Journalists refuse “National Unity and Social Peace Project” [Archives:2007/1081/Front Page]
August 30 2007
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For Yemen Times
SANA'A, August 28 ) During their 17th sit-in held in Freedom Square on Tuesday, journalists along with human rights activists announced their refusal of the so-called “National Unity and Social Peace Project,” recently ratified by the government to be presented to the parliament. The project contains articles that incriminate freedom of thought and expression, penalizing men of opinion by sentencing them to imprisonment or the death penalty.
In their issued statement, the protesters committed themselves to holding peaceful sit-ins of opposition, urging all political parties and social figures to maintain solidarity with them in rejecting this project. They commented, “We have a government that considers freedom of thought and expression as a threat.” Protesters called on all national powers to curb this aggressive trend of the authority.
They also condemned the abduction and attack of well-known journalist, Abdul-Kareem Al-Khaiwani. They urged the government to put forth an immediate investigation of the involved persons, considering it a barbaric act perpetrated by security personnel within a fragile state having no law sovereignty.
The protesters maintained their solidarity with Sameer Jubran, who was exposed to sever violation by the Ministry of Information, which refused to give Al-Massdar newspaper a license. The ministry's refusal to issue a license for Al-Massdar newspaper rebuffed false information regarding the registration of Without Chains newspaper. The ministry argues that the law does not allow civil society organizations to possess newspapers. Protesters demanded instant resignation of the minister of information.
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