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Press Release (9)
Abyei and Lubna A. Hussein
It is already eight days since The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague declared its ruling about the Abyei dispute in Sudan. It upheld seven of the 11 objections to the report of the Abyei Boundary Commission of 08. The ruling was significant because it was balanced; both sides had something to celebrate and say: we were right. The area was the scene of violent clashes in the past and many observers feared a rekindling of the civil war from the embers in Abyei.
Mercifully no clashes ensued on the ground. What is surprising is that all UK newspapers remained silent. There are many explanations, some innocent, some not. The Murdoch press, which in the past has sent a senior editor of the Times to Chad in order to encourage the Darfur rebels and even suggest better attack strategies is perhaps too disappointed to comment on a well-balanced ruling and the absence of a violent reaction or confrontation.
It is already eight days since The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague declared its ruling about the Abyei dispute in Sudan. It upheld seven of the 11 objections to the report of the Abyei Boundary Commission of 08. The ruling was significant because it was balanced; both sides had something to celebrate and say: we were right. The area was the scene of violent clashes in the past and many observers feared a rekindling of the civil war from the embers in Abyei.
Mercifully no clashes ensued on the ground. What is surprising is that all UK newspapers remained silent. There are many explanations, some innocent, some not. The Murdoch press, which in the past has sent a senior editor of the Times to Chad in order to encourage the Darfur rebels and even suggest better attack strategies is perhaps too disappointed to comment on a well-balanced ruling and the absence of a violent reaction or confrontation.
Others probably need time to research the complexities of the dispute before daring to cover it. Whatever the reason behind the silence, it is probably a blessing that the Aegis Trust’s well- known and extensive contacts have failed to produce a plethora of articles fanning the flames of distrust and conflict in Sudan.
Both the US and the EU have welcomed the Abyei ruling. The official SPLM statement welcomed it as has the government of Sudan. Abyei is not going to be the Kashmir of Sudan. All peace lovers and all those who wish Sudan well are rejoicing. As far as others including UK newspapers are concerned, their silence is a blessing. It is better than uninformed or biased reporting.
However, the floodgates of expert and non-expert comments on Sudan opened suddenly on 29th July in the wake of an indecency and antisocial behaviour (asbo) case in Khartoum involving journalist Lubna A. Hussein. The case is still on-going and it wouldn’t be appropriate to comment on it.
The real question, which is relevant to the deep-rooted islamophobic and anti-Arab prejudice, is the selective spotlight on Ms Lubna Ahmed Hussein and determined neglect of Abyei dispute’s result for eight long days.
The Sudanese have every right to say that silence in this case was very eloquent; and reporting was not necessarily a proof of goodwill, solidarity with women or professional competence.
Media Office/ Sudan Embassy – 29th June 2009
Both the US and the EU have welcomed the Abyei ruling. The official SPLM statement welcomed it as has the government of Sudan. Abyei is not going to be the Kashmir of Sudan. All peace lovers and all those who wish Sudan well are rejoicing. As far as others including UK newspapers are concerned, their silence is a blessing. It is better than uninformed or biased reporting.
However, the floodgates of expert and non-expert comments on Sudan opened suddenly on 29th July in the wake of an indecency and antisocial behaviour (asbo) case in Khartoum involving journalist Lubna A. Hussein. The case is still on-going and it wouldn’t be appropriate to comment on it.
The real question, which is relevant to the deep-rooted islamophobic and anti-Arab prejudice, is the selective spotlight on Ms Lubna Ahmed Hussein and determined neglect of Abyei dispute’s result for eight long days.
The Sudanese have every right to say that silence in this case was very eloquent; and reporting was not necessarily a proof of goodwill, solidarity with women or professional competence.
Media Office/ Sudan Embassy – 29th June 2009