The U.S. Government has cautioned the Sudanese authorities against threats and crackdown on the media in the country for expressing political views.
The U.S., in a statement issued by the Deputy Spokesperson of U.S. Department of State, Mark Toner, said U.S. is concerned about the Sudanese Government’s threats to the media.
“The U.S. is concerned about the Government of Sudan’s threatening rhetoric and the crackdown on Sudanese media in response to calls by Sudanese civil society for civil disobedience.
“We again urge Sudanese authorities to stop seizing newspapers and engaging in other forms of censorship of those who report on, or express, political views.”
U.S. also condemned the use of force against protesters and those who expressed opposing views to the government, suggestive of crackdown on the opposition.
“If protests do occur, we urge the Government to respond to protesters with restraint, and encourage Sudanese authorities to take all necessary steps to allow citizens to exercise their right to freedom of expression.
“At the same time, we encourage those exercising their fundamental rights to express their views to do so peacefully.
“We also reiterate concerns expressed in U.S. Embassy Khartoum’s December 6 statement about the detention, apparently without charge, of a number of opposition political leaders and human rights advocates.” (NAN)
