Sudanese security blocks private TV from broadcasting interview with opposition leader
January 22, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The opposition Sudanese Congress party (ScoP) said on Thursday that the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) prevented the privately owned Omdurman TV from broadcasting an interview recorded with party leader Ibrahim al-Sheikh two days ago.
In a statement issued on Thursday, ScoP said that the channel management advised them that the NISS had requested a copy of the interview and after watching it they confiscated it and notified the station that it was not to be broadcast.
The security apparatus has far-reaching powers in Sudan and exercises tight control over newspapers and the content they publish, frequently seizing printed copies and even suspending entire media houses without warning.
However, the NISS rarely practices the same controls on TV channels.
ScoP praised Omdurman TV and thanked the channel for hosting the party chairman.
“The state of panic experienced by the regime manifests itself in its frantic quest to muzzle all mouths,” the party’s statement said.
“The paradox is that these actions come at a time when the regime seeks to market their comic play elections,” it adds.
The statement said that the move confirms the principled position of the party that “this regime is not worthy of dialogue or discussion and that the only way out for our bereaved country is toppling the Ingaz regime and the establishment of a democratic alternative”.
“It is the endeavour that we are approaching day after day, along with our allies in the Sudan Call forces and the National Consensus Forces,” the statement said.
SCoP is among several opposition parties that are boycotting the national dialogue process launched by president Omer Hassan al-Bashir a year ago and has also refused to participate in upcoming elections scheduled for April.
(ST)