The following article was written by Mr. Faisal el-Baghir in Arabic and translated into English by Sarah Richani. The column was published in Al-Midan weekly issue 2039 on August 28, 2007. The 15000 issues printed were seized from the printers. The Arabic Version can be accessed here.
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It is neither new nor odd for the Security apparatus and intelligence to re-launch their campaign against freedom of expression. Prior censorship was reinstated on August 19, nearly one year after it was revoked by a decree from the Vice President.
The memory of the Sudanese press and its journalists is strong and the dates have not been forgotten. But just as a reminder, here we are repeating the events as they unfolded. The presidential decree to lift prior-censorship in August 2005, lasted no more than three weeks. Less than a month after the decree the censors and their blades returned as though to indicate that the authority of the security apparatus superseded that of the president and the vice president.
If this impression is accurate, then this ultimately does away with the “salvation” regime’s claim of building institutions.
Meanwhile, one should also be reminded that the Sudanese Constitution and the international declarations ratified by Sudan protect freedom of the press. The government is therefore obliged to respect and implement these obligations.
But, until these obligations are met, censorship can and has made a comeback. This unfortunate return was preceded by ‘under the table’ forms of censorship such as ‘advice’ given to journalists and editors. The press was, for instance, warned about publishing articles and editorials regarding the Kajbar issue amongst other topics which security and official circles refer to as “destructive conspiracies”.
This latest prior censorship campaign has so far featured a number of violations on freedom of expression. 17000 copies of the daily Rai el Shaeb were claimed on Tuesday August 21 2007 from the printers. The same paper was denied the right to publish the following day. Numerous newspapers have suffered from similair restrictions such Al-Sudani, Al-Ayyam, Al-Rai el Am, Hikayat where a number of editorials and news stories have been unscrupulously lacerated by the censor’s blade.
This is just a simple reminder of the unending abuse of the principles of free speech and expression. On the other hand, it would also be worth reminding readers of all the forms of resistance devised by journalists to counter the government’s strategy of muting the press and its journalists.
And we know all too well that the struggle against the institutional practices to stifle journalism will continue, unabashed, until victory.
Amidst this battle for freedom of expression and the press comes the obedient Sudanese Journalists’ Union with a press release describing the recent flagrant violations on freedom of the press as “exceptional measures.”
Needless to say, the press release did not even mention the words censorship, security, violation or oppression. It is not too surprising however as this ostrich-of-a-union only happens to see extenuating circumstances in flagrant violations. It also failed in its statement to suggest any practical measures needed to resist the security censorship. This is indeed a pity.
The memory of the Sudanese press and its journalists is strong and the dates have not been forgotten. But just as a reminder, here we are repeating the events as they unfolded. The presidential decree to lift prior-censorship in August 2005, lasted no more than three weeks. Less than a month after the decree the censors and their blades returned as though to indicate that the authority of the security apparatus superseded that of the president and the vice president.
If this impression is accurate, then this ultimately does away with the “salvation” regime’s claim of building institutions.
Meanwhile, one should also be reminded that the Sudanese Constitution and the international declarations ratified by Sudan protect freedom of the press. The government is therefore obliged to respect and implement these obligations.
But, until these obligations are met, censorship can and has made a comeback. This unfortunate return was preceded by ‘under the table’ forms of censorship such as ‘advice’ given to journalists and editors. The press was, for instance, warned about publishing articles and editorials regarding the Kajbar issue amongst other topics which security and official circles refer to as “destructive conspiracies”.
This latest prior censorship campaign has so far featured a number of violations on freedom of expression. 17000 copies of the daily Rai el Shaeb were claimed on Tuesday August 21 2007 from the printers. The same paper was denied the right to publish the following day. Numerous newspapers have suffered from similair restrictions such Al-Sudani, Al-Ayyam, Al-Rai el Am, Hikayat where a number of editorials and news stories have been unscrupulously lacerated by the censor’s blade.
This is just a simple reminder of the unending abuse of the principles of free speech and expression. On the other hand, it would also be worth reminding readers of all the forms of resistance devised by journalists to counter the government’s strategy of muting the press and its journalists.
And we know all too well that the struggle against the institutional practices to stifle journalism will continue, unabashed, until victory.
Amidst this battle for freedom of expression and the press comes the obedient Sudanese Journalists’ Union with a press release describing the recent flagrant violations on freedom of the press as “exceptional measures.”
Needless to say, the press release did not even mention the words censorship, security, violation or oppression. It is not too surprising however as this ostrich-of-a-union only happens to see extenuating circumstances in flagrant violations. It also failed in its statement to suggest any practical measures needed to resist the security censorship. This is indeed a pity.
