SOUTH SUDAN VETERAN JOURNALIST DIES IN UGANDA

By Our Reporter
www.mknewslink.com

Celebrated south Sudan journalist and Member of Parliament for Kajo Keji County Alfred Taban has died at the age of 62 at a hospital in Kampala.

The former and editor in chief of Khartoum/Juba monitor, the first independent English paper in Authoritarian Sudan, was announced dead by colleagues and family members Yesterday Saturday evening.

Tabans death came on Saturday after along month treatment at a hospital in Kampala where many South Sudan Government officials, Military and the powerful wealthy seek various services The current Juba Monitor Editor in Chief Anna Nimiriano told the Local media in Juba

The death of Taban, a recipient of both British House of Commons and U.S National Endowment for Democracy, socked many south Sudanese journalists who praised his exceptional contribution in Journalism in both Sudan and South Sudan.

Alfred Taban was born in 1957 in south Sudans Kajo Keji County.

He was detained by authorities for five days in April 2001 while covering a news conference by church leaders In Khartoum who were protesting against the cancellation of service and arrest of up to one hundred Christians.

On 30 Oct 2006 Taban was summoned and stated that he was liable for the content of a newspaper article dated 14 September 2006,which claimed that state minister of foreign affairs and the director of information and public relations ,Lam Akol,are mouthpieces and perpetrators of genocide as well as Islamic extremists etc.

It was argued that the article was a general criticism and personal opinion of its Author. In addition to the published reprimand, a penalty was imposed on his paper.
Taban is the former Chairman of the Association for Media Development in South Sudan AMDISS and a member of parliament in the South Sudan transitional legislative national assembly.

In July 2005, Speaker of the British House of Commons Michael Martin presented the Speaker Abbot award to Alfred Taban, in recognition of his work exposing the slaughter in Darfur. The award is given to the journalist who has made the greatest contribution in international to the protection, promotion and perpetuation of parliamentary democracy.

In 2006, Taban was one of three recipients to be presented with the National Endowment for Democracy award by US president George W.bush

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