Information Minister Michael Makuei | File photo.

The Minister of Information and broadcasting says irresponsible journalists will be prosecuted in the court of law.

The government announced on Sunday that, the president was expected today to sign Media Bill into law.

The bills include the right of access to information, media authority and public broadcasting cooperation.

The bills were passed by the parliament last year and sent to the office of the President for assent.

Michael Makuei Lueth was addressing journalists in Juba on Sunday.

“Let’s be responsible, accountable and accurate journalists. Let’s us apply the proper rules and ethics of the profession. In so doing, you will not be in conflict with anybody,” said Hon Makuei.

Officials say many writers attack government officials in their commentaries which are published on various websites and blogs.

“But when you write that Michael Makuei is very arrogant minister, I will not leave you this time; I will take you to the court.”

The minister said that the government welcomes criticisms that are not destructive.

“Criticize objectively, criticize constructively this is what we want, because constructive criticism guide the government and guide everybody, it shows the direction,” he urged.

The minister said that the government will continue applying the existing Old Sudan National Security law until the new national security laws is enacted.

For his part, the press secretary in the office of the president, Ateny Wek Ateny urged journalists to act responsibly when doing their work.

“If you want to criticize the official; it is your right, only you have to observe things that are personal, so that it doesn’t take you for a libel in court of law.”

A lecturer at Juba University, Dr. Okuk said that if the government must follow the law when dealing with journalists.

“If a journalist went wrong, you don’t just go and arrest him in his house without following the legal course,” said Dr Okuk.

“So, I really advise, like those in the government, if a journalist stepped on your toes, try to follow the due course of the law, don’t do it arbitrarily because this is what spoiled the image of this country.”

The Vice Chancellor of Juba University, John Akech advised the government not to shutdown media houses because it still needs them.

“Actually you need these newspapers because if there is any crisis that is happening, you will find that you need them to be on air in order to explain this… so they are double edges.”

The government officials, Scholars and Journalist held a meeting yesterday to discuss how the government and media houses can work together in the country.