February 5th 2020 (Nyamilepedia) – South Sudan government has been urged to respect press freedom days after journalist was arbitrary arrested a tortured in the country’s Western Equatoria state.
Members of South Sudan’s National Security Service (NSS) arrested and tortured journalist Isaac Van on Saturday. Van works for Maridi FM.
“Detaining journalists who are doing their jobs shouldn’t be arrested without clear jurisdiction from the government. Health society is society that allowed her citizens to discuss issues openly without intimidation from the authorities,” the Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA), a Juba-based civil society group, said in a statement extended to Nyamilepedia.
“South Sudan Government does not have [the constitutional] power to arrest journalists according to the September 12th, 2018 Revitalized Agreement on Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS 2018) was signed in Addis Ababa.
“CPA urged the Government to respect the constitutional and international obligations that bind South Sudan to recognize respect, uphold promote and protect freedom of expression including press freedom in our beautiful country South Sudan.
“Attacking, arresting and harassment of South Sudanese journalists will not help us in this country. When journalists are silenced the whole society will remain suffered because they will not be able credible information within the country. South Sudan Government must cease attacks and harassment of journalists, and the East African Community, the African Union and international community have a duty to help underwrite freedom of expression for the people of South Sudan.
“The media also exposes the loopholes in the democratic system, which ultimately helps the government to fill the vacuums of these loopholes and to make the system more accountable, responsive and citizen-friendly. A country without media (active civil society organizations) is like a vehicle without wheels.”
