Page 5 - :: Publications

Perhaps a country like South Sudan should count itself lucky she was filming “sensitive locations” which were, nevertheless,
and grateful to have famous, rich and influential friends like not identified by any “PHOTOGRAPHY PROHIBITED”
George Clooney & Friends who could afford to hire the sign. And they would not return the camera to her in spite of
Satellite Sentinel to spy on Khartoum’s military movements pleadings (pleadings!) from supposedly powerful individuals
along our common border? - Sentinel is, by the way, reported from both the ministries of Information and Interior/Home
to have been the first to spot the smoke rising from bombed Affairs!
Yarmouk. So what is going on? Reporters or visitors are human beings

When visitors or reporters have been forced to adopt and will report their experiences. If permits issued by our
such a negative attitude towards us because of our government are ignored by our security officers or laughed
at by “criminals in uniform”, as President Kiir has long
behaviour towards them, they begin to see or report acknowledged; if our security personnel fail or refuse to
negative activities that would have been otherwise identify areas of “no photography”, thus leaving the door
ignored or excused had our attitude been positive open for criminals - in uniform or otherwise - to choose at
towards them. will what can be photographed and what not, we as a nation
must be prepared for negative reporting of our country.
However, the real reasons for sensitivity against photography When visitors or reporters have been forced to adopt such
at Juba Airport may have nothing to do with national security, a negative attitude towards us because of our behaviour
but more to do with attempts to hide from publicity the towards them, they begin to see or report negative activities,
dilapidated, dirty and chaotic state of the airport eight years which they would have otherwise ignored or excused had our
after the administration of the airport was handed over by attitude been positive towards them.
Sudan to the current administrators? If so, such attempts can Take, for example, the stupid and dangerous practice by our
be seen as a waste of time by a poor nation trying to conceal traffic police who demand that drivers should put on hazard
her ugly private parts. The behaviour of our security agents lights to indicate their intention to go straight at roundabouts!
or their proxies is ready-made ammunition for negative Whoever told them hazard lights should be used for such
publicity of the young country. And it does not help when intentions? From whose book are they reading such dangerous
our leaders insist on challenging international media on very traffic rules? In a country where people drive on the right
thin grounds.
sight of the road, motorist approaching the roundabout
But, why should we assume the worst from photographers or from the right of the hazard lights would only see the right
reporters or of ourselves? Could it not be that such visitors or side indicator and would assume that such a vehicle would
reporters could be nicely surprised to see the improvement in immediately turn right before entering the roundabout – and
the parking space for aircraft at Juba Airport? Could they not BANG! An accident!
be impressed by the fact that high flyers like Kenya Airways, Because of our now well-established paranoia against the
the Ethiopian and Egyptian airlines now frequent Juba camera and reporters; the difficulty of identifying the legitimate
Airport? What about the new and up-coming terminal at the policing authority from criminals in uniform; institutional
left side of the shameful old terminal, which is still in use? corruption from which misguided vigilantes are trying very
Although it has been moving at a snail’s pace, the building hard to silence critics; kidnapping, intimidation, torture
has at last got a roof on all its walls and could be operational and even killing of opinion writers, have now established
soon; could that not be a point of reference for good publicity South Sudan as a nation ripe for international ridicule and
if handled correctly?
bad publicity. President Kiir has recently shaken up the top
Okay, suppose such visitors or reporters get wise and take leadership of the police by retiring them; a positive move. But
up the advice to pay the exorbitant fee which the Ministry will the soldier, now at the helm of our police force, make a
of Information ask for a photography or filming permit in noticeable difference? Let’s hope so.
the streets of Juba, would that spare them from harassment?
Not at all. A camerawoman for Al Jazeera TV found this out Editor’s Note
the hard way, when her expensive camera was impounded by Gurtong Focus welcomes brief letters from our readers regarding this issue.
people who identified themselves as “security”. They claimed The letters addressed to: [email protected] should be brief and to the
point.

Gurtong Focus Monthly February 2013| 5