Al-Wahdawi [Archives:2005/835/Press Review]

12 Apr. 2005
Main headlines

– JMP condemns the use of force outside the stipulation of law

– Bloody confrontations inside the city of Saada

– Malaria and dengue claim lives in Mareb

– Inhabitants of 45 residential quarters in the capital exposed to threat of burning their houses

– Restructuring of information and establishment of a private satellite channel

– Following non-seriousness of the government, Universities teaching staff resume their strike

Columnist Hamdi al-Bukari writes saying if suppose the existence what is so-called good intention in the official dealing with the call for political reform in Yemen, to know that obliges the authority to embark on taking actual democratic steps.

Here are many opportunities for the authority to form an important pillar for the political reform. But using them is connected to the extent of the authority to depart from the fear for the collapse of its interests as long as there is an interest for the society and democracy. Currently there is talk about possible amendments on the law of press and publications, but we do not know what the secret kitchens are preparing of a draft law and where they are steering the freedom of the press.

We could suppose that the authority in front of a historic opportunity to distance itself from adding new aspects of the oppressive image has to accept the expansion of the democratic margin of freedoms and to accept three reformist demands for the law. Those demands are the abolishment of punishments confiscating press freedoms; abolish prohibitions on publication and providing the opportunity for possessing radio and TV stations by individuals and organisations.
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