RADIO MIRAYA JOURNALIST ARRESTED AND HARASSED IN YEI
By Akim Mugisa
November 13, 2010 (Yei) - A senior radio journalist working with Foundation Hirondelle and United Nations co-sponsored Miraya 101 FM radio, Moro Isaac Lokombu was arrested and harassed by the Military Police in Yei on allegations of being a spy for the Khartoum Government on Saturday, November 13, 2010.
Lokombu was on assignment to cover the start of the 2011 referendum voter registration at Yei Freedom Square when he was stopped by a uniformed police officer and taken to a nearby Military Police post.
The antenna of his VHF radio set was broken in the process, as the officers confiscated his UNMIS and Miraya FM identification cards and a writing pad. His explanation of being a journalist fell on deaf ears as the officers continued to label him a Khartoum spy.
According to Lokombu, the UNMIS Civil Affairs Officer in Yei, Kogo Manase, whom he had called to guarantee his identity, was also rejected by Military Police officers on the grounds that he did not look Sudanese.
However, about one hour later, after consultations among themselves, the officers ordered the journalist and Manase to leave but cautioned Lokombu that he had been identified as a spy.
The matter was reported to the Commissioner for Yei River County, David Lokonga Moses, who called (?) for the immediate arrest of Police and Military officers involved in the harassment.
In a brief interview, Lokonga, who chairs the County Security Committee, described the incident as unfortunate, adding that the responsible officer would be disciplined for his behavior. He attributed such cases to the illiteracy of some officers in security organs.
The Commissioner pledged security for all journalists, citing the key role they play in disseminating information to the masses, especially during the ongoing referendum process.
On a telephone line from Juba, Brig. Gen. Malaak Ayuen Ajok, the SPLA deputy Spokesman condemned arresting people without legal justification. He praised the action taken by the County Commissioner, adding that it would serve as a lesson to army personnel, as they are not above the law.
The incident comes hardly three weeks after Malaak, who doubles as Head of Information and Public Relations, challenged security operatives to read and understand the Constitution and other legal frameworks, in order to execute their roles without inconveniencing people they are supposed to serve.
He was speaking during a two day Media /Security dialogue organized by Community Education Action Programme (CEAP) in Yei to establish mutual understanding and good relations between journalists and security personnel.
The dialogue had been organized in preparation for referendum coverage following a number of cases of harassment, torture and detention of journalists in Southern Sudan during the April general elections.
Sudanvotes’ Bonifacio Taban Kuich was among those unlucky journalists, as he was arrested, beaten and detained for thirteen days in Bentiu prison, Lakes State, before being released without charge.
Bonifacio was arrested at Bentiu hospital where he had gone to talk to victims of the clashes that erupted after the declaration of the Governorship election results, with the incumbent Kuol Manyang Juuk winning against independent candidate Angelina Teny.
A senior radio journalist working with Foundation Hirondelle and United Nations co-sponsored Miraya 101 FM radio, Moro Isaac Lokombu was arrested and harassed by the Military Police in Yei on allegations of being a spy for the Khartoum Government on Saturday, November 13.
Lokombu was on assignment to cover the start of the 2011 referendum voter registration at Yei Freedom Square when he was stopped by a uniformed police officer and taken to a nearby Military Police post. The antenna of his VHF radio set was broken in the process, as the officers confiscated his UNMIS and Miraya FM identification cards and a writing pad. His explanation of being a journalist fell on deaf ears as the officers continued to label him a Khartoum spy.
David Lokonga Moses, the Commissioner for Yei River County
According to Lokombu, the UNMIS Civil Affairs Officer in Yei, Kogo Manase, whom he had called to guarantee his identity, was also rejected by Military Police officers on the grounds that he did not look Sudanese. However, about one hour later, after consultations among themselves, the officers ordered the journalist and Manase to leave but cautioned Lokombu that he had been identified as a spy.
The matter was reported to the Commissioner for Yei River County, David Lokonga Moses, who called for the immediate arrest of Police and Military officers involved in the harassment. In a brief interview, Lokonga, who chairs the County Security Committee, described the incident as unfortunate, adding that the responsible officer would be disciplined for his behavior. He attributed such cases to the illiteracy of some officers in security organs. The Commissioner pledged security for all journalists, citing the key role they play in disseminating information to the masses, especially during the ongoing referendum process.
On a telephone line from Juba, Brig. Gen. Malaak Ayuen Ajok, the SPLA deputy Spokesman condemned arresting people without legal justification. He praised the action taken by the County Commissioner, adding that it would serve as a lesson to army personnel, as they are not above the law.
The incident comes hardly three weeks after Malaak, who doubles as Head of Information and Public Relations, challenged security operatives to read and understand the Constitution and other legal frameworks, in order to execute their roles without inconveniencing people they are supposed to serve.
He was speaking during a two day Media /Security dialogue organized by Community Education Action Programme (CEAP) in Yei to establish mutual understanding and good relations between journalists and security personnel. The dialogue had been organized in preparation for referendum coverage following a number of cases of harassment, torture and detention of journalists in Southern Sudan during the April general elections.
Sudanvotes’ Bonifacio Taban Kuich was among those unlucky journalists, as he was arrested, beaten and detained for thirteen days, before being released without charge. In April 2010, he was arrested at Bentiu hospital where he had gone to talk to victims of the clashes that erupted after the declaration of the Governorship election results.
