Sudanese police release detained journlaists
November 17, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — Sudanese police released more than 70 journalists who were arrested today after staging a protest against press censorship out side the federal parliament.
More than one hundred journalists rallied outside the National Assembly to protest against the increasing censorship which flouts the freedom of expression and also intended to submit a letter to the lawmakers urging the revision of press and media bill.
The police arrested 77 journalists who refused to disperse and drove them to a police station in Omdurman, where is the parliament before to transfer them to Khartoum.
The local police released the detained journalists on Monday afternoon after instructing them to come to court for illegal demonstration against censorship. Every journalist signed a commitment to appear before the court tomorrow.
Al-Jazeera TV correspondent said that security officers confiscated a tape from his camera that had recorded the arrests outside parliament and that he had been summoned by national security.
Sudanese Journalists are subjected on daily basis to increased harassment, arrest, detention and interrogation; and their printed newspapers are confiscated, say rights activists.
The head of SPLM caucus at the parliament condemned the arrest and urged the release of journalists “This is a clear violation of the CPA and the constitution. The SPLM condemns this act of aggression against the journalists. This indicates how the democratic transformation is lagging behind,” Arman stressed.
The pro-ruling National Congress Party union of journalists said it disapproved of censorship but did not condone Monday’s protest.
Al-Fatih Al-Sayed, the secretary general of the union spoke about political agenda behind the protest. However he said they intervened to secure the release of the arrested journalists.
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Mr Point
“the sting of a bee cause its own death”.
This National Congress Party is so stupid in arresting the journalists. It weakens itself every day with these security crimes. Now journalists all round the world know that Sudan does not keep the promises made in the constitution and in the CPA. How will the world look at the promises made to bring peace to Darfur and get the president off the ICC hook?
If Khartoum cannot keep the promises made in 2005 then Bashir will be in the Hague international criminal court a long time before peace come to Darfur.
At the same time a large group of EU diplomats are holding dialogue in southern Sudan. The French ambassador noted a “political will” in the south to create a democratic environment where civilians are protected, freedom of press upheld, and where accountability and transparency prevail.
The French are against deferring the ICC arrest warrant on Bashir because Khartoum has not made enough progress on freeing political tensions.
Maker Deng says “the sting of a bee cause its own death”.