Law & Diplomacy [Archives:2000/44/Law & Diplomacy]
Danger of Statement Discrepancies
Imad Al-Saqqaf
Taiz Bureau Chief
It has been customary to observe that some Yemeni authorities are used to impose news black-out on many various events. On many occasions official sources tend to give inaccurate information on extremely important events, some of which even relate to security of the homeland. For instance the Yemeni citizen has not up till now known the exact causes of Yemeni Helicopter crash incident in Hadramout last year, claiming the lives of 18 military commanders. He does not know yet about the actual criminals behind Sanaa University Medical Faculty morgue murders of a number of innocent girl students.
Official media have elaborately published about efforts of relevant authorities for combating the RVF disease spreading in Wadi Moor, Tehama, but no confirmed information has yet been published on the disease, number of deaths and cases, and what exactly the authorities have done to safeguard the citizens.
More often than not, official information is inaccurate. The man in the street does no longer believe in what official press and government sources mention. Now the Yemeni policy is in deep water after the strange contradiction in official statements regarding the explosion incident in the USS Cole destroyer and that of the British Embassy building in Sanaa.
As an initial response, Yemeni statements ruled out that the explosion was a put-up act, but later backed off by saying it was a premeditated act of terrorism. The authority should have waited for investigations results before declaring its viewpoint. At present the Yemeni authorities concerned say proudly that they have discovered confirmed reports on the incident within 36 hours and that they are pursuing investigations with high efficiency.
This entails on our officials to show the same efficiency and resolution to uncover the mystery of the Medical Faculty crime, bring the criminals to trial and to regain the peoples confidence in official sources and authorities.
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