CPJ’s Marash advises Yemen to respect press freedom [Archives:2006/915/Front Page]
Yasser Al-Mayasi
SANA'A, Jan. 25 – Yemeni journalists should have the right to ownership of different media without any restrictions, David Marash, member of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), confirmed in a news conference Wednesday during his visit to Yemen.
He pointed out that the Yemeni government may suffer loss if it continues to harass journalists and hassle journalism and such loss is due to negatively impact the state and Yemeni society.
According to Marash, harassment of Yemeni journalists will be responsible for limiting the size of international donor support aimed at boosting Yemen's ailing economy. Over the past few years, Yemen has suffered a reduction in international support.
Marash emphasized that exterminating the media and preventing media personnel from reporting facts will help increase the number of illiterates in Yemen.
The CPJ will call on the Yemeni government to show more respect for press freedom and allow the press to play a great role in the development process, he said. “We record the arrests, beatings and abuses against journalists in Yemen and convey them to our readership and different governments worldwide,” he added.
Marash pointed out that the CPJ has the ability to play a strong role in transmitting facts of Yemen journalist harassment and abuse to other countries in the world, unless Yemeni authorities stop such practices.
He insisted Yemeni journalists continue reporting facts, irrespective of what happens to them, because by doing so, they will serve their country and its people and help restrict the practice of corruption in Yemen. He said he and his companions knew about the different media and the obstacles and barriers hindering their performance.
Marash stated he met a number of Information Ministry officials and social personalities interested in media issues to suggest possible remedies for the current journalism situation in Yemen.
He regretted not meeting Prime Minister Abdulqader Bajammal, who did not show up for their previously-arranged appointment.
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