Media and security agents should work together to build the nation and uphold human rights principles in new country.
Media Consultant Paul Jimbo told CRN News that today’s dialogue between media and security representatives in Juba aimed at building understanding and reaching a consensus from both sides to collaborate and promote security and human rights in South Sudan.He said the dialogue will provide an opportunity to security agents to voice grievances against journalists and explain their negative attitudes towards freedom of expression.
Mr Jimbo added that the bottom line is to establish a working relationship between media and security sectors, each recognising the role the other plays to develop South Sudan.
AMDISS Secretary General Hakim Darius Moi said there were already many meetings to promote dialogue between security and media agents to establish a relationship based on the rule of law.
He explained that the law which should define the relations between media and security are the media bills yet to be passed.
Dr Moi decried the continuous arrest of journalists including The Citizen newspaper Chief Editor, Nhial Bol, and two journalists from The Destiny.
Dr Moi questioned the law used to keep under arrest The Destiny newspaper’s journalists without charges.
He asked what due process law offers to their protection.
The Dialogue Forum between Security Services and Media was organized by AMDISS, the Assocaition for Media in South Sudan in collaboration with the Norwegian People’s Aid, International Media Support and UJoSS, the Union of Journalists of South Sudan.