The chairperson of the South Sudan Union of Journalists in Bor, Jonglei, said they were in talks with the state security to secure the release of Abraham Aleu, the SSBC photographer who was arrested on Wednesday night in connection with the peaceful demonstration in the town.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Friday, Majok Guet said they had already contacted the security agents responsible for Aleu’s arrest, who admitted holding him for coordinating the peaceful demo.
“When we got the information that Aleu had been picked up from his residence three days ago, we immediately sought more information from his wife, and she told us that a joint security team took him away,” said Guet.
He added that they reached out to Aleu’s colleagues, who also confirmed the arrest.
“We also asked his colleagues and some members of the civil society who confirmed the arrest. We have now talked to the authorities and they told us that Aleu was not arrested because of his role as a journalist, but for participating in the protest,” he said.
“They were accusing him of mobilizing people to go to the streets to protest. He is a civil servant working with the state Ministry of Information and is also an SSC reporter in Jonglei,” he added.
Guet said despite their ongoing efforts on Aleu’s release, the security agents did not set any date. “They told us that they are investigating him and would release him after getting the information they are looking for,” he said.
Guet pointed out that Aleu’s whereabouts remained unknown, but urged his family to remain calm as the journalists’ union and all his colleagues engaged with the authorities.
“Everyone is trying their best to ensure that Mr Aleu is released. If they say that he was protesting with the others, then it is a right of a citizen to express themselves, and if they arrested him because of being a journalist, then what should they be covering?” he pointed out.
“There is no ground for not releasing him. He should be released because he has not committed any crime,” Guet said.
South Sudan’s constitution requires detainees to be produced before a court within 24 hours. Despite this, authorities routinely detain suspects for long periods, including during investigations and subsequent trials.
The National Security Service law gives agents broad powers to arrest and detain citizens without a warrant or charge.