Sudanese Embassy responds

Sudanese Embassy responds

I refer to the article published in The Jakarta Post on Jan.
16 titled Sudanese woman rises from slave to author in UK. I
would like to make the observation that the press is powerful,
and must therefore exercise great responsibility in the search
for the truth through its publications.

It is sad that, from time to time, the Post has published
inaccurate information about my country, Sudan, based on foreign
correspondents' articles, without cross-checking to ensure the
accuracy of publications.

Our government has repeatedly denied that slavery existed, and
it established committees to investigate the question in early
1998. It blames the phenomenon on "tribal conflicts", in which
both sides took hostages and insisted that their captives were
not slaves. Slavery is against the constitution, the law and
culture in Sudan, and only the White Man, decades ago, took
slaves.

With regard to the subject of slavery in the Sudan, a mixture
of exaggeration and false allegations has been the basis for a
swindle to satisfy political and financial aims.

The aims are not only an offense to Sudan but the message was
directed to a campaign by the grandsons of people enslaved by the
Americans and British requesting compensation and an apology to
them.

In September 2000, the Sunday Telegraph in London published an
article on this matter within the framework of an organized
campaign to defame my country, which applies Islamic law. Al-
Koronky, who was a diplomat in the Sudan Embassy in London at
that time, filed a lawsuit against the Sunday Telegraph. His
vindication is more than a personal victory; it is also a
vindication for Sudan.

The Sunday Telegraph acknowledged the falsity of the article
and apologized for having published it.

In practice, women in Sudan account for approximately more
than 60 percent of the population. Not only that: Women now in
the Sudan occupy senior positions as ministers, ambassadors,
members of the Supreme Court and state governors, as well as many
posts in public and private organizations. They also play a
respected role in the social, political and economic aspects of
life, free of any restrictions or obligations.

KAMAL ALI OSMAN TAHA
Charge d'Affaires
Sudan Embassy
Jakarta