The Association for Media Development in South Sudan has expressed concerns over the new media law which was signed by the President.

AMDISS says a provision, which deals with defamation is considered to be a criminal offense under penal code.

There have been contradictions regarding the media bills, which were signed by the President into law.

AMDISS Treasurer, Alfred Taban Logune, says media bill, which was signed into law on the 9^th of December last year, still carries the provision on Defamation that had been taken out when the bills were to the parliament last year.

“This provision does say defamation is referred to as part of the penal code. In other words, it becomes a criminal offense. What we had told the Members of Parliament was that, this reference to the penal code should be removed. In other words, defamation should be entirely a civil case, where if somebody is defamed, he or she can go to court and seek compensation, but now it is now a criminal offense in which a journalist can be sentenced for some time in prison.” Said Taban.

He added that the provision, which says defamation is a criminal offense is worrying because many journalists might end up in prison.

“Yes it is very much worrying because when a journalist has written something about corruption, well his or her idea is that this case should be investigated and then eventually, action should be taken against this person who is committing this crime of theft or embezzlement.” He said.

“But in this case that person can just go to court and say, well, I have been defamed by this journalist or newspaper, I have not taken any money and that is it. And when it is not yet proven, the judge can just sentence the journalist to may be many years in prison.” Taban added.

Alfred Taban said the new media law is good although it contains a provision that journalists had rejected earlier.