades of civil war. Individual freedoms, including freedom of expression and the media were some of the stated aims that the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) – now South Sudan’s ruling party – fought for.
A report in September by CPJ found that journalists in Africa’s youngest nation fear that, “the former rebels turned government officials still harbor a war mentality that is unaccustomed to criticism, and they are not prepared to extend the freedoms they fought hard to attain.”
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PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION ASKING FOR OUR COLLEAGUE NGOR GARANG TO BE RELEASED AND PASS THE LINK ON TO YOUR FRIENDS AND CONTACTS.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/release_ngor_garang/
Press Releases:
Reporters Without Borders – Authorities urged to free two journalists and reopen their newspaper
AMDISS – AMDISS Regrets Arrest and Detention of Destiny Editors
Amnesty International – Urgent Action: Two Journalists Arrested in South Sudan
Committee to Protect Journalists – South Sudan security detains two journalists
CEPO – Juba: Freedom of Expression should prevail
Sudan Tribune – Sudan Tribune calls for South Sudan to release journalist
Media Coverage:
Sudan Tribune – Amnesty International joins calls for the release of Sudan Tribune journalist
Sudan Tribune – South Sudanese journalist released, two remain in detention
Sudan Tribune – Human Rights Watch call for release of Sudan Tribune journalist
Sudan Tribune – Sudan Tribune journalist arrested in Juba
Sudan Tribune – Sudan Tribune launches petition for release of journalist]
PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION ASKING FOR OUR COLLEAGUE NGOR GARANG TO BE RELEASED AND PASS THE LINK ON TO YOUR FRIENDS AND CONTACTS.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/release_ngor_garang/
Ker.
Reporters Without Borders call for Sudan Tribune journalist to be freed
by the way, what is the real name of Kiir’s government?
dictatorship,totalterance,monrchky or democratic?
do we have the constitution in the country or not?
does kiir really knows the job description of journalist?
i can not belame kiir for his irresponsible behaviors but the so called advisers are to be held accountable should anything happen to these poor journalist
what a fake advisers!!!!
okucu pa lotinokwan
Reporters Without Borders call for Sudan Tribune journalist to be freed
The two Journalist are for correction,why to write on the marriage which is not your business being a journalist does not mean you can write on everything.But think frist and write,this for your correction no worry
OKUCU PA LOTINOKWAN
Mayar
Reporters Without Borders call for Sudan Tribune journalist to be freed
A good journalists are those who get down to the bottom and bring us news, it doesn’t matter what they write. Provide that it’s well written, reasonable, well documented, interested for us to read. Man get things right, who care whether Sudan tribune is for north. Is not like it is TITLE N SUDAN. S. Sudan, N sudan.. we all have sudan in it…
Ahmed Chol
Reporters Without Borders call for Sudan Tribune journalist to be freed
Kiir and those in power in the south will face mass uprising if they continue to behave like Arabs among us. They are doing what what Khartoum was doing, imprisonment.
The freedom of press in the constitution is being violated here.
If Kiir doesn’t want his name to me mentioned in the press, then let him get out of the public office.
Ahmed Chol, whatever begins in anger ends in shame