Sudan bans YouTube website
August 1, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — Sudanese authorities have banned, the YouTube, a video sharing website joining other five countries in the world.
Since 22 July, Internet users in Sudan have been unable to access the site, instead receiving an error message stating that the site was blocked by the National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC).
Sudan is the latest in a list of countries that has banned YouTube, a list that includes Turkey, Pakistan, China, Indonesia, and Syria.
A Cairo based Arab rights network, The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI), denounced the ban and urged the government to lift it and to put an end to its policy of prohibiting the circulation of information on the Internet.
Sudan did not provide any explanation for ban. However YouTube has recently become a key tool for political activists.
A number of video clips have been posted with footage of Sudanese security personnel beating and torturing minors, who were arrested and detained following the 10 May armed attack on the capital, Khartoum, by the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) rebels.
Mass arrests in Khartoum of perceived supporters of the Darfur rebel group followed the attack.
The blocking of YouTube was criticised throughout the country and a number of journalists and activists have launched online protest campaigns.
(ST)
Yaak Barach
Sudan bans YouTube website
What a disgraceful act by the NCP dogs!!!!! As a youtube fan i find it insulting that anybody could ban this beautiful website which provides entertainment among others because of their own political agenda.
This is one of the reasons why residents in South Sudan will definitely vote for independence comes the 2011 referendum. I mean we need press freedom and corporations that are not influenced by the government interference.
Once again shame on the NCP islamists for banning this crucial source of information and entertainment.
Allaman Ikoilaman
Sudan bans YouTube website
That is very illogical move, with naived understanding of the importance of the website. I too, condemn the act and it should be debated and be lifted so that people all over the Globe should know types of regimes hiked with human rights abuses, crimes against human beings.
Sudan government wants to continue clearing masses in the pheripherial regions, commiting genocidal acts with impunity. By banning the site, seems to them as an impetus from blocking human rights watchdogs the access to news in particular Sudan’s stand to Darfur crimes. That is very unfair indeed for a type of a regime to abuse the freedom of press of it’s citizens.
NCP, should wait how our southern Sudan will be a liberal State, a State that will respect and empower it’s citizens, comes 2011. To hell with Unity and NCP. We can’t and shall never accept any naked plolicy of Unity this time, our eyes and minds are far different from those of 70’s, very open and an Arab can’t reason with Southerners of this era. We shall not make history to repeat its self because we are never ignorant, only stupid and ignorant people will repeat stupid things.
My fellow southerners, enough is being termed to be enough. Let us proof beyond doubts the missconceptions of these invaders that, we can rule and govern ourselves, our land and borders from any aggressive acts. To bring down all those, we need to unite and simply opt for separation at the polling stations of Southern Sudan, that is where we shall never relapse back to arms like the darked days.
That doesn’t take me away from the topic of Youtube, which the criminal government in the North had banned. That is oblivious and intriquing to the people and the journalists of Sudan. Sorry to have such an adaman regime in our time, but time will come for it be wipped out from ruling, just after 1 and a half months, the Pre-trial Chamber will issue an arrest warrant for Omer and later to be for Taha for masterminding Criminal and ethnic cleansing of Darfurian tribes. Taha is even the Commander of Janjaweeds but from afar.
Remember the time Karadzic was on hideouts and he is now in Hague!. All of you will reach the same place, however lengthy the time it will take.
Thanks.
Ofonik Zachary Abingmoi.
Juba, South Sudan.