1 November 2012 - South Sudanese journalists and representatives of local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) today criticized two key provisions in an information bill at a public hearing in Juba.

The 2012 Right of Access to Information Bill was discussed during the first of three parliamentary hearings on long-pending legislation concerning the country's news media industry.

Today's public hearing drew 85 participants, including the South Sudanese Ministers of Justice and Information and their deputy ministers, Minority Leader of national parliament, Chairperson of the South Sudan Human Rights Commission, diplomats, UN officials and a host of journalists as well as senior media house managers.

The hearings are hosted by the National Legislative Assembly's Committee of Information, Telecommunications and Culture and the Committee of Legislation and Legal Affairs.

In opening remarks, Committee of Information, Telecommunications and Culture Chairperson Joy Kwaje called the proceedings an "historic" occasion, underscoring the importance of enacting openly debated media laws that will help consolidate democracy in South Sudan.

"We're all interested in seeing this country go in the right direction," said Ms. Kwaje. "It is in everybody's interest for these bills to be given due consideration and thorough scrutiny so that we don't end up with bad laws."

The 2012 Broadcasting Corporation Bill will be discussed during tomorrow's hearing, and the 2012 Media Authority Bill will be examined during the final day of hearings on Saturday.

Justice Minister John Luk Jok also acknowledged the pressing need to enact the bills, which were originally introduced to the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly in 2008. But he cited other reasons such as the urgent need for greater regulation of the news media sector.

"We have seen all the anarchy that is in the press today, the writings that have no press ethics," said Mr. Luk, a former magazine editor who founded the South Sudan Post in 1999. "You have seen violations of the privacy of individuals, and I hope these bills will put to rest all these kinds of problems, which are of great concern."

But several journalists and NGO representatives attending took strong issue with a provision in the bill that fails to specify circumstances under which an Information Commissioner appointed by the President of South Sudan can be removed.

Some participants also criticized a clause that in their view provided inadequate protection to whistle-blowing citizens exposing corruption, miscarriages of justice, embezzlement and other serious crimes.

"Whistle blowers must be protected because they act in the public interest," said Stephen Tut, a veteran journalist who is on the executive committee of the Juba-based Association for Media Development in South Sudan.