I will protect journalists-Gen Riny Tueny

By Ricard Sultan

The Governor of Lakes State today in a meeting with the members of Union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJOSS) promises safety and protection of journalists.

“I will work hand in hand with you and you can rest assured of my protection to make sure you do your work effectively to the best standards”, says Gen Riny Tueny Mabor, according to a press statement from UJOSS Lakes Branch.

Gen Riny is the first governor in the country to come out openly and assure media practitioners of their safety.

The UJOSS team was led by Mayak Majak, the lakes state cordinator.

“This is a positive development for us, considering it comes just a day after the world marked the International day to end impunity against journalist and the governor has also offered us a temporary office at the state secretariat once the renovation is over”, Majak said.

Majak however said seeking cooperation of the governor should not be perceived as a way of compromising us from proffessionalism. “We will always stick to our code of conduct”, reads part of the statement.

Majak concluded by saying that todays meeting is a follow up to an early round table discussion among security forces, government officials and journalists in Lakes State conducted two weeks ago after a capacity building workshop conducted by UJOSS headquarters with financial support from UNESCO.