Sudanese authorities bar UN radio from broadcasting – corrected

May 2, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — While the UN radio station in Sudan is sponsoring a debate on press freedom in the Sharja Hall of Khartoum University on Wednesday 3 May, the federal authorities have refused to give the said radio station approval to broadcast nationally from Khartoum.

Nonetheless, the Southern Sudan government has agreed to allow the station to broadcast from Juba, capital of Southern Sudan.

All technical preparations for the launch of this station have been completed and its team, 90 per cent of whom are Sudanese with a Dutch general-manager and an English deputy, has been appointed.

However, the authorities who had previously consented in principle have changed and instead put in place insurmountable preconditions and obstacles.

According to the Chief of Radio UN mission in Sudan, Leon Willems, the debate on press freedom will focus on the progress of press freedom in Sudan.

Participating in the debate will be senior representatives of the Ministry of Information, the National Press Council, Editors of newspapers in Khartoum and SUNA. The debate will start 1.00 PM.

(ST)