Miraya FM Cautioned By GOSS

21 May 2010 - (Juba) – The Government of Southern Sudan has issued a stern warning to media houses who air what they describe as “divisive information” to the public.

This week, the UN-sponsored radio Miraya FM was cautioned for airing a program that the government termed ‘inciting and divisive’.

The caretaker minister for information and broadcasting, Paul Mayom Akech told SRS on Wednesday that Miraya had overstepped its mandate.

[Paul Mayom]: “Miraya FM has been quoted as saying that the Government of Southern Sudan is being dominated by one ethnic group. The word ‘dominated’ presupposes suppression, and that is inciting. Last Thursday, they aired an interview with General Athor which was conducted by Radio Omdurman. The political chemistry of Sudan is such that we do not have to copy what people say about each other. We can say anything against Khartoum through our radio, and Khartoum can say anything against us through their radio. So we think that the content of the interview was an offense against GOSS and it was insulting the President of the Government of Southern Sudan as someone who has no vision. The Miraya editorial board is in Khartoum so it picks whenever that are contradictions and airs them in southern Sudan. We think that Khartoum should be the one to say such things and not Miraya FM which is concerned with peace.”

Mayom added that Miraya FM has to review its editorial board and relocate its editorial team to Juba.