Lawyer decries lack of freedom for journalists

A senior advocate has decried the hostile environment in the country in which the journalists operate.

Issa Muzamil says there has never been justice for the media operating in the country, adding every activity of the media was supposed to be overseen by the media authority according to the Media Authority Act.

Muzamil was speaking yesterday during a roundtable discussion on human rights that brought together several activists and journalists in Juba.

The discussion was focused on the freedom of expression and access to information for media practitioners.

He said the media authority was supposed to have a legal department that defends the journalists in case one is taken to court.

 “This department is not established. So, in this aspect, what guarantees us terms of accessing justice? there is no justice for the media,” he said.

“You have a specific law called the Media Authority Act that says everything to do with the media must be resolved with the Media Authority,” he said.

Several harsh laws governing journalists in the country have been reduced over the past few years, although some of the changes are yet to be affected.

The government signed into law, the Media Authority Act in 2013 and the Right of Access to the Information Act in 2014.

These provided the legal framework for the promotion of press freedom and access to information in the country.

Muzamil said there was also a need for assurance from the police, adding the police do not have any idea of what is happening in the parliament and they stick to the law they trained on while in the college.

“When we talk of guarantees, we must also talk about discrimination and deformation. Is there a guarantee that when you express yourself you will not be looked at in the police station?” he posed.

“The law says a media practitioner should not be arrested for criminal defamation but rather should be taken and civilly forwarded to the Media Authority, the police will still come and open a criminal case against you and issue an arrest warrant if you defame somebody,” he said.

The Head of Field Office in Juba Central Equatoria  State, Geetha Pious, said it was important for South Sudan to implement the peace agreement that is leading to the elections.

 He said the right and freedom of expression must be respected during the discussions in the constitution-making as well as the elections.

“The journalists and activists are the mirrors of the communities; they bring the rights of the community to the lawmakers so this is where we thought that it is important to organize an interactive workshop is important,” Pious said.

South Sudan is among the five countries that accepted to implement the United Nations plan of action on the safety of journalists. However, this year, the country has been ranked number 138 out of 150 in the list of countries with the most dangerous environment for journalists to work.