Khartoum - Abedalgoum Ashmeag
Dr Mohi Eldin Titawi is not happy with the committee\'s hard work going to waste
Chairman of the Sudan Journalists Union, Dr Mohi Eldin Titawi, says that the work of a media committee set-up to look into potential reform of the 2004 Press and Publications Act, has been stolen and reproduced.
Titawi told Arabstoday that the recommendations were reshaped and presented to parliament in a completely different form. The changes included penalties and punishments for the journalists which Titawi was not happy with. He added that he did not know who stole the committee\'s work.
The committee consists of former media minister and legal expert Dr Ismail Haji Musa, journalist Yusuf Abdul Mannan and Dr Samia Ali.
Dr Ismail Haji Musa has confirmed that the law presented to parliament is completely different to the recommendations of the committee. Musa said that the media secretary in Sudan\'s ruling National Congress Party formed the committee, but he cannot accuse the party of making amendments.
Sudanese Secretary General of the National Council for Press and Publications, Al-Obeid Ahmed Marouh, told Arabstoday that the Committee of Culture and Information in parliament has changed the Press and Publications Act. He added that parliament is yet to discuss the amendments made, waiting for the committee\'s observations before implementing them.
Marouh warned again treating the draft of the law as the final version.