Community Empowerment for Progress Organization or CEPO strongly condemned the arbitrary act by the National Security Services of warning Juba Monitor Newspaper to shut down, arguing that it is an absolute denial of democracy growth.
In a statement CRN obtained on Monday CEPO Executive Director Edmond Yakani reported that the Security Services ordered the shutdown of the newspaper because of publishing two articles that described the fighting as ethnic conflict.
He warned that addressing offence committed by media or journalists should not be by unreasonable decision and that shutting down a newspaper is absolutely violation of the national Transitional Constitution and the media laws.
The Director said CEPO is seriously concerned about security authorities increased suppression of the freedom of expression, registering three cases of human rights violation against media and journalists.
He recalled the detention of the Maridi Community Radio Manager, detention and denial of legal aid to a UN journalist.
Mr Yakani cautioned that the country is facing a lot of political issues that require citizens to express themselves to build trust and confidence among themselves for the sake of peaceful co-existence.
He urged the National Security Services to abolish taking arbitrarily decision against the media and journalists.
The Director called upon the national parliament after their recess to address challenges media and journalists face in South Sudan.