Sudan suspends another newspaper indefinitely
July 17, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese authorities have indefinitely suspended the privately owned al-Youm al-Tali daily newspaper without citing any reasons, its editors said today.
Despite a government decision last May to end pre-publication censorship, authorities are now utilizing other tactics such as confiscation to tighten grip over newspapers and what they publish.
Editors complain that they continue to receive phone instructions from occasionally NISS on what to publish.
Last week, NISS banned columnists Salah Al-Din Awouda of the pro-government Akhir Lahza newspaper and Mohamed Abd Al-Majid, of Al-Ahram Al-Youm daily.
The security apparatus also did the same last April to the Editor-in-chief of Al-Sahafa daily newspaper Al-Nur Ahmed Al-Nur forcing him to resign and see that his name is removed from the daily’s letterhead.
Journalists have expressed concern about the escalating attacks by the security forces on newspapers and suspension of columnists.
Sudanese newspapers suffer from low distribution as well as high cost of printing and papers while the government continues to ignore calls for reducing the cost of production inputs and offering tax exemption.
Last year the government shut down three newspapers including the independent al-Tayar newspaper and two Islamist newspapers – Alwan and al-Rai al-Shaab.
The chief editor of Al-Ayam daily newspaper, Mahgoub Mohamed Salih, said in an interview with Reuters that newspapers are going through the worst period since Sudan’s independence.
In an attempt to rein in independent newspapers, NISS have acquired through its company Bayader 50% of the shares of Al-Khartoum and Al-Sahafa daily newspapers.
(ST)