Lakes State Commissioner of police Saed Abdulatif Chawulwa. [Gurtong/ Gabriel Mayom]
By Gabriel Mayom
RUMBEK 19 May 2012 [Gurtong] – Ayak Dhieu Apar was arrested in the Lakes State capital Rumbek on Monday for allegedly disrespecting the police as she conducted a live interview of the public.
Various callers to her programme on Rumbek 98 FM had heavily criticised the police for poor service delivery and disregard for the rule of law.
The Lakes State Commissioner of Police Major General Saed Abdulatif Chawuol
Lom is said to have ordered his officers to arrest the female journalist.
Major General Chawuol allegedly stormed the radio station when the station’s management resisted the arrest.
Police informed the station’s acting radio manager Deng Meshack that they were acting on order from the “high authorities”.
The Chief Inspector of Police in Rumbek Central County Lieutenant Colonel Mangar
Makeny told Gurtong that Apar will be arraigned in court for defamation and tarnishing the image of the police on her radio talk show.
The Lakes State Minister of Information and Communication Charles Badiri Mayen condemned the incident and cautioned the police against intimidating the media.