Respect and honor press freedom, CEPO tells South Sudan gov’t and other stakeholders.

In a news statement issued on World Press Freedom Day, the executive director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) asked the government of South Sudan not to limit press freedom.

On World Press Freedom Day, governments and other stakeholders, according to Edmund Yakani, should take the time to recognize and commemorate press freedom.

“CEPO would like to use this occasion to congratulate all press actors and wish them success in using the press to foster peace and stability for greater human and social progress,” the statement said in part.

“CEPO is informing state authorities that if press freedom is valued and protected, it plays a stronger role in generating sociological, political, and economic advantages for a brighter future.”

“Restricting press freedom illegally or undemocratically has a direct relationship to people seeing the state as an adversary.” “My experience as a human rights campaigner has proven that restricting press freedom is a major factor in organizing civilians to be state foes,” he continued.

Many countries, he claims, have lost economic and political stability as a result of unconstitutional or harsh legislative limits on press freedom.

“The cost of limiting press freedom is more than the cost of embracing press freedom,” Yakani said.

“Removing a single item or illegally eliminating media outlets effectively helps to the creation of opposition actors.” Any illegal governmental restriction of press freedom is a clear appeal to certain people to revolt against the state. The Arab Spring is a prime example.”

He encouraged the government to embrace journalistic freedom since it leads directly to economic and political achievements.

GlobPress Freedom Day is observed on May 3rd across the world.