Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Juba (Agenzia Fides) - The South Sudanese government has threatened to close down the Catholic Church’s "Voice of Hope" FM in Wau, in the west of the Country. According to the Catholic Radio Network (CRN), Western Bahr El Ghazal Deputy Governor said the station should limit its coverage to the state and avoid broadcasting news from other states especially stories related to SPLM-in-Opposition. The government official described the "Voice of Hope" as a "destructive station" adding that the radio should distance itself from political coverage and concentrate on "homilies and Gospel music".
In recent weeks, the local authorities had forced the closure of Radio Bakhita of the Archdiocese of Juba (the federal capital) and arrested the chief editor, Ochan David Nicholas (later released) for a few days. (see Fides 19/09/2014). Radio Bakhita was then allowed to resume broadcasting, but the station remains closed by Juba Diocese pending further review of the situation.
His Exc. Mgr. Paulino Lokudu, Archbishop of Juba, complained that the Security Service did not warn him about the closure of the radio. "When the Radio was closed, I was not consulted – I think the security people did not come to me to tell me that we are closing the radio. They just took away the keys from the service people there and I think that is not quite fair", said the Archbishop, who, however, added: "I think they have realized it and we have reconciled it very well".
Organizations for the defense of human rights denounce the censorship imposed by the government to the southern Sudanese media since the outbreak of the civil war between the factions respectively headed by President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar. According to these organizations, restrictions on the freedom of information are intended to prevent the publication of news about the massacres of civilians in the capital. Journalists are barred from visiting hospitals, cemeteries and refugee camps. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 01/10/2014)
