Beshir guarantees press, travel freedoms
KHARTOUM, Aug 10 (AFP) — Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir has pledged to lift censorship of the press and end the ban on opposition politicians travelling abroad, but gave no timeframe, state media reported Sunday.
He also promised to consider the release of political prisoners and said the country’s state of emergency would be lifted once a peace agreement is signed with southern Sudanese rebels, press reports said.
“The censorship of the press will be lifted altogether and everyone can express himself in the newspapers and even on government television,” state media quoted Beshir as saying.
The comments were made at the president’s first meeting with leaders of both pro-government and opposition political parties on Saturday, state radio and the official Al Anbaa daily reported.
“The newspapers will be under the responsibility of the National Press Council,” said Beshir, implying that security services would no longer intervene.
More than a hundred lawmakers, prominent figures and activists attended the meeting with the president that lasted until midnight.
Beshir said Saturday he was aiming to develop “constructive proposals that may bring the viewpoints of the government and (rebel) movement closer in order to address the standing issues under negotiations.”
“Any person can now pack up and travel anywhere he wants,” Beshir told state media, in response to a demand from opposition politicians that the ban on foreign travel against them be lifted.
“There will no longer be a travel ban except on court orders,” he added.
Joseph Ukel, leader of the (southern) Union of Sudanese African Parties and secretary general of the domestic National Democratic Alliance (NDA), complained that he was prevented twice from going abroad for medical treatment.
In reply to another demand for freeing political detainees, including opposition Popular Congress party leader Hassan al-Turabi, Beshir said: “There is no everlasting detention”.
“Individual cases are being considered continually and every detainee whose reasons for arrest are over will be released immediately.”
Beshir also appealed to Communist Party chief Mohamed Ibrahim Nugud to surface after 13 years in hiding for fear of being arrested.
“I do not know where you are hiding him but if he comes out today, he will not be arrested and nobody will ask him,” Beshir told Communist Party official Farouq Kadoudah who was present at the meeting.
“As soon as a peace agreement is signed, the state of emergency will be lifted, except in parts of the country where stability is not fully maintained, ” he added.
The president said he was pleased that all Sudanese people, whether supporters or opponents of his government, “are united in their opposition to the Nakuru document” — a draft peace agreement between Khartoum and southern rebels proposed by east African mediators.
Major parties which took part in the meeting included the opposition Umma, Democratic Unionists, Communists, Popular Congress and ruling National Congress.