Diplomats from Britain, Netherland and Norway are calling on South Sudan’s government to create more space for freedom of expression so that journalists and citizens can talk freely.
The Dutch Ambassador to South Sudan, Geert Geut, says it is important especially at this time of conflict that people want to know what is going on around the country.
‘Every occasion that we get is the need for South Sudanese government to respect the freedom of expression, since they are now an independent country, a member of a United Nations. The membership of the United Nations brings with it the obligation to respect this right’, he stresses.
British Ambassador, Alison Blackburne, says they are all aware of the difficult environment South Sudanese journalists and media houses are working.
She says if freedom of expression is guaranteed and respected, South Sudanese will have ideas to share what is best for their own country.
‘We all support the fundamental rights of journalists and the people of South Sudan to freedom of expression. It is very important to know what is going on in the country and what people are saying about events. It will enable the people of South Sudan to make their own choices and have their own views about the future of the country’, the diplomat notes.
Norwegian Ambassador, Gunnar Andres Holm believes the government is responsible to assure that all rights are observed and respected.
Any democratic society requires a government to respect people’s rights, he adds.
‘If you want a society where the best ideas prevail, its crucial to have that right to allow the exchange of ciews, to criticize and to basically adjust the course’, says Ambassador Andres.
The ambassadors pledge that they are working to support professional media industry in South Sudan.
They urge journalists to be professional in their reporting.
The ambassadors spoke to the media shortly after touring the facilities of the Association for Media Development in South Sudan or AMDISS on Tuesday.