Sudan allows Sky News Arabia to reopen office, lifts ban on al-Intibaha
October 30, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese government has officially notified the Dubai-based Sky news Arabia TV channel that it can now resume working, weeks after authorities shut down its office in Khartoum.
He also met with the editor in chief of al-Intibaha newspaper al-Sadiq al-Zraiqi who briefed him on changes introduced tothe daily and affirmed their commitment to professional controls necessary to support the rules of coexistence and tolerance in the country.
Al-Intibaha was also suspended indefinitely by Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) this month without reasons.
The newspaper board met afterwards and decided to expel its head al-Tayeb Mustafa who happens to be an uncle of president Omer Hassan al-Bashir. This step was believed to have been made at the request of authorities as a condition for al-Intibaha to resume publication.
In separate interviews however, Mustafa insisted that he voluntarily stepped down for the benefit of the newspaper he founded. He noted that he still has a stake in it.
The minister said the suspension decisions were issued after a series of breaches that violated the agreed-to rules. He emphasized that the intervention was made in order to preserve public safety and corner “subversive media”.
He renewed the commitment of the government and its support for press freedom and strengthening the bonds of trust with the media in order to complete the mission for being an intrinsic partner in the overall national concern calling on everyone to enter into a new phase of cooperation and positive partnership.
In his address this week before the parliament, the Sudanese president said that given the ordeal [the recent protests] subsided and life returned to normal, the government would now be open to reconsidering the exceptional measures applied against some individuals and media institutions that did not commit themselves to professionalism and objectivity rules.
Khartoum had also shut down the offices of the Dubai-based al-Arabiya TV and intermittently suspended several dailies newspapers including pro-government ones such as al-Sudani, al-Meghar, al-Jareeda and al-Mash’had al-Aan.
Sudanese officials accused some media houses of biased coverage of the protests that broke out last month in response to the government decision to cut fuel subsidies.
The violent clashes that erupted between demonstrators and security forces lead to about 70 deaths, according to official figures, although activists, rights groups and opposition parties put the death toll at more than 200.
Sudanese authorities said they arrested 700 in connection with the riots and denied using live ammunition against protesters. They accused outside elements of firing at the demonstrators, namely the rebel coalition known as the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF).
Despite lifting pre-publication censorship this year, Sudanese security routinely suspends and confiscates newspapers as well as ban journalists and columnists from writing.
Ranked 170 out of 179 countries in the 2013 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index, Sudan is accordingly classified among the world’s 10 worst countries in regards to respect for freedom of information.
(ST)