Sudan releases journalist, activists held over coverage of dam construction
August 20, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — Authorities released a local journalist Monday who had been held for two months for allegedly violating a government ban on coverage of dam construction in northern Sudan. Also five other activists released besides the journalist.
SUNA said Mujahid Abdallah had violated the prohibition against writing about the Kajbar dam in northern Sudan’s Shamalia area.
Abdallah’s newspaper, the independent pro-Islamist Rae Al Shaab, confirmed the reporter’s release in its Monday edition but denied the government had legal basis for his detention.
Sudan Organization Against Torture (SOAT) further said that five other activists are released besides the journalist who had been arrested on 13 June 2007.
Alam Aldeen Abd Alghni (Lawyer, arrested on 13 June 2007), Emad Merghni Seed Ahmed (Lawyer, arrested on 13 June 2007 ), Abd Allah Abd Alghume (Lawyer, arrested on 13 June 2007), Osman Shammat (Driver arrested on 13 June 2007), and Osman Ibrahim (spokesperson of the Committee against the Kajbar Dam arrested on 20 July 2007) were released from Dabak prison, North of Khartoum, SOAT said.
No reason for their detention was given and their release was conditional on signing a document whereby they agree to abide by certain conditions, namely to refrain from engaging in further political activities.
“Security authorities have released our colleague, the journalist Mujahid Abdallah, after 60 days he spent in detention without any legal justification,” the paper said in an editorial.
Abdallah had written articles about journalists who had been detained for covering protests against the construction of the dam.
Both SUNA and Rae Al Shaab said officials released five others Monday who had been held for their opposition to the dam. The five were reportedly from the Shamalia area, but the news reports did not provide additional details.
On 13 June a demonstration against the building of Kajbar Dam took place at Farraig village, 140 km north of Dongola. Police and security forces shot at people peacefully demonstrating against the building of the dam. Four people were killed and thirteen others were injured.
Local residents have been long complaining about the complete lack of transparency and of a participatory consultation process during the project for the dam which will have major socio-economic and environmental repercussions on local residents and livelihoods.
(AP/ST)