Remove The Guillotine,  Press Wants to Have a Say [Archives:2000/36/Front Page]

Laying an emphasis on the significance of the right of expression and freedom of press that represent important pillars of human rights, Mr. Walid Abdulaziz Al-Saqqaf, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the English-language weekly Yemen Times said, “without those freedoms, it was obvious that the press would not be able to disclose violations and excesses.” He added, ” If these basic rights within the human rights are not granted to the press, journalists will always feel that the guillotine is lurking above their heads.” He emphasized the importance of boosting the freedom of opinion and expression in Yemen. The press in Yemen must be given guarantees allowing it to express opinions and write about various violations including those committed by senior officials.
Mr. Saqqaf’s remarks came in the seminar the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate held on Saturday and which was attended by Chairman of the Board of Directors of Saba News Agency Mr. Hussain Al-Awadhi, Editor-in-Chief of “Al-Usboo” weekly Mr. Hassan Al-Udaini, and former chairman of Yemeni Journalists Syndicate Mr. Abdulbari Taher. The seminar was held to discuss the topic of “Press and Human Rights in Yemen”.
Mr. Saqqaf also called for the need of reconsidering the Press and Publications Law, allowing it to be more flexible; thus reducing the number of civil suits filed at different courts against newspapers. Yemen Times Editor-in-Chief also called the attention that there are other causes of the weak performance of the press in the field of human rights, citing non-availability of well-informed sources; particularly at the side of the government. He also mentioned that cooperation between the press and human rights organizations must strengthen.
He indicated that official and pro-government newspapers never furnish the required standard of information on violations of human rights in prisons and other violations at State-run utilities. “Add to these pressmen’s apprehension of being pursued with court actions, should they deal with topics touching violations of human rights,” he said. In conclusion, the Editor-in-Chief said that activation of the role of press in human rights area should come through strengthening the journalist’s stance whenever he reports violations and discloses facts without any hesitation. It is here the journalist should be given privileges and obstacles must be removed from his way. The reported misgivings should alert those in charge to accept shouldering their responsibilities and do whatever needed for boosting human rights and freedoms. Detailed report on the seminar next week.

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