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Contributor's Opinion

Opinion: South Sudan media freedom is under siege despite peace implementation

By Emmanuel Malual Makuach

South Sudan journalists covering an unknown event in unknown location in South Sudan (File photo)
South Sudan journalists covering an unknown event in unknown location in South Sudan (File photo)

April 4, 2020 (Nyamilepedia) — Media as the watchdog plays a very important role in every so in the world’ largest democracy its role becomes largely important in the history of India media has been recognised as influential, patriotic and trust worthy in socio, economic and political climate of the nation, But with the growth of TRP and paid news environment in recent years the trust over the media has taken a drastic hit, and because of this biggest victim here turns out to be the Indian ethnics of journalism, the foul practice of taking money favours from cooperate houses the media has taken drastic hit, and because of this actions to closed down the newspapers.

Media has the enormous power of influencing the society at large and due to this influencing power they play a huge role in making and unmaking of the government, therefore it wouldn’t completely wrong in saying that the media is very important in modern society, So because of this ability of influencing the society, the media is regulated and controlled by various laws. In people’s rule. the media faces less restriction and enjoys more support as compared to other forms of government, in fact under military rule or authoritarian, the media is not free at all

Freedom of expression is a universal human right. It is not the prerogative of the politician. Nor is it the privilege of the journalist. In their day-to-day work, journalists are simply exercising every citizen’s right to free speech

A free press is fundamental to a democratic society. It seeks out and circulates news, information, ideas, comment and opinion and holds those in authority to account. The press provides the platform for a multiplicity of voices to be heard.

At national, regional and local level, it is the public’s watchdog, activist and guardian as well as educator, entertainer and contemporary chronicler. South Sudan media freedom is under siege barely one month and half which was hope for people of South Sudan will witness what called freedom expression that will allowed free movement of media practitioners to work freely for the better democracy in the country

The most independent newspapers in the country as sources getting information to the public has shut down as part media why some media of newspapers the government to achieved with oppositions by promoting the peace and agendas between the oppositions and the government

The Agamlong newspaper is the independent newspapers is objectives that government of South Sudan government Should discontinuing censorship as one President kiir should achieved many thing that paving the way to establishing new hope for better democracy in south Sudan.

Ethnic tensions, yellow journalism and activism in South Sudan during 7 years of conflicts

But the media activities that followed by many youths in social media as well media mainstreams which promoted in the new media freedoms are being abused to stoke ethnic tensions leverage identity politics to destabilise the country for their own ends.

There are no useful estimates, much less accurate statistics, of crimes against journalists in South Sudan, which ranks 14oth out of 180 countries in the World press freedom index published by Reporters Without Border this year last year, the journalists counted 40 instances of all types unjustifiable arrests detentions, and harassment, as well as the killings of seven reporters.

Back in 2013 during conflicts that opened up south Sudanese previous restricted media space included the freeing detained journalists and bloggers along with an end to the blocking more websites like Sudan Triburne, plus other blogs in the country and forced thousands of journalists and government critics into exiles in neighbouring countries and beyond

Government relationship with journalists was tenuous. There was systematic censorship of reporters, foreign ones were sent packing and a few local ones detained.

The author is a concerned South Sudanese citizen. He can be reached via: malualmakuach77@gmail.com


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