Press censorship and the Sudanese president
The Sudanese security service have confiscated The Citizen daily newspaper today, Wednesday April 16, 2008. The following is the Editorial of the today issue.
EDITORIAL
President Omar Al-Bashir has said he has lifted censorship of the press in Sudan by the security services.
A presidential decree issued on 12 August transferred responsibility for overseeing newspapers from Sudan’s National Security Agency to the semi-autonomous National Press Council. The president advised the council to “keep the country’s interests in mind” when making decisions.
Putting the press council under the control of the national and local press is intended to boost the national consensus towards resolving the nation’s problems.
President Bashir had promised to introduce greater political freedom and freedom of expression in Sudan, and to review the list of political detainees.
“On the issue of press censorship, we have lifted it completely. Whoever wants to say whatever he wants, let him do so, whether it is in the press or even through the government television itself,” President Bashir said in a television interview.
But journalists still struggle against censorship.
And the censorship is from the National Security Agency.
This contradicts the statement from President Bashir on the issue. It’s disrespect to the presidential decree.
The censorship hit a high yesterday when three newspapers failed to hit the streets.
Ajras Al Hurria newspaper, Al-Ayam newspaper and Raie A-Shab could not be printed under an order from the National Security Agency to printing house.
The Agency asked the newspapers to bring the draft before they go to the printing press. The newspapers, except Rai Al Am and Akhabar Alyoum, rejected this.
Is National Security Agency above the presidency?
Why censor the press in the days towards the census?
Who will guarantee a fair census if the press is shut out?
Political Parties should reject these draconian rules placed on the newspapers. And President Bashir should call the National Security Agency to order. Otherwise, people would assume he was behind the move.