South Sudan broadcaster dismisses journalist after release by national security

By Tapeng Michael Ohure

South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation has dismissed a journalist, a few weeks after being released from National Security Service detention.

Journalist Alfred Angasi Dominic was dismissed on Thursday but no reasons were given.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the SSBC administration said it also dismissed two other journalists, Emmanuel Patrick Laku and Abraham Felix Bodi.

“The administration of this department extends its thanks to the three persons for their contribution, wishing them good luck in their future expectation,” the statement said.

Dominic for his part said the termination came as a shock and violates his rights.

“This is a violation of my right, why I say it is a violation of right is because I am not really given fair time to be listened to,” he said.

Dominic was arrested on July 2, accused of refusing to read news contents containing President Salva Kiir’s decrees.

He was subsequently locked up for 18 days before being released without charge.

The President of the Union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJOSS) Patrick Oyet Charles said the dismissal of Dominic is a double punishment after he was already detained.

“If somebody has already been punished for whatever the authorities in SSBC thought was wrong, it is therefore again wrong to dismiss such a person because that will amount to double punishment for one disagreement,” Oyet said.

“It is really unfair, even in law they say that is double jeopardy because you have already been punished.”