Journalism Future’s Going Straight to Doom in South Sudan – Part Two.
By Heskey Dzeng
Earlier I wrote an opinion article, with title, journalism future’s going straight to doom in South Sudan, immediately, at the time prezzo appointed, what he called lean cabinets for first time, named unfriendly to journalists as information minister, a man, who was whistleblower for the freedom of expression, quoted said “Why do we need to protect the journalists if they write things that defame people, what is so special with them”, during the media bill session in the national parliament.
I just wrote it at that time, but some people disagreed with me, and now, some come to realized it, as a meant to get news items is rough and tough.
The future is in snag, journalists are threaten and intimidated now and then, but that is not measure problems because there is no democracy in this country that give free environment for journalists and writers to oversee the problems and speaks their brains. Non-journalist and writer are now assassinated, when they say something against the governments whether in their houses, schools or hospitals. So it is malady for everyone.
Not to waste times, a time Makuei, professional known as lawyer, took oaths or sworn in, witness by journalists, that theirs long enemy has assigned into office, it creates some internal reactions, heart-drumming.
Not by surprised, immediately some journalists and writers quit writing, others writers are now writing from exile, simply the situation has changed, current minister has no, faith, mercy and pain, you can be humiliate in front him. I tell you.
However, once Makuei and Nyadak sat at Marial and writer Atem seats, they look confused, they do not know what to do, because they didn’t address the mass of journalists {both internationals and locals} in their life time, although they were being in ministerial post since the CPA was signed that led to the independence, they did not try to held press conference in their previously office, they fears camera flashlights and mass recorder instruments.
The funny things, they did, they suspended weekly briefing, which always convene every Tuesday in Ministry of Information, at time of Marial and Atem, for government to inform the citizens about its accomplishment, plans, failure, Juba-Khartoum relationship, borders and militias issues and more so, but with Makuei and Nyadak Paul, things fall apart, just on emergency cases.
It come true now, as you heard recently, Information Minister, spell out public media blackout on Abyei referendum campaigns, asked editors and reporters from both public and independent media houses, as well as opinion writers to “observer ethics and objective” reporting, what ethics? Stress that all media coverage should reflect public interest on issues relating to the conduct of planned referendum to determine the fate of Abyei, say suspension was done to allow the government {to} put in place processes for the Abyei referendum in an organized and responsible manner.
Now, where were they? For all this time, without clear program on Abyei, but the reason is that, they want to protect their malfunction that is why they stopped any Abyei issues discuss on any media house. Exactly where is future of media here? But going’s straight to dooms.
What is so painful, is not threat posing on journalists, but getting information or messages is now hard-hitting problems faces journalists, no sources, as press conference has been dangle, while Makuei and Nyadak’s broadly smile in the office, enjoys air conditions, classic seat and sipping tea, whether coffee, black or white, leaving reporters on streets, sweating, move up and down looking for what to write, so that the citizens may know what is going on in the Country.
At vetting time, I thought, parliamentarians could reject Makuei and Nyadak and to recommend a right person {s}, but my dreams was killed, I cry inside. But what I learnt, the parliaments approve Makuei to threats and scare journalists, so that they have free environment to pillage public funds like CDF and grant monies.
Put simply, Makuei and Nyadak are not fit here, because they are shy, radical, rude and unfriendly to reporters, yes, and if you say no, then tell me, did you heard their voices one time in any local and international radios? To alert you, maybe few journalists have theirs’ cell phone contact, though you have it, they cannot pick up calls, and if you are lucky, they couldn’t give you information or what you wants, they just tells you, come tomorrow, does news wait? Or you are dating them, only lovers can pick a day but reporters have no day, so sore. Although you make it, it is hard to meet him/her, office manager will deny you to enter, if you try to approach any seniors officers or MPS, he/she will tells you, I am not right person, go to information minister, you just end with no information, while your media house is eagerly waiting for items, look at that new cultures, who fail here, the reporters or ministers? I think, minister is weak because he/she does not know what to do.
All in all, the journalism life is in questions, at the end of day, you will learn that, most of journalists and writers have abandoned the writing, and if that happen, then there will be no media houses, because media houses are journalists.
Guys, journalists do not fear threatening, intimidation and torturing, those are part of their careers, what matters, is where to get information, if there is no sources, definitely he/she can quit it.
Last, journalists will not distort Marial and Atem era, they are charismatic, friendly, cooperate and more others. They can even answer every call. Information post needs such people, people who are humble and ready to talks, answering calls for 24/7 hours.
No situations is permanent, let hope….. but I fears.
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