The head of the Union of Journalists in South Sudan (UJOSS) is calling on the Jonglei State authorities to allow Radio Jonglei 95.9 FM to operate, condemned the closure by the National Security Services (NSS) as ‘interference. ‘
On Friday, Radio Jonglei 95.9 FM, a community radio station in the state capital, Bor town, was shut down by NSS, and three journalists were briefly detained.
According to the station management, the NSS operatives closed the station over suspicion that they support the People’s Coalition for Civil Action (PCCA) calls for nationwide protests scheduled for August 30.
Oyet Patrick told Radio Tamazuj Sunday that the closure is illegal.
“The Media Authority is the regulatory body of the government in as far as the media affairs are concerned. So, in case anybody has an issue with a media house they should report to the Media Authority but not for anyone to storm the media house, close it down, arrest or interrogate journalists,” he said.
He called on the state government to allow the radio to operate as it serves the people of Bor.
“As UJOSS, we are really concerned because our journalists there are not able to access their workplace. And that is why we are calling on the government to allow the radio station to operate, and if there is any issue, it should be left to the Media Authority to address,” he stressed.
A prominent Bor activist, Bol Deng Bol, also echoed the UJOSS calls and condemned the NSS action as an attack on press freedom.