Major-General Elia Costa, the police commissioner in Jonglei State - AMDISS/Juma - Oct. 4, 2022

The police commissioner in Jonglei State has called on the media practitioners and security agencies to work together for the benefit of the people of South Sudan.

Major-General Elia Costa was addressing participants on Tuesday in Bor town at a conference on the Importance of Access to Information in the Constitution-Making Process – under the theme “Promoting Access to Information, e-Governance, and Artificial Intelligence during the Constitution-Making Process.”

The ever-increasing digital world, artificial intelligence, and e-governance will play an important part in improving access to information, according to UNESCO’s key message for this year’s celebration.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Major-General Costa says cooperation between law-enforcement agencies and media can enhance relations.

“The work of the police is to search for information just as the media,” General Costa said.

“The race for accurate information between media and police sometimes brings about friction because the police want to access the information first and journalists also want the same. Let us put our efforts together to enhance our relations and work together to protect our civil population from harmful practices,” General Costa urged.

For his part, the State Minister of Information and Communication, Hon. John Samuel advised the participants to proactively raise the issues hindering their right of access to information in the state.

Minister Samuel assured the participants that nobody will be arrested for expressing his or her views at the conference unless it invades one’s privacy.

“I would like you to participate constructively,” Samuel said.

“The presence of the police commissioner and senior government officials in this media conference should not intimidate you. Nobody will be arrested for speaking in this conference hall. Unless otherwise, if you stand on one’s toe,” he assured.

The State Minister of Trade and Industry, Hon. Kasara Riek Tiop appreciated AMDISS and UNESCO for extending media activities to Jonglei State.

He appealed to the participants to make utmost use of this opportunity to interact and contribute with ideas crucial for nation-building.

Moyiga Nduru, the commissioner of the Access to Information Commission encouraged the intellectuals of Bor Community to develop and master their cognitive language to accelerate constructive interaction and sharing of ideas in society during the constitution-making process.

Mr. Julius Banda, the Country Director of UNESCO said information is vital for attaining sustainable development goals.

He appealed to the state authorities and civil society organizations as well as the media to work together to keep the public informed about the constitution-making process.

The Chairperson of the Board of AMDISS, Koang Pal Chang advised the journalists to stick to the principles of telling the truth in their programing to avoid getting into problems with the state authorities.

He voiced the importance of maintaining code of conduct and ethics of journalism when trying to capitalize on the issues of check and balance in the public issues and as the country heads toward achieving its permanent constitution.

The two-day conference is organized by AMDISS in collaboration with the office of the Access to Information Commission with support from UNESCO.

The conference attended by more than 50 leaders is part of the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) commemorated globally.

It included senior state government officials, representatives of some media parastatals, police commissioner, traditional leaders, faith-based leaders, civil society leaders, academicians, women leaders, youth leaders, and media representatives at Park Palace hotel.