UJoSS, the Union of Journalists in South Sudan, said it is satisfied with the current media bills and does not think they should be discussed again.
Last week, the Association of Independent Media (AIM) requested that the three media bills be withdrawn from the Ministry of Justice for all media stakeholders to discuss them afresh.UJoSS director Oliver Modi told SCR News that the bills should be passed in their current form.
He added that the decision was taken in a general meeting organized by AMDISS, the Association for Media Development in South Sudan, where AIM was present.
He wondered why AIM did not consult other media associations before asking the withdrawal of the media bills for another round of public discussions.
Mr. Modi added that UJoSS is satisfied with the content of the three bills that give full freedom of expression of the media and the right to access classified information.
He added that the bills also establish a Media Council that is key to regulate the media in the country.
AIM said in a letter last week that media stakeholders had no knowledge about the contents of the three bills that make the media laws.
The association said the bills had many mistakes.
Information minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin said the media bills are ready and are awaiting approval by the Council of Ministers before they can be taken back to the National Legislative Assembly for enactment.
He added that he will meet with the ministers of Justice and Telecommunications to review the bills before submitting them to the Council of Ministers, possibly next week.