Civil society urges respect for freedom of expression

JUBA – A civil society activist has called on government institutions to respect the freedom of expression.

This comes after Vice President James Wani Igga reminded the institutions to facilitate access to information and the freedom of the media for South Sudan to prosper.

Dr. Wani made the statement on Monday during the swearing-in of Zachariah Joseph Garang the SPLM chairperson in Western Bahr El-Ghazal.

Yesterday, in an interview with City Review, Edmund Yakani, Executive Director Community Empowerment for Progress Organization described Dr. Wani Igga’s statement as impressive and encouraging.

Yakani urged government institutions to adhere to the call made by Dr. Wani.

“It is impressive to see the Vice President Dr. James Wani Igga publically demanding the state institutions to respect and honor freedom of expression and access to information,” he said.

However, the activist said they are skeptical that most state institutions may not adhere to the call.

He alleged that some state governments are engaged in restricting basic human rights to the extent that they normally push their citizens to the corner.

“The concept of marginalization and oppression that we fought against in the past is described by denying citizens the right to exercise their basic human rights responsibly,” Yakani said.

However, on Wednesday, Vice President, Rebecca Nyandeng’s bodyguard reportedly slapped a journalist at Nyakuron Cultural Culture while covering an event to commemorate international youth day in Juba.

Assaulted

Denis Logonyi, a journalist working with Classic FM, said the security officer slapped him because of taking the vice president’s picture using a smartphone.

Logonyi said one of the bodyguards told him not to use his phone for taking pictures and that he and the other journalists should delete the pictures that they took.

“I was just taking the pictures of the vice president when she was getting out, I used my phone then one of the security officers who was putting on a suit came and asked me to show him my ID.

“I showed him a media tag that I was putting on but still, I showed him my ID, but a soldier putting on a uniform came from a distance while quarreling while pointing at me and when he reached close he slapped my forehead,’’ Logonyi explained to City Review in a telephone interview yesterday.

However, according to the earlier media report, the office of the vice president had admitted the incident but said it will not make any comment before the investigation is done.