South Sudanese activists have called on National Security Services to free the two journalists remaining in their custody after they released Anisa FM journalist Silvester Ruati on Monday.
George Livio, a journalist for Radio Miraya, and Joseph Afandi, a reporter for El Tabeer, are both being held without charge by NSS. Livio has been in jail since August 2014 while Afandi has been held since December 2015.
NSS released Ruati Monday night after arresting on Saturday in Yambio, the capital of Western Equatoria state.
“The experiences demonstrated by the case of Silvester Ruati are encouraging,” said a statement from Edmund Yakani, the executive director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO). “CEPO hope that same spirit can be applied for the case of Joseph Afandi and George Livio.”
“We will highly appreciate if the two journalists are free now,” Yakani added, noting that CEPO appreciates the cooperation of NSS and the state authorities in “immediately responding” to concerns raised over Ruati’s arrest.
Meanwhile, a group of activists and human rights defenders on Monday called on South Sudan’ ministry of justice as well as UNMISS to intervene for the release Afandi. The activists said in the petition, seen by Radio Tamazuj, that the Government of South Sudan is responsible for any harm done to Afandi.
Separately, CEPO noted that prison officers recently beat Yambio FM journalist Innocent Ngati while he was performing his duties.
Photo: George Livio (L) and Joseph Afandi (R)
Related:
S Sudan National Security release Catholic radio journalist held in Yambio (26 Jan.)
South Sudan National Security arrest radio journalist in Yambio, Western Equatoria (25 Jan.)
UN says National Security breaking South Sudan’s own laws (24 Jan.)