A South Sudanese veteran journalist nominated for 2016 Prize for Press Freedom by Reporters without Borders says rampant arrests of journalists by security personnel in the country show a clear failure of the Media Authority.
Alfred Taban challenges the Media Authority enshrined by law to supervise the work of journalists to wake up from sleep to end arrest and harassment of media practitioners.
Taban wonders why security personnel are harassing journalists without intervention of the Media Authority that is supposed to supervise media operations.
Taban who is also the Editor-in-Chief of Juba Monitor Newspaper challenges young journalists to be courageous in doing their duties and standing firm for their rights.
Alfred Taban was arrested and detained for 13 days in August this year.
He was later released without court charges.
His arrest was linked to his popular column: ‘Let Us Speak Out’ on Juba Monitor Newspaper.