Liberty FM and Bakhita Radio fight censorship in Juba

Marvis Birungi writes...

While my report highlights attacks on journalists over these historic forthcoming national election period, media assaults have been aplenty in the region over many years.

Mr Ashraf Issa spokesperson for UNMIS in Sudan

This is caused usually by officials being ignorant of rules or codes of conduct in post conflict peaceful times. Most people in this country have known more war than peace and in previous years the harsh treatment of journalists in the south meant that the number of journalists dropped dramatically.

A female colleague I recently spoke to, who wished to remain nameless, told me how she was recently abused by soldiers from the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Army (SPLA) for merely talking on her telephone in an event. The soldiers accused her of being a terrorist and confiscated her phone.

Journalists that report on issues of corruption, such as a colleague I know working for sudanvotes.com are often victim to death threats and intimidation. In 2008, Nhial Bol, Editor in Chief of the Citizen newspaper was  detained for more than two days after writing a report on the misappropriation of salaries in the GOSS Ministry of Legal Affairs and Constitutional  Development

Mr Deng Ding, reporter with Khartoum Monitor who was arrested in Juba University covering student demonstrations

Journalists from across the southern states have experienced similar abuse when touching on such such controversial issues, being detained or tortured and then almost always released without charge.

Such events have meant many journalists have looked for work with NGOs instead of risking their lives leaving the last passionate few journalists that remain loyal to their job and country.

Resolving such issues of journalistic integrity, safety and independence is crucial to the future stability and maturing of our fragile Sudanese society. As my report documents, at least these issues are now being debated amongst UN and civil society bodies.