The reason for the arrest of a Catholic radio journalist last Saturday was that his reporting deviated from the government line on what happened in fresh clashes in Unity State, according to a government spokesman.
Government forces have come under threat in the Unity State capital, which once previously fell to rebel assault in April of this year. A top state official was killed in fighting in the city on Friday.
Ateny Wek, the spokesman for Salva Kiir, who commands a faction of the army (SPLA-Juba), defended the actions of security personnel who arrested journalist Ocen David Nicholas.
He said the reason for the closure of Bakhita FM and the detention of the journalist is that the station falsely reported that SPLA-Juba forces instigated conflict in Unity State, rather than SPLA-IO troops, whom he blamed for attacking the state capital Bentiu.
“Bakhita Radio made a broadcast which portrays our forces as if they were the ones who carried out the attack. Our forces are in towns which are being attacked by the rebels,” said the SPLA-Juba faction spokesman.
“It is the rebels which launched the attack and our forces acted in self-defense. They did not go out [of Bentiu] as the report tries to imply.”
He added, “It actually tried to incite the public against the government by making our forces appear as if they do not want to respect the ceasefire agreement while the government has committed itself to bringing peace to this country.”
Meanwhile, the United Nations expressed concern at the arrest of the journalist, saying it was part of a government effort to curtail reporting on the ongoing civil war.
“The Mission notes the increasing efforts to curtail operations of media houses and the work of journalists, covering the conflict in South Sudan, including the forced closure of Radio Bakhita and other impositions of restrictions on freedom of expression and freedom of the media,” said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN Secretary-General.
He urged both the government and opposition forces “to respect the freedom of information and freedom of expression.” He was speaking on Monday in New York.
Catholic radio hopes for release today
Bakhita Radio Director Albino Tokwaro, speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Monday, said he had been denied access to visit the detained journalist Ocen David Nicholas but was given reliable assurances that the journalist was in good condition and had not been mistreated.
He said he was optimistic for the release of the journalist on Tuesday.
Jose Vieira, the head of a Catholic missionary order working in South Sudan and former longtime editor of the Catholic Radio Network, said the National Security director informed the Catholics to expect the release of the journalist on Tuesday.
He said the director said the case was passed to Salva Kiir for him to sign off on the release of the journalist and allow Bakhita Radio back on air.
For his part, Albino also confirmed that he had submitted an apology letter to the National Security Service for the report aired by the station.
Ateny confirmed that the security service received this letter, commenting, “The decision to release the journalist is at the discretion of the security. By submitting an apology letter, they admit their guilt and subsequently waive any right they may have claimed.”
However, the journalist has not been charged with any crime and the 24-hour time limit for the government to either release him or bring him before a magistrate, as proscribed under article 64 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, has passed.
Separately, another senior presidential aide confirmed in an interview on Monday that the journalist’s release could come on Tuesday.
“Let us not magnify this issue. Let us find a way to work with those involved so that it is resolved amicably. I don’t want this to cause unnecessary tension. It can be resolved today or tomorrow.”