South Sudan: South Sudan President Signs Broadcast Bill Into Law

On Monday (September 8), South Sudan President, Salva Kiir, finally signed into law a broadcast bill. Under this all broadcasting stations will be required to meet set requirements in order to obtain mandatory accreditation from a government appointed commission. Working without accreditation, the law says, could attract fines or imprisonment.

The head of the media commission will be appointed by the Ppresident on recommendation from the Information Minister, not from Parliament. A day earlier, Information Minister, Michael Makuei Lueth, warned the media against "stepping on the toes" of others, including the government.

He said "You must be careful with your words. Use appropriate information and disseminate correctly. There is a need to know about the duties and rights. It is your duty to exercise your work according to the law but you must not cross line. Don't step on the toes of others, including the government."

The Minister was speaking at a government organized meeting focusing on media roles in nation-building processes. He said "We are not against the freedom of expression but we want you to report rightly", adding that the government would take punitive measures against journalists giving rebels a voice in South Sudan.

He said "If you can go and interview a rebel and then you come and play that material, disseminating it to the people, what are you doing? You are actually disseminating material of the enemy. When you are disseminating material of the rebels in the country, you are actually agitating the people against the government." He said if journalists didn't want to be taken to court, then "please stick to the ethics of your profession. We will not touch you, but if you cross the line, there will be no way for us not to take any action against you."

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