Human Rights Network for Journalists (HRNJ) – Uganda, an independent media body has tasked South Sudan authorities to do more to protect journalists working in the country.
This follows the killing of Mr Peter Julius Moi, a reporter with South Sudan’s Corporate Weekly newspaper.
Moi was shot dead by unidentified gunmen on the outskirts of the South Sudanese capital city, Juba on Wednesday night, two weeks ago.
His murder in cold blood draws wide condemnations across the world with international journalists’ federations demanding for an end to such unwarranted killings.
Mr Robert Sempala, the National Coordinator for HRNJ – Uganda, says even if the slain journalist had erred, he should have been subjected to judicial processes of the land.
Speaking in Gulu town on Monday, Sempala noted that, “Even if the South Sudanese government does not agree on the way journalists report stories, it should have preferred and allowed the due process of the law to take precedence rather than resorting to killing.”
According to Sempala, such indiscriminate killing may not solve the problem especially if it is being carried out by state security officials.
Sempala adds that such killing is illegal and the perpetrators should be brought to book.
He also reminded journalists that in such a volatile country, working as a group may minimize such violent attacks against them by gun wielding men.
“No story is worth a life,” he said and warned reporters against taking risk which may put their life in great danger.
HRNJ – Uganda plans to meet South Sudanese ambassador to Uganda, Mr Samuel Lwate within the coming weeks secure assurance that journalists will have an enabling working environment which does not put their life under threat.
In a one minute voice recording purported to be the voice of the South Sudanese President Mr Salva Kiir, he threatened reporters with death if they work against their country.
“When you close them (media) down, they go and complain that there is no expression, no freedom but the freedom of press does not mean that you work against your country. It is not. And if anybody among them does not know that this country kilsl people, we will demonstrate it one day, one time,” Kiir said in a statement.
But Mr Ateny Wek Ateny, a presidential spokesman said the words were taken out of context.
