الناشر
ماينشر
يعبر عن وجهة نظر الكاتب أو المصدر ولا يعبر بالضرورة عن وجهة نظر الإدارةمنبرحر
| The 3rd Annual ReportOnPress Freedom in Yemen in 2007 |
 |
 |
 |
| ENGLISH - English | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| نشرها صبرنيوز - SBR NEWS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| الثلاثاء, 08 يناير 2008 10:01 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
صوت الجنوب/2008-01-08
 The 3rd Annual Report On Press Freedom in Yemen in 2007. Introduction This is our 3 rd annual report on press freedoms in Yemen that we produce in the first week of the New Year as promised. It's our stable policy at the Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC) in writing our annual reports on press violations which represented in observing only the violations against press because of opinion or publishing. It means that, we didn't include violation cases if committed for reasons other than opinion and news publishing. It's to be noted that the current report is unlike the last ones in terms of quantity and quality of violations which has dramatically increased from the last year that it has been almost doubled. The 2006 annual report has included only 67 cases whereas this report observed a hundred and thirteen violation cases let alone the other indirect cases represented in the rejection of the ministry of information of 68 applications to get permissions for issuing new publications and journals. Thus, based on what has been mentioned above, the average of the press violations of 2007 is 3 cases a week. During the last years, the independent as well as the opposition parties' publications and newspapers took the lead in the demand for reforms and fighting corruption through a series of critical articles written by group of courageous journalists who went far enough in criticizing the regime and their powers and institutions. Moreover, they have urged the opposition and the civil society organizations to have bigger role and influence unlike the unsatisfactory role they practice at the moment. As many consider it as a direct outcome of that intensive opposition press campaign, last year was full of restless chaos, public tensions, and protest activities which have been witnessed in most of Yemeni governorates in general and in the southern governorates in particular. These irritated public practices, which were backed and implemented by the opposition and NGOs on daily bases, represented different demands which varied between salary-raise, carrying out political reforms, widening the margin of freedom and as objections on the frequent state violations. However, these nationwide either peaceful or aggressive public practices, was a fatty material for news agencies, newspapers, radios, TVs and websites which allocated most of its capacity for the coverage of the sit-ins and public rallies and gatherings all over the country. In addition, the newspapers front pages were competing in publishing the hot local news stories rather than ordinary articles and consequently, the media reporters got the lion share of the state's attacks and harassments more than other writers or critics. It's worth to be noted that the common or the shared reason behind most of the violations committed against the press people in 2007 was because of "Reporting" but not the steady criticism practiced by opposition critics who used to criticize the state policies all the time. In fact, the state's desire to keep these irritated public actions under complete blackout was met by similar determination and insistence of the journalists and reporters who dedicated themselves for disclosing facts and disseminating information. Such hot insistence and anti-insistence led to critical confrontations between state and press who were the weaker side. Accordingly, the most active reporters who were the first to access information suffered from the most violations of the last year especially those deployed in the governorates which witnessed much more tensions. This can be proved through the violations which practiced against the reporters of Al Ayam newspaper in the southern governorates where the most restless chaos took place. The special thing about this report is the decreased trial cases of press people in comparison with the last few years. It's obvious that the state's major concern was to blackout and ban circulation of information and events coverage rather than just trying this press facility or that reporter. Therefore, we can say that the most appropriate term which summarizes this report of 2007 on press freedoms in Yemen is "preventing information access and circulation". It's undoubtedly that the need for full guarantee of information access is a must and urgent demand that everybody should work towards achieving it. This right can be obtained through creating a law which insures the suitable and secured channels for accessing information and possessing press facilities. Until then, the door will remain widely opened for sever confrontations between state and journalists and between information monopoly and information access. Tawkkol Abdulsalam Karman Chairwoman of the Women Journalists Without Chains ( WJWC ) January-5- 2008. Background Article (6) of Yemeni constitution guarantees freedom of expression by all means; verbal, in writing and in depiction. Moreover, the government of Yemen confirms its commitment to the UN convention, to the human rights International Declaration and to the agreement of the Arab Countries League as well as to the international principles in general. Additionally, article (42) of the Yemeni constitution speculates that "The State guarantees the freedom of thought and expression of opinion verbally or in writing or in picturing within the law". Nevertheless, these clear legal texts remains hallow and ink on papers on the reality as most of the media outlets are state-run except some limited parties and independent organizations' newspapers which the ministry of information has given the permission while other media means like TVs and Radios remained monopolized by the state; not allowed for public, parties and private organizations ownership. On the other hand, the law put many conditions and restrictions for running, owning, circulating and printing of private-newspapers. It conditions that no ownership, printing or selling of any publication without an official license. These conditions resulted in limited privately-owned or party-newspapers which remained almost the same number and once in a while when a new newspaper gets an issuance license. Further, the ministry of information has practically brought to an end the issuance of new permissions for any publication before 2007. The state, represented in the information ministry has been using the condition of renewing the newspapers license every year as an effective weapon to screen newspapers as the ministry most likely decides not to renew their permissions or delegates them to some new owners like the cases of Al Shoura and Sout Al Shoura newspapers. As a result, the last year has also witnessed many protesting activities and calls for freedom of press and providing wider space for practicing this right of expression as well as legalizing the possession and running of different audio and visual media outlets by citizens, parties and organizations. Moreover, many journalists and press activists had expressed their objection against the repeated harassments of the press and organized various sit-ins and demanded the possession and running of different audio and visual media outlets by citizens, parties and organizations. Consequently, the information ministry was finally forced to partially leave the prohibition over the issuance of new licenses for the newspapers and publications which resulted in the birth of 34 newspaper and publication in 2007. see table (1). Yet, there are more than 68 applications submitted to the ministry of information by government, private organizations and parties which ministry still rejects to process and grant them the necessary permissions. See table (2). Table (1) shows the number of the licensed newspapers during the last year of 2007
Table (2) shows the number of the unlicensed newspapers during the last year of 2007
In spite of the extensive public demand for wider freedom of expression and possessing media outlets, the year 2007 has passed without any developments on this regard except the establishment of four state-TV channels and number of local radios which forced those are willing to have their own TV channels to look for outsider hosting countries to operate their channels like the 2-newly channels, Al Saeeda and Saba. To conclude, we should point out that the arrogance of the state has reached even to the cancellation and screening the unwanted electronic media websites and SMS mobile services implemented by the information and Telecoms ministries. Further, the point of getting an official authorization for circulation of information through these websites was raised again. Not only that, but the information ministry has prepared an amendment draft for the publications and printings law including the prerequisite of getting official license from the ministry before running any website. It's with no doubt that, the state is totally determined to go on its press harassment policy and narrowing the freedom space of press regardless all these protests and calls for freedom of speech and information access. Press Violations of 2007 (1): 1/1/2007 : the screening of the Nass Press website continues by the ministry of telecoms up to date. (2): 3/1/2007 : retaining the last issue of Al Watan, Qatri journal, and banning the distribution by the ministry of information on the grounds of publishing an interview with the joint meeting parties' presidential candidate, Mr. Faisal Bin Shamlan. (3): 21/1/2007 : Arresting the editor of Al Wahdawi newspaper, Mr. Ahmed Saeed, while walking in the street on the grounds of applying the sentence of west-south capital court in the case filed against the newspaper by the republican guards. According to the verdict, the newspaper is to be fined the amount of 550.000 for publishing a news story about the occupation of the republican guards on private lands belongs to local people in Anss, Dhamar. (4): 23/1/2007 : Attacking the reporter of Al Bayan, UAE-based newspaper, Mr. Mohammed Al Ghubari, while covering a press conference attended by the Yemeni prime minister and prime minister of Jordan. The journalist was attacked by 3 of the security staff of the prime minister. (5): 30/1/2007: security monitoring/chasing against the journalist Fuad Rashed, by the criminal investigation of Mukalla after publishing some reports criticizing the performance of the security forces in Hadramout. (6): 30/1/2007 : threatening of murder against the secretary of Al Neda Newspaper, Basheer Al Sayed, by a criminal investigation officer in the capital, Sana'a, for publishing some reports about the violations practiced against Mrs. Annissa Al Sha'abi by the capital criminal investigation office. (7): 30/1/2007 : threatening of murder against the editor of Nass Press, electronic news-website, Najeeb Al Yafae, by a criminal investigation officer in the capital, Sana'a, for covering the violations practiced against Mrs. Annissa Al Sha'abi by the capital criminal investigation office. (8): 4/2/2007 : threatening and shooting fire on the house of the journalist Anwar Al Ansi, on the ground of covering the story of the dismissal of Sa'adah Jews by Al Huthi followers. (9): 1/2/2007 : forcible apprehension of Mr. Ali Al Saqqaf, editor of Al Wehdawi newspaper by the printing and publication attorney for applying a previous sentence according to which the newspaper is to be fined the amount of 550.000 YR and to prevent Al Saqqaf from practicing press career for six-month period with suspension of verdict. (10):11/2/2007 : detaining the editor of Al Muharer weekly newspaper, Sabri Salmeen, in Al Rayan airport by the national security and abolish of production of the 8th issue of the newspaper. (11): 13/2/2007 : jailing he editor of Al Deyar newspaper, Aabed Al Mahthari, and sentencing him to one-year imprisonment by the penal court of Sa'adah for publishing a report about the corruption of Saqeen Court in Sa'ada. (12): 13/2/2007 : issuing a forcible apprehension order against the editor of the confiscated-Al Shoura newspaper and Al Nass Press website Mr. Abdulkareem Al Kheiwani, by the printing and publications attorney in the case filed against him by the ministry of defense on grounds of publishing a report about Al Badeea airport and the Watani Bank bankruptcy in which a high security official name was referred to in the report. (13): 19/2/2007 : abusing and humiliating the female writer, Anissah Mohammed Othman, by Al Distoor newspaper, which believed to be security-financed newspaper, after writing series of critical articles where she criticized the government in Al Wassat newspaper. (14-15): 2/2007 . : appearance of the journalist of Al Wehdawi newspaper, Adel Abdulmugni, and Ahmed Saeed, the editorial manager of newspaper in front of west-south capital court in the case filed against the newspaper by the ministry of transportation after publishing a report criticizing the agreement draft between the ministry and Dubai ports company on the management of Aden port. Yet, the case still in court up to date. (16): 24/2/2007 : summon and investigating the reporter of Al Rae Al Aam newspaper in Alqeten district, Hassen Al Hadad, by the director of the district who has threatened him for publishing news stories about seizing some grave yards belongs to local citizens and seizing some historical areas by the governor. (17):12-25/2/2007: screening the electronic website (Shoura Net) by the Telecom and Information ministries after the news-website published some news stories about Sa'adah war. This screening comes after several accusations by the Army official website which accused Shoura net of infidelity and terrorism. (18-19): 4/3/2007 : Breaking into Al Wehdawi newspaper premises and arresting the editor, Ali Al saqqaf, and one of editorial staff, Mua'ad Al Maqtari. Both were taken to prison by force under weapons threatening. (20-21-22) 4/3/2007 : Attacking the head of rights and freedoms committee of Yemeni Journalists Syndicate, Sami Ghalib, head of the activities committee, Hamdi Al Bukari , and the editor of Nass Press, Najeeb Al Yafae, by the guards of the criminal investigation office in the capital. The press people were threatened by machine guns and were prevented from meeting the editor of Al Wehdawi newspaper, Ali Al Saqqaf, and Mua'ad Al Maqtari. (23) 5/3/2007 : Investigating the editor of Al Wassat Newspaper, Jamal Amer, by the Printing and Publications Attorney in the case filed against the newspaper by the Endowment ministry after publishing a report on the corruption of the ministry in case of displacing hajjes. (24-25-26-27) 6/3/2007 : threatening and inciting against; Mr. Abdulkareem Al Kheiwani, editor of Shoura Net, and writers: Mr. Mohammed Al Maqaleh, Annissa Othman and Rashida Al Qaili in an statement published by the State-run Army website which accused the journalists publicly of disloyalty and of being conspirators to the nation. This state website defamations came after the above journalists took part in a TV show in Al Alam Channel talking about Sa'adah war. (28-29)) 13/3/2007 : the appearance of Mr. Ahmed Saeed, Mr. Mua'ad Al Maqtari of Al Wehdawi newspaper, in front of south-west capital court in the case filed against them by the republican guards of Khawlan after the newspaper published the storey of the abduction and murder of some citizens by a group of people backed-up by the republican guards of Khawlan. (30) 13/3/2007 : threatening the journalist and writer, Mohammed Al Maqaleh, by unknown armed people opposite his house after the journalist has written series of critical articles published in Al Neda and Al Wassat newspapers. (31) 19/3/2007 : banning the newscaster of Hodieda Radio, Ms Amna Hindi, from entering the Radio station and bringing her radio program she presents to an end. This comes after she talked about the mistreatment practiced against herself by the management of Hodieda Radio in her program. Hindi says she still not officially contracted in spite of her 15 years work with the radio. (32): 19/3/2007 : shooting fire on the car of the writer, Abdullah Faqeeh, by unknown armed persons after he published several articles in Al Wassat newspaper criticizing the government. (33): 19/3/2007 : threatening and public verbal abuse against Al Jazeera reporter, Ahmed Al Shalafi by some security personal while Al Shalafi was reporting about the situation of refugees in Sana'a. (34): 28/3/2007 : the appearance of Mr. Sabri Bin Makhashen, editor of Al Muharer newspaper, in front of the primary court of Mukalla in the publishing case filed against the newspaper by the ministry of Youth on the grounds of publishing slander. (35): 17/4/2007 : threatening of the journalist of Al Neda newspaper, Bushra Al Ansi, by the owner of a factory who warn her if she publish further articles about environment pollution which the factory causes to the environment. (36): 8/5/2007 : threatening against the reporter of Al Ayam newspaper, Abdulhafedh Mua'ajeb, by the guards of the Amran district director who came to his office and threatened him after publishing a report on the violations committed by the director of the district. (37): 16/5/2007: screening the socialist party website, (Eshtraki net), by the information and Telecom ministries because of publishing news stories about Sa'adah war. (38): 19/5/2007 : detaining the reporter of Al Ayam newspaper in Taiz, Maha Al sharjabi, and trying to confiscate her camera by the criminal investigation agent in the Republican Hospital of Taiz while she was reporting on the nutrition presented to the in-patients of the hospital. (39): 19/5/2007 : attacking and assaulting the reporter of Al Ayam newspaper in Ibb, Anis Mansoor, and seizing his camera by the guards of the Endowment ministry while covering a training course for mosque preachers in Ibb. (40-41): 25/5/2007 : stopping the GSM mobile news service of (Bela Qiood) and (Nass Press) by the MTN GSM company after it has received an official letters from the ministries of Telecom and information instructing it to stop the hostage of the two services on the grounds of having no official working permissions. (42-43): 27/5/2007: ending the GSM mobile news service of (Bela Qiood) and (Nass Press) by the Sabafon GSM company after it has received an official letters from the ministries of Telecom and information instructing it to end the hostage of the two services on the grounds of having no official working permissions. (44): 30/5/2007 : detaining and arresting the reporter of Al Ayam newspaper, Bushra Al Amery, by the police of the capital in Taiz Street, while she was interviewing and photographing local citizens near to the police camp neighborhood. (45): 31/5/2007 : detaining the Video camera of the Arabic TV channel reporters by the Private Guards personal while filming the explosion in the weapons store which took place in the camp. (46): 3/6/2007 : the appearance of Mr. Ahmed Saeed of Al Wahdawi newspaper, along with the journalist, Mua'ad Al Maqtari, in the case, which still in court to date, filed against them by the military camp of Arqoob, Khawlan. (47): 5/6/2007 : intimidating the reporter of Al Sharae newspaper, Mahmoud Taha, in Amran by armed people who broke into his house and threatened him of murder after publishing news story about Sa'adah war. (48): 13/6/2007 : attacking the reporter of Al Jazeera net, Abdu Ayish, by the security of Movenpick Hotel and was prevented from covering the Childhood Conference held in the Hotel. (49): 16/6/2007 : threatening of murder against the editor of Al Neda newspaper, Sami Ghalib along with other writers, by unidentified people who threatened him of murder if he didn't stop investigating about the file of the mysterious disappearing of some political activists. (50-51): ../6/2007 : spying calls of journalists, Abdulkareem Al Khiwani and Mohammed Al Maqaleh and presenting the records in front of the political parties' leaders meeting which considered an absolute violation of personal calls privacy practiced by the ministry of interior. (52): 20/6/2007 : arresting the journalist, Abdulkareem Al Khiwani, by the National Security personal who broke into his house and captured him in his sleeping clothes in a very humiliating manner, assaulting him in front of his family and children on the grounds of being member of a terrorist cell. (53): 3/7/2007 : attacking the editorial manager of Mareb Press website and confiscating his camera and the mobile of managing editor, Mohammed Al Salehi, while he was taking photos of the explosion site of the terrorist act took place in Mareb which targeted the Spanish tourist group. (54): 5/7/2007 : appearance of the Journalist, Abdulkareem Al Khiwani, editor of Al Wehdawi newspaper, in front of the criminal court on the grounds of contacting Abdulmalik Al Huthi, publishing his statements and promoting his thoughts as well as possessing CDs and films of Sa'adah war. Yet, the case still in court up to date. (55-56-57): 9/7/2007 : summoning the editor of Al Sharae newspaper, Naif Hassan, and the editorial manager, Nabeel Subae, along with the journalist Mahmoud Taha by the specialist penal court to be questioned in the case filed against the newspaper by the ministry of defense on the grounds of publishing stories about Sa'adah war. This publishing case is the first of its kind to be presented in front of unusual court, state-security attorney, and to be transferred to an exceptional court since 1990. (58): 9/7/2007 : summoning the reporter of Al Ayam newspaper, Saleh Haqross, in an illegal way by the security director of Shabwah, the governor and the general secretary of the governorate, practicing pressure upon him to reveal the source of his information he used in reporting the storey of arresting armed group in Shabwah on the grounds of being linked to Al Qaeda. (59): 12/7/2007 : summoning the reporter of Al Neda newspaper, Mr. Ali Al Dubaibi, by the Printings and Publication Attorney to be investigated in the case filed against him by a member of the south-west capital court after Al Dubaibi published an article in Al Neda newspaper. (60): 18/7/2007 : attacking the journalists' sit-in, which was held in the freedom square, by national security personal disguised in popular dress. This attack took place during the 10 th sit-in organized by journalists demanding the freedom of speech and the right of possessing media means. (61-62): 30/7/2007 : breaking into the premises of Al Sharae newspaper by 10 armed people and threatening the editor of the newspaper, Naif Hassan, after publishing reportages about Sa'adah war (63): …7/2007: appearance of Mr. Ahmed Saeed, Al Wahdawi editorial manager along with the journalist, Ashraf Al Rifi, in front of the south-west capital court in the case filed against the newspaper by the High Mineral Authority on the grounds of publishing a report about the corruption of the Authority. (64): …7/2007: suspension of the electronic websites: Aden News, Sout Al Janoob, Sout Al Janoob News, Taj Aden on the backgrounds of publishing news stories and reports about the protests in the southern governorates. (65): 22/7/2007: assaulting the editor of Al Jadeed newspaper, Ali Elian, by personal belonging to the Sana'a governorate educational office after the newspaper published a news story about their involvement in leaking and selling of high school examination answer sheets to the students. (66): …7/2007 : the resignation of head of state-run Yemen Space TV, Abdulgani Al Shameri, as an objection on the direct interfere of the information minister in his professional and administrative responsibilities and because of continuous annoying of the information ministry. (67): …7/2007: the resignation of head of state-run Yemen TV Channel 2, Yasslam Mater, as a protest on the direct interfere of the information minister in his profession and preventing him of practicing his powers and administrative responsibilities. (68): …7/2007: the resignation of head of the Radio Sector of Aden, Jameel Mohammed Ahmed, as an objection on the direct interfere of the information minister in his profession and preventing him of practicing his powers and administrative responsibilities. (69): 11/8/2007 : threatening of murder against the secretary of Al Neda newspaper, Basheer Al Sayed, by the security officer of Bani Dhabyan district on the basis of publishing report about seizing a building belongs to a citizen by some influential people and the name of security officer was mentioned. (70): 21/8/2007: threatening and confiscating the camera and bag of the reporter of Al Ayam newspaper in Lahj, Anis Mansoor, by the head of the public works office of Al Qubaittah after the reporter wrote about the harms caused by the unfinished public works in the governorate. (71): 20/8/2007: firing the editor of GPC-run Al Methaq newspaper, Abdullah Al Hadrami, on the grounds of writing an article in the newspaper where he supported the statements of the GPC general committee member (Yasser Al Awadi) who criticized the President's policies. (72): 27/8/2007: kidnapping, assaulting, beating and breaking the finger of journalist, Abdulkareem Al Khiwani, by National Security personal, after he had finished a meeting with the some EU delegation staff after Al Khiwani wrote a critical article he has written in Al Neda newspaper about prisoners' situation. The kidnappers ordered him to stop his critical writings and threw him eyes-blinded in a remote area outside Sana'a. (73): 28/8/2007: detaining the reporter of Al Ayam newspaper in Lahj, Anis Mansoor, by the director of the district of Al Qubaittah because the reporter published a news item about the formation of southern-governorate tribal board. (74): 28/8/2007 : producing an official inciting statement against Abdulkareem Al Khiwani by the capital security office in which they described Al Khiwani as (A Null). (75): 23/8/2007 : detaining the editor of Al Massder newspaper, Sameer Jubran, by political security personal in the Sana'a Movenpick hotel while he was distributing copies of an objection statement to the participants of Democratic Meeting and requesting their solidarity. The statement was an objection to the rejection of ministry of information to give his newspaper the official issuance permission. (76): 9/8/2007 : banning the issuance in time of the political appendix of Al Thawra newspaper because of "higher pressure" as the supervisor of the appendix, Ossama Al Sari commented. This comes after publishing a news story about the sacking of 20 employees from their job at the Tourist Promotion Authority. (77): Administrative violation against the journalist, Mohammed Al Ameer, of 14th of October newspaper, by the chairman of the 14th of October press establishment who issued a decision to deduct 50% of the journalist salary. In addition to the rejection of the management to provide him with salary legal rise he deserves. (78): the unfair sacking against the manager of editorial of the 14 th of October newspaper, Ali Hassen Yahya, and the rejection of the management to provide him with salary legal rise he deserves. (79): firing the supervisor of the sport appendix of the 14th of October newspaper, Sami Al Kaff , and obligating him to have an open obligatory leave. (80): dismissal of the supplies manager of the 14 th of October newspaper, Nabeel Mohammed Moqbel, from his job by the 14th of October newspaper management. (81): dismissal of the head of the investigation department of the 14 th of October newspaper, Najeeb Hussein, from his job by the 14th of October newspaper management. (82): issuing an administrative decision against the journalist of the 14th of October newspaper, Sami Abu baker, and reducing his salary to the half by the management of the 14 th of October Press Establishment. (83): issuing an administrative decision against the journalist of the 14th of October newspaper, Shehab Mohamed Saleh, and ending his employment as an editorial office manager at the press establishment without taking any administrative procedures. (84): 2/9/20 ... [Message clipped] -- ** --- ** --- ** --- ** --- ** --- ** --- ** --- ** Women Journalists Without Chains(WJWC) Tawakkol A- Karman President Tel +967 1 210543/532788 Fax +967 1 210 523 www.womenpress.net www.bilakoyood.net P.O.BOX Yemen,Sana'a12702Haiel Street Mazaya Build 3rd floor opposite Banorama Hotel |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| آخر تحديث الأحد, 29 نوفمبر 2009 08:02 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
