Sudanese General warns of ‘decisive battle’ with media
The commander of the Sudanese 16th Infantry, Maj. Gen. Tajelsir, has threatened journalists with ‘a decisive battle’ if they crossed what he termed ‘journalistic red lines’. Tajelsir was speaking to reporters at ceremony at the house of the chief of police, in the presence of the Director of Security of the State in Nyala, capital of South Darfur on Friday. “We have two battles: the first with the armed movements that has come to an end; the second one is upcoming, with the media, especially the press”. He warned the journalists present: “You do nothing other than write news and negative reporting about the State and you will have to bear the consequences of your actions in the coming period.” El Mahdi blackout According to Sudan’s official news agency (Suna), on Monday, the head of the Sudanese State Security Prosecution Office issued a decision banning the press from reporting on the case of the leader of the National Umma Party (NUP), El Sadig El Mahdi, who has been detained since 17 May. El Mahdi was called for questioning by state prosecutors over statements he made accusing the Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Force of abuses against civilians in Darfur and Kordofan. He is accused of “disrespecting the prestige of the state, discrediting the regular armed forces, inciting the international community against Sudan”, and spreading false news, “causing unrest among the regular troops, and breaching public peace”. Human rights During the widespread protest demonstrations last September, Maj. Gen. Tajelsir went on record in an audio recording to fire on civilian demonstrators with live ammunition, saying he “would not acknowledge human rights in Darfur or Sudan”. Press freedomPress freedom in Sudan is currently at an all-time low. According to the World Press Freedom Index, monitored by Reporters Without Borders, Sudan rates within the bottom 10 of the 180 countries surveyed. File photo Related: EU call on Sudan to lift press curbs (28 May 2014) Police disperse, detain El Mahdi protesters in Sudan (27 May 2014) Press ‘warned’ in Sudan (21 May 2014)
The commander of the Sudanese 16th Infantry, Maj. Gen. Tajelsir, has threatened journalists with ‘a decisive battle’ if they crossed what he termed ‘journalistic red lines’.
Tajelsir was speaking to reporters at ceremony at the house of the chief of police, in the presence of the Director of Security of the State in Nyala, capital of South Darfur on Friday. “We have two battles: the first with the armed movements that has come to an end; the second one is upcoming, with the media, especially the press”. He warned the journalists present: “You do nothing other than write news and negative reporting about the State and you will have to bear the consequences of your actions in the coming period.”
El Mahdi blackout
According to Sudan’s official news agency (Suna), on Monday, the head of the Sudanese State Security Prosecution Office issued a decision banning the press from reporting on the case of the leader of the National Umma Party (NUP), El Sadig El Mahdi, who has been detained since 17 May.
El Mahdi was called for questioning by state prosecutors over statements he made accusing the Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Force of abuses against civilians in Darfur and Kordofan. He is accused of “disrespecting the prestige of the state, discrediting the regular armed forces, inciting the international community against Sudan”, and spreading false news, “causing unrest among the regular troops, and breaching public peace”.
Human rights
During the widespread protest demonstrations last September, Maj. Gen. Tajelsir went on record in an audio recording to fire on civilian demonstrators with live ammunition, saying he “would not acknowledge human rights in Darfur or Sudan”.
Press freedom
Press freedom in Sudan is currently at an all-time low. According to the World Press Freedom Index, monitored by Reporters Without Borders, Sudan rates within the bottom 10 of the 180 countries surveyed.
File photo
Related:
EU call on Sudan to lift press curbs (28 May 2014)
Police disperse, detain El Mahdi protesters in Sudan (27 May 2014)
Press ‘warned’ in Sudan (21 May 2014)
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