August 16, 2015(Nyamilepedia) — South Sudan’s incumbent president, Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit, threatens freedom of expression in the war-torn youngest African nation.
While reluctantly responding to attend the peace talks in the neighboring Ethiopia, Salva Kiir pledged to demonstrate killing of people one day, one time, with journalists
“And if any body among them does not know that “this country has killed people”, we will demonstrate it one day one time” Said furious Salva Kiir at the Juba airport.
Mr. Kiir was responding to inside information that he believed has been leaked to the concerned groups.
In addition, the embattled president, who is struggling with one of the major insecurity and economic downfall in the continent, is worried of media circulations that media houses and journalists no longer feel safe in South Sudan.
“I was wondering how did the information part to them but this is what I said here, now the people who are letting out, the media, and when you close them down they go and complaint that there is no expression, no freedom and that, but the freedom of press does not mean that you work against the country” Said President Kiir.
Within the last two weeks, major media houses that include The Citizen, a daily English language paper, and the daily Al Rai newspaper were shutdown by the national security.
While journalists are rampantly detained, the accused journalists have to be fired for the shutdown media houses to reopen. Other media houses remain closed.
According to critics, the unprovoked comment was an attempt to silence the media as Mr. Kiir fears new defections and turmoil as a consequence of sacking some of the most influential governors that were announced as he leaves the country.
“Media will always be a scapegoat of poor decisions from leaders like Salva Kiir, the president was trying to scare off the media from covering his new decrees that unconstitutionally sacked people elected governors.” Said Lotiki Jiden, a political commenters.
Five governors were sacked last evening and replaced with military generals and close aid of the president and the army chief.
While Maj. Gen. Akot Deng Akot, the Police Commissioner of Northern Bahr el Ghazal and a close aid to army chief, Gen. Paul Malong Awan, was appointed to the most powerful position in the state, Lieutenant General Chol Thon, the SPLA Deputy Chief of General Staff for Moral Orientation replaces Simon Kun Puoch of Upper Nile State.
In Central Equatoria Ali Juma Malow, the former Commissioner of Terekera Country, Warrap State Deputy Governor Akec Tong and Major General Patrick R. Zamoi replaced Maj. Gen. Clement Wani Konga, Nyandeang Malek Deliech and Col. Joseph Bakosoro, respectively.
1 comment
Its normally happening in South Sudan but sack them without any arrest.