GOSS Minister for Information and Broadcasting has avoided meeting representatives of different media houses operating in Juba on Monday over the media bills that are waiting to be discussed and passed by the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly.
Representatives of different media houses in Juba entered Minister Paul Mayom Akech’s office requesting a meeting over the pending media laws, Sudan Tribune website reported.However, the minister refused to meet them.
Sources from within the office of the minister said Dr. Mayom was taking part in an international telephone conference.
This prompted most media to write hot editorial pages questioning the authenticity of demonstrations staged by the SPLM against repressive and restrictive strategies employed by the NCP.
The media representatives have also called for immediate deliberations and approval of the media bills in their 2008 original version.
The current version of the media laws concentrates the power over the media in the minister’s hands and relegates the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly to a secondary role.