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Sudan calls in editors on hazardous waste reports
Sudanese authorities summoned seven chief editors of newspapers to question them over reports about dumping hazardous electronic waste, journalists said on Tuesday, calling it a worrying sign ahead of April elections.
Sudan's constitution, drafted after a 2005 north-south peace deal, enshrines a free press but opposition parties fear that censorship and detention laws forced through parliament would be used during the polls.
"Seven editors-in-chief were summoned," said Faiz Alsiaik, deputy editor of the Ajras al-Huriya daily. "This is a bad message especially as the elections are coming."
The papers summoned included pro-government and privately owned dailies on Monday.
The 82-year-old chief editor of al-Ayaam Mahjoub Mohamed Saleh said articles were written after a ruling National Congress Party parliamentarian said the government had allowed hazardous electronic waste into the country and to be sold on the market.
The accusations were made last December but columnists had continued to write about it, calling for an investigation.
Saleh said the government had waited too long to investigate and eventually find the allegations untrue, which was worrying.
"(We see a) lack of information, a lack of transparency and trying to make the press the scapegoat for their own shortcomings," he said.
"Technically, we were arrested," he said, adding the charges were publishing false information.
Both men said they had to sign papers saying they could be recalled at any time, and leave fingerprints, but they said the authorities were polite.
Alsiaik said they had been taken to state security offices. Security sources declined to make any immediate comment.
Sudan lifted censorship last year ahead of April's first democratic elections in 24 years.
But authorities have since warned journalists not to publish sensitive stories. Some papers, fearful of problems after the vote, practice self censorship.
Sudan's constitution, drafted after a 2005 north-south peace deal, enshrines a free press but opposition parties fear that censorship and detention laws forced through parliament would be used during the polls.
"Seven editors-in-chief were summoned," said Faiz Alsiaik, deputy editor of the Ajras al-Huriya daily. "This is a bad message especially as the elections are coming."
The papers summoned included pro-government and privately owned dailies on Monday.
The 82-year-old chief editor of al-Ayaam Mahjoub Mohamed Saleh said articles were written after a ruling National Congress Party parliamentarian said the government had allowed hazardous electronic waste into the country and to be sold on the market.
The accusations were made last December but columnists had continued to write about it, calling for an investigation.
Saleh said the government had waited too long to investigate and eventually find the allegations untrue, which was worrying.
"(We see a) lack of information, a lack of transparency and trying to make the press the scapegoat for their own shortcomings," he said.
"Technically, we were arrested," he said, adding the charges were publishing false information.
Both men said they had to sign papers saying they could be recalled at any time, and leave fingerprints, but they said the authorities were polite.
Alsiaik said they had been taken to state security offices. Security sources declined to make any immediate comment.
Sudan lifted censorship last year ahead of April's first democratic elections in 24 years.
But authorities have since warned journalists not to publish sensitive stories. Some papers, fearful of problems after the vote, practice self censorship.
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