The Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference on Monday said it was “unfortunate” that the South Sudanese government closed Bakhita Radio, “the voice of the church” in the nation’s capital city Juba, and detained the station’s news editor.
Secretary-General of the Bishops’ Conference Fr Jacob Odwa said that the church is seeking dialogue with government to agree on resumption of the station’s operations.
Security agents on Saturday confiscated the key to the premises of the radio station. They continued holding the key on Monday and also kept the station’s news editor in detention for a third day, sources told Radio Tamazuj.
Fr. Odwa said the government should bring its concerns through an appropriate forum, rather than closing the ‘voice of the church’ and detaining the news editor Ocen David Nicholas.
South Sudan’s National Security Service last Saturday stormed Bakhita Radio station in Juba, shutting it down, arresting several journalists. All were released on Saturday except the editor who had presented the Saturday morning news.
The government objected to the inclusion of an opposition viewpoint in the morning news bulletin.
Related:
South Sudan’s president skips Mass after shutting down Catholic radio station (17 Aug.)