Juba media managers are scared that they may be the next victims after security forces raided The Citizen newspaper on Sunday.
Jos√Ö¬Ω Vieira, Sudan Catholic Radio News Editor, tallied the incident with the Khartoum intelligence services that have the reputation for visiting opposition and independent papers to demand articles be removed.He said the SPLM claims to be in an upper moral ground in freedom of expression and democracy but in reality it is copying Khartoum’s ways.
Mr. Vieira called for the media laws to be quickly passed. He noted that security officials should be under the law adding that they should identify themselves before taking any action.
Media activists warned of continued security attacks if the law does not step in as soon as possible.
David Dau is the executive Director of the Agency of Independent Media (AIM). He said he regretted the incident.
Mr. Dau qualified the security forces’ act as a serious attack on the freedom of speech and a sad start for a new nation.
The incident with The Citizen was not the first attack on the media and journalists believe it will not be the last.
Several disturbing reports of intimidation have been recorded by AIM over the last years.