Sudan press anger over Cairo deaths

Dec 31, 2005 (KHARTOUM) — Sudanese papers have reacted angrily after around 20 Sudanese migrants died during an operation by Egyptian police to break up their camp in Cairo on Friday. But the Egyptian press has been more circumspect, making little comment.

“The brutal death of at least 20 Sudanese refugees in Cairo is completely unacceptable,” says an editorial in the independent Khartoum Monitor.

“This is a very sorrowful end for a people who fled their own country’s frying pan only to fall into Egypt’s fire. The inappropriate use of brutal force was uncalled for and appallingly inhumane.”

The Sudanese independent newspaper Al-Ayyam describes the incident as tragic.

“No one could ever imagine that the refugees’ attempt would end in such a violent way and truncheons and water cannons would be used… This is a great human tragedy,” it laments.

Several commentators call on the Sudanese government to take a strong stand.

“The Sudanese government is wrong if it thinks that it is not responsible for this and it is astonishing that it has not issued an official statement about the incident,” says a commentary in the independent newspaper Al-Adwa headlined “Shame in Cairo”.

“Those who died are Sudanese citizens and the government is responsible for their safety, even if they were under UN protection.

“The government should ask for an explanation of what happened, and it should also put forward proposals on how to resolve the problem of the other refugees who are now being detained in security camps [in Egypt].”

The independent Al-Wahdah makes a similar point.

“As usual, our official media remained distant and no statement has been issued about the incident,” it says.

“We are still waiting for a reaction from the Government of National Unity.”

And the Khartoum Monitor calls for legal action.

“Sudanese lawyers must begin legal action against the Egyptian police for provoking violence where there was none,” it asserts.

Escalate

In Egypt itself, much of the reporting is factual, with the most prominent coverage appearing in the independent and opposition press.

“Midnight battle in Al-Muhandisin,” screams a front-page headline in the opposition Al-Wafd.

Some opposition and independent papers also quote Egyptian human rights groups criticising the police operation.

State-owned papers focus on a statement by the country’s Interior Ministry accusing the refugees of starting the clash by throwing bottles and gas cylinders at police.

But a commentary in Al-Jumhuriyah asks why the Egyptian government allowed the problem of the refugees to escalate to the point where force had to be used to remove them.

(BBCMS)