SOUTH SUDAN: Diplomats urge government to create more space for freedom of expression
Diplomats from Britain, Netherlands and Norway are calling on South Sudanese government to create more space for freedom of expression so that journalists and citizens can talk freely.
Addressing the media on 1st, May, 2018, after touring the Association for Media Development in South Sudan (AMDISS), Dutch Ambassador to South Sudan Geert Geut, stated that it is important especially at this time when the country is going through series of conflict that members of the public are made aware of what is going on in different parts of the country.
“Every occasion that we get is the need for South Sudanese government to respect the freedom of expression, since they are now an independent country, a member of United Nations. The membership of the United Nations brings with it the obligation to respect this right,” he stressed.
Speaking at the same time, British Ambassador Alison Blackburne, revealed that they are all aware of the challenges that the South Sudanese journalists and media houses undergo in the endeavor to execute their duties of informing, educating and entertaining the masses.
Blackburne said that, if freedom of expression is guaranteed and respected, South Sudanese will have ideas to share what is best for their own country.
“We all support the fundamental rights of journalists and the people of South Sudan to freedom of expression. It is important that, what is going on in the country and what people are saying about the happenings is accurately reported, so that the people of South Sudan can make their own choices and have their own views about the future of the country,” she noted.
Norwegian Ambassador, Gunnar Andres Holm also believes that it is the government’s responsibility to ensure that all rights are observed and respected adding that, any democratic society requires the government to respect the people’s rights.
“If you want a society where the best idea prevails, then freedom is crucial to have that right to sort of exchange ideas, to criticize bad ideas and to basically adjust the course”, says Ambassador Andres.
The ambassadors who urged journalists to be professional in their reporting, promised to promote professionalism in media industry in South Sudan.
