Journalist detained without trial in Unity State
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Sudanvotes and Bentiu FM Journalist Mr Bonifacio Taban Kuich
Updated Thursday 6th May 13.00 GMT. Sudanvotes and Amnesty International spoke with Stephen Gatwich Taban, who confirmed that Bonifacio Taban had been released from Bentiu State Prison. He is now recovering and wishes to thank everyone involved in his release for their untiring efforts and support. Tomorrow, he must return to the State Prison to collect his radio recorder and camera.
Updated Monday 3 May. 10.00 GMT. Stephen Gatwich Taban has been in touch over the weekend, telling sudanvotes that Bonifacio Taban was beaten and tortured on Saturday. This is yet to be verified, but creates great concern with all his colleagues at Bentiu FM and sudanvotes.com
Updated Friday 30 April 12.00 GMT UNMIS made direct appeals yesterday to release Bonifacio Taban to no avail. Reasons given are due to his lack of accreditation, but Taban has been accredited with Bentiu FM as their main presenter for many years.
Updated Thursday 29th 10.00 GMT
We have received unconfirmed reports that Bonifacio Taban has been released Bentiu FM and sudanvotes are looking to confirm this information.
Updated Tuesday 27th. 10.00 GMT
Bonifacio Taban's brother confirmed Tuesday that Bonifacio is still being held in Bentiu State Prison, without charge and with no knowledge of when he will be released. Bentiu FM and UNMIS are continuing to press for his immediate release on the ground and Amnesty International and Reporters without Borders have been contacted about Bonifacio's situation.
Updated Monday 26th. 11.00 GMT
Sudanvotes correspondent Morris Lodiong has this morning spoken to Bonfacio Taban in Bentiu State Prison, under Police custody. He is in good health and confirmed that he has not yet been charged with any crime. He believes he is being held because of an article he wrote about the re-election of Governor Taban Deng Gai and the security forces want to prevent him from any further investigation. Bentiu FM and UNMIS are pressing for his release on the ground.
Background
On Friday 23rd April around 20.30 Bentiu FM and sudanvotes correspondent Bonifacio Taban was arrested in Bentiu, Unity State while covering the general strike called across Bentiu town, at the announcement by the State High Election Committee and the National Election Commission (NEC) that the SPLM incumbent Governor Taban Deng Gai had won the elections for governor against independent candidate Angelina Jany.
Bonifacio working at Bentiu FM
Following the general strike and demonstration that was called in protest at the results, three people were shot dead by soldiers and four seriously wounded. Bonifacio Taban was covering the story from Bentiu Hospital where the dead and injured were taken, when he was arrested and beaten by security and had his equipment confiscated. He was later released around 22.00 Friday evening, without the return of his equipment.
On Saturday 24th April Bentiu Hospital confirmed that one of the injured men had died over night, taking the death toll to four, with three still seriously injured in hospital. That morning, Bonifacio Taban's brother, said that Bonifacio Taban had been re-arrested and taken to an unknown location. His family are still not aware of the reason for his arrest or his exact whereabouts.
In accordance with international and Sudanese media election law, journalists cannot be targeted, harassed or arrested while reporting on elections.
Please write to sudanvotes below or contact Bentiu FM with any more information on the situation in Unity State or the whereabouts of Mr Bonifacio Taban Kuich.
Any further information received wil be updated over the coming hours.
Sudan Tribune reporting on Governor Taban Deng's declared victory
The views expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect the positions or opinions of the publishers of www.sudanvotes.com
please release the Taban now. SPLM is suppose to be the wing of human right. u dont have to opress citizens Journalist. no killing in new sudan. dont kill kill civilians. they are showing their right to be heard
Shame on president Kiir who doesn't have the capacity to discpline his army the SPLA,Taban cannot be a governor when he failed and forcifully is announced the winner, What is exactly the meaning of this? Kiir cannot impose leaders on the people when they doesn't want that person, where is the democracy SPLM is claiming to be fighting for?
The security forces in Southern Sudan are ignorant of their work. I was warned not to enter a polling station in Juba when I was covering the elections. I had the ID card from NEC but they refused and wanted to beat me. I told them that I would use legal way to prove that they are wrong. but one of them intervined by taking me away telling me that it was risky. this is the situation in Southern Sudan. Welcome back from the detention Bonifacio and take courage.That's the nature of our work and We shall continue to do the right thing.I think these ignorant people will one day understand that they are completely wrong.
As the old saying goes that" The trouble faced by the hunter in the wilderness is the same trouble that his dog is likely to face" Myself as a journalist, what befell Bonifacio Taban Kuich can also befall me any time or any other journalist. Journalists in South Sudan have been targets of intimidation and harrasment by security forces before and during the election period. On whose behalf are these security forces acting if not for the inerests of greedy politicians who think leadership belongs to them alone. Those who lost the vote and resorting to intimidation and threats may plunge the country back into turmoil and will this be the fruits of the CPA. A journalist shall always remain the eye and ear of society against old odds. You will beat Bonifancio today but you will not beat his proffesion out of him or beat all the journalists at the same time. We report what we see!!!! Do good, it will be reported accordingly and expect the equivalent when you do bad. It is you the security forces who make the news about yourself either positive or negative. There is no society without the media!! You will never beat the Media and if it was not for the sake of peace and Code of Conduct governing the Journalists, these people have the capacity to beat you hands down, flat like a snake on the ground!!! Journalists lets keep moving despite the bumpy road and Remember MAY 3,2010 IS WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY, it is our day. Let us use this day to show and tell the "beaters" that we are peaceful people but if we are pushed to the wall, our Notebooks, Pens and Cameras can revenge on our behalf if need be.
I feel very much disturbed with a lot of pain in my heart following the arrest of my fellow journalis who is also my friend, Mr. Bonifacio Taban Kuich. I do not like this kind of situation where frustrated politicians always have to turn to innocent people for revenge. Now what picture is this telling? Too bad. As citezens of this country we should be ashamed of our barbaric habits. I now feel ashamed of being called Sudanese. And hey, can you release that innocent journalist please.