The Juba-based Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) has called for the release of UN Radio Miraya journalist George Livio Bahara from prison for World Press Freedom Day on 3 May.
Livio was arrested in August 2014 in Wau and has been held by National Security Services in Juba ever since.
“In honorable and kindly manner CEPO is calling for the [Transitional Government of National Unity] to unconditionally free the long detained journalist George Livio on the world press day as a symbol of marking the day, also as symbol of championing forgiveness and reconciliation among the South Sudanese,” CEPO said.
CEPO noted that World Press Freedom Day will be the first international event celebrated by the new transitional government.
“The transitional government of national unity have primary obligation to ensure that the press in South Sudan is free from unlawful acts, harassment, intimidation, kidnapping, and closure of media houses,” said CEPO executive director Edmund Yakani.
Yakani said that restricting the press offers enemies of peace a greater chance to manipulate public opinion for their advantage.
CEPO congratulated the press in South Sudan for keeping the public informed. “Without a free press in any society, normal rumors set the narrative for public opinion,” the group said.
Yakani said the last 28 months were a “dark moment” for South Sudan, with the killing of many journalists, closure of newspapers, temporary closure of radio stations, and exile of journalists.
The group said they documented eighteen incidents of harassment or violence against journalists and media in South Sudan from January to April of 2016.