World Press Freedom Day comes and goes in Sudan

What is the use of recognising such days in South Sudan, if journalists like Bonifacio Taban still face arrest and intimidation?

Please spend a moment to read some of these texts detailing the rights of international freedoms of the journalist:

"Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers."
Article 19, Universal Declaration of Human Rights

"Everyone has the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers."
Article 10, European Convention For the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms

"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought and expression. This right includes freedom to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing, in print, in the form of art, or through any other medium of one's choice."
Article 13, American Convention on Human Rights

"No people or society can be free without freedom of expression and of the press. The exercise of this freedom is not something authorities grant; it is an inalienable right of the people."
Principle 1, Declaration of Chapultepec, Adopted by the Hemisphere Conference on Free Speech, Mexico City, 11 March 1994

Bonifacio Taban’s arrest of course makes me feel much more uneasy myself in my work, since I am also a journalist reporting about similar situations in the country. I am naturally afraid the same trouble might over take me. But take comfort in the fact that we are not alone. For example in Mexico journalists every day are facing a climate of intimidation, impunity and corruption. This has led to journalists wearing bullet-proof vests and not associating their names with their work. Are we going towards such ways in Sudan? Bonifacio Taban is an example to us all, as to how we must fight for our universal rights. He has written with strength and conviction in naming those who clearly violated his freedom. Read article here

Now those that have infringed the freedoms of Bonifacio Taban over these last 13 days, can you tell us where is the peace and freedom that the CPA has contracted us all to? No wonder the theme of the next World Press Free Day (WPFD) will be "Media Under Fire." And this will be the focus of a UNESCO conference marking World Press Freedom Day 2010. Journalists across Sudan, we must seek and speak the truth, for we are the voice of the voiceless millions. Let us remember all those journalists, editors and publishers who are murdered or assaulted in dozens of countries around the world, not forgetting what our colleague Bonifacio Taban has been through. May we continue our work, to fight for our freedom but more importantly the future freedom of our country.