S. Sudanese journalist freed after three days in detention
November 16, 2014 (KAMPALA) – A South Sudanese journalist is free after being held in detention for three days in the capital, Juba, after returning from Kenya last week.
Nyuon Ruac a former reporter for the bi-monthly New Nation newspaper was allegedly interrogated and beaten by security forces while being held in an unknown location.
Ruac, who hails from the Nuer tribe, was arrested and questioned by South Sudanese army (SPLA) forces stationed at Jebel Rokon last Tuesday while paying a visit to colleagues at the newspaper’s office in Juba.
He was accused of joining the country’s rebel forces after he fled the country following the outbreak of violence in mid-December last year.
A close friend of Ruac’s told Sudan Tribune he was tortured while in detention before being released on Friday.
An anonymous source who spoke to Sudan Tribune said the journalist’s arrest was a clear signal that the country’s security agency was targeting people based on ethnicity.
“It was very sad when we see group of journalists are being targeted because they belong to certain tribe,” the source said.
Last week, two journalists working with US-based organisation Internews were detained in Lakes state capital Rumbek by national security officials en route to rebel-held areas in Unity state’s Leer.
Internews has several locally sponsored radio stations across the country, including one station in Leer county, that disseminate information on peace initiatives in South Sudan.
The two journalists were held in detention for one day before being released.
According to an official statement from Radio Tamazuc last week, the journalists were lacking the necessary travel permits to enter rebel-controlled areas via Rumbek.
Along with personal belongings, officials in Rumbek seized more than 29,500 South Sudanese pounds (SSP) when the journalists were arrested.
More than 20 journalists, particularly those of Nuer ethnicity, live in hiding in South Sudan due to fears of being targeted by government security personnel.
Some now live in exile in neighbouring countries after receiving direct threats from officials in South Sudan.
South Sudan has one of the world’s worst track records when it comes to press freedom, with journalist routinely subject to arbitrary arrest and detention since the country gained its independence from neighbouring Sudan in 2011.
(ST)