Radio Silence

 Earlier this month, journalists from two newspapers in Sudan went on strike over the issue of press censorship. The issue appears nowhere near subsiding given news today that more than 60 Sudanese journalists were arrested outside parliament there for protesting against crackdowns on press freedoms:

More than 60 Sudanese journalists and newspaper staff were detained on Monday at a rare public protest against media censorship.

A Reuters witness saw riot police armed with canes and shields round up protesters as they stood opposite Sudan's parliament buildings holding banners with the message "We need our rights".

Police said 63 people were detained.

Freedom of the press was guaranteed in Sudan in a 2005 peace deal that ended more than two decades of north-south civil war, but this year newspapers have been repeatedly subject to the seizure of editions and other harassment.

It would seem as though there was no violence that led to the arrests, but it was the simple act of congregating in protest that led to the police response. The story goes on to add that those arrested represent at least nine Sudanese publications, which illustrates just how far-reaching the disenchantment is. We also get a look at the current state of press freedoms there:

Sudanese newspapers say they receive nightly visits from security officers who read through the next day's edition and instruct editors to remove sensitive articles.

Reporters and human rights activists say the crackdown started in February after newspapers published reports accusing the government of having backed rebels who mounted a coup attempt in neighbouring Chad. The government denies the accusation.