3 journalists dismissed by SSBC

JUBA – The state-run South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) has dismissed three journalists one of whom, Angasi Dominic, was arrested by the National Security Service (NSS) in July for allegedly refusing to readout news that include presidential decree issued by President Salva Kiir Mayardit.

In a statement Thursday, the South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation did not give reasons for the dismissal of the journalists, but said it wish them best of lack sparking reactions from the journalists themselves and the Union of Journalists of South Sudan saying they shouldn’t have been dismissed because of the issue that led to journalist Dominic’s arrest.

“The administration of this department extends its thanks to the three persons for their contribution, wishing them good luck in their future expectation,” the South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation statement reads in part.

In reaction, Dominic who was arrested on July 2 and released 18 days later without charges said his dismissal from work came as shock to him and said the dismissal “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.”

Separately, the Union of Journalists of South Sudan Patrick Oyet Charles said: “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.”

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