November 5th 2019 (Nyamilepedia) – A South Sudanese women body has condemned what it said is a collective attack on all women’s efforts to participate in the development of the world’s youngest country.
Last Thursday, two female journalists were physically attacked by General Malaak Ayuen Ajok, the South Sudan army’s director of information and public relations while covering a event in Juba.
The two journalists were part of a media fraternity invited by the army to cover the 7th army command council conference held at the army’s headquarters in Bilpam.
In a letter of protest addressed to South Sudan’s army chief Gen. Gabriel Jok Riak, the South Sudan Women’s Coalition for Peace (SSWCP), said the body is aggrieved by the actions of the senior military officer on the journalists doing their work.
The said “the attack of this nature on any one woman as attack on women’s collective efforts to build South Sudan.”
The women group further demanded that the army publicly apologizes for its officer’s act and hold him accountable for his regrettable action.
“We demand the SSPDF to, in fulfillment of a sitting government’s primary responsibility, protect all its citizens, and educate all soldiers about the peace agreement and all relevant human rights treaties, conventions and instruments,” further noted SSWCP’s statement.
