Two Sudanese newspapers questioned over insults to president Bashir
March 15, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudanese authorities have summoned editors from two pro-opposition papers, accusing them of insulting President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, who is running in April’s first multi-party polls in 24 years, the publications told Reuters said on Monday.
“They asked us: how can you criticize the president?” said Fayez Al-Sheik Al-Silaik, acting editor in chief of Ajras al-Hurriya, said today.
“They asked us where was our evidence that Bashir had killed 10,000 in Darfur,” he added. Bashir has been quoted several times putting the Darfur death toll at 10,000 compared to the U.N. estimate of 300,000 dead.
The pro-Popular Congress Party (PCP) Rai Al-Sha’ab newspaper was questioned over two articles including one saying Bashir should hand himself over to the International Criminal Court (ICC), which last year indicted him for war crimes in Darfur.
The National Press Council said investigations were ongoing after which they will make a decision on the appropriate penalty to be imposed.
“This is a procedure. The committee will first see if there is a violation and after that they will issue a decision,” El-Obeid Marawih, secretary-general of the press council, said.
Sudanese authorities cracked down on any voices supporting the ICC indictment of Bashir who said in an interview last week that the arrest warrant has vastly boosted his popularity among the people.
This month the Sudanese state radio blocked the leader of the Umma Party Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi broadcasting his speech which contained mention of Bashir’s ICC indictment. The officials at the radio labeled his message as “inciting prejudices and hatred against the state”.
(ST)
Gatwech
Two Sudanese newspapers questioned over insults to president Bashir
Allow for free press and freedom of expression ya NCP notorious guys. Just deny the charges in your pro-NCP newspapers if the articles scared you…
Mr Famous Big_Logic_Boy
Two Sudanese newspapers questioned over insults to president Bashir
Misunderstanding, facts are different from insult. I wonder who comes up with this fake report. Bashir has killed Durfur at approximate of a million or more, and he is suppose to report himself to ICC ie appear before the judges, it is an insult if the idea are base on facts?
Kiir and Bashir are identical brothers in their traditional leadership. Those who support Kiir leadership are the same bashir allies, they love the way we see South in fatal and other form of sorrow. But this is not what the rest of people would like to see and live. We need our place to be the best of all, safe, clean, fair and rich. Once I hard a homeless bird or parasite insect singing that although Kiir steps down still the leadership of GOSS will be taken over by a dinka man, I really laugh to myself and feel disappointed to the way my people are behind the theory of politics. Those who made such suggestions believed that the leadership in South is a special heritage for a particular clan or community.
Eventually it is not, to make the point clear and obvious for those new born politicians in South. The first and unforgotten history of South Sudan independence has a deep root to Greater Equatorians, the initial idea of self determination in South comes from us. The same that achievement of this poorly implemented CPA still come into existence in our presents. Dinkas and Nuer would have ruined South into ash, just the same to what is happening right now about cattle ridding and other attacks. But we as intelligence people with morale and ethical principles we have brought both sides to live as one here in Great Equatoria, we are the superior bond in South, the only place that united South Sudan is Greater Equatoria, In Bor, Rembek dinkas are hostile to all other communities include their own clans. In Upper Nile still dinkas break into wrong side of the road and causing problems with Nuer, but still they want to get away by accusing nuer.
What you can see at Wani Igga family will never happen if that lady was married to Nuer. Dinkas have turned that family into their refugees shelter, uncles, ants, brothers, sisters, in-laws,cousins, grandparents, grandsons, granddaughters and friends of those people from Bor or dinkaland have changed the Identity of that family from Equatoria to dinkas family. It happens in Equatoria, but the only person to come is meant to be a close sister, brother or anyone within the family. However at Igga’s family that is a different case, in the evening you may think that these people are here for a meeting, from east to west, north to south all dinkas language. I was surprised when I last pay a visit to our Equatorian popular family. Some people are not a shame of this stupidity and immoral behaviours of taking over a family like that. I wonder it is because of free feeding, free luxurious beds and affordable lifestyle? I find it hard to encourage anyone from my side to attempt crossing the border of intermarriage. Simply it’s system of bringing a disaster. Finally my advise is that you loot public fund it is better to move and live on your own. Leave alone Igga and his wife.
babadit
Two Sudanese newspapers questioned over insults to president Bashir
Please tell Al Bashir that, he should not think by closing down the News papers , he will avoid going to hague ICC to be hung up.
there must be freedom of expression in the country mostly during the campaign period
Akuma
Two Sudanese newspapers questioned over insults to president Bashir
That could be misunderstanding of insult. There is freedom of expression. In fact, Bashir is a criminal which need people to talk about him. How can you deny realities? Is it not true thousands of people are being killed in Darfur? Thousand are left homeless in Darfur?
Let the truth be said.
Those editors will be penalised due to lack of expression in the country.
They need to deny the charges otherwise Bashir is a criminal. If he was not criminal? how come for international criminal court (ICC) indicted him?
So be reasonable enough in putting charges against editors.
Dr. Akuma,
Chicago, USA
Time1
Two Sudanese newspapers questioned over insults to president Bashir
If i remember well, it was Omer bashir who said with his own words that the killing in Darfur was only around 9000 to 10,000 people killed, so why is there a complain now about something that he said, does omer bashir have evidence for that 9 to 10 thausand people kileld?.