The executive director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), in a press release on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, urged the government of South Sudan not to stifle press freedom.
Edmund Yakani said on World Press Freedom Day, governments and other stakeholders should take time to respect and honor press freedom.
“CEPO would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all actors in the press and wish them success in utilizing press for nurturing peace and stability for better human and societal growth,” the statement read in part. “CEPO is alerting state authorities that press freedom plays a greater role in fostering societal, political and economic gains for a better future if it is honored and respected.”
“Restricting press freedom unlawfully or undemocratically has direct links in nurturing citizens to view the state as an enemy. My experience as a human rights activist has shown that restriction of press freedom is a great player in mobilizing citizens to be enemies of the state,” he added.
He said that many governments that were involved in unlawful or aggressive legal restrictions on press freedom have lost economic and political stability.
“The price of restricting press freedom is more expensive than the price of embracing press freedom,” Yakani cautioned. “Removing a single article or closing media outlets unlawfully contributes effectively creating opposition actors. Any unlawful state control of press freedom is a direct call by the state for some citizens to rebel against the state. The Arab spring is the clear example.”
He urged the authorities to embrace press freedom because it directly contributes to economic and political gains.
The world commemorates 3 May as World Press Freedom Day.