The regained power of the press [Archives:2006/929/Opinion]
By: Mustafa Ragih
After several weeks of captivity, the little girl Hanan returned to her family in Taiz. With Hanan's return, public confidence in the press was restored. The press is again the beacon shedding light on perennial issues related to people and their everyday lives. Thus, this is more than a case ending in a family's happiness. The press, public opinion and officials expressed solidarity with the victim. Without solidarity, the vacuum turns into a desert of silence and due to its silence, people will find themselves in dark scattered islands.
Solidarity is the pillar of civil society, be it in the form of syndicates and organizations in charge of defending citizens' rights or in the role played by the press, considered a mirror reflecting society's reality.
From this perspective, the press reclaims its value as an independent authority. It is a power driving the wheels of justice and the voice of a single citizen, having no tribal connection or authority to rescue him. Also from this perspective, public opinion intervenes, realizing people as a social entity, with its moral and legal influence.
Hanan should have been forgotten. Her case might have melted in with other victims' cases troubling citizens' everyday lives. However, the press and public support shifted the way the case proceeded to restore life to Hanan and her family, as well as confidence in and effectiveness of the press and public opinion.
This is not an exaggeration. To prove this is correct, we find more than one case and more than one issue. In Amran, the little girl Sawsen was raped barbarically and found nobody to save her. The issue of shepherding Sawsen's rape was thrown in officials' cupboards; and instead of punishing the human beast who committed this crime and seemingly has influential connections, security authorities imprisoned Sawsen's grandfather in order not to follow up the case's procedures. The image has changed as the press made the victim's issue more prominent by publishing it on front pages.
The Taiz Security Department chief and other officials accused the press of inciting public opinion and fabricating false stories on the kidnapping of little girls, leading the chief to say that Hanan's abductor was afraid to return her as a result of terrorism practiced by the press. The official press eventually began publishing the issue, concerned parties began searching and Hanan was found in the town of Ma'abar, approximately 250 kilometers from Taiz. Her captor later was arrested in the town of Shabwah.
Most issues dealt with by the press require follow-up until the end, as they will be forgotten if there is no media coverage. Many issues have emerged over the past few years – some died an early death while others vanished due to lack of solidarity. The press is in need of change. Media institutions are recommended to follow and monitor people's sufferings in a regular and continuous manner.
Do you remember Wade'e Al-Shabani about whom the press published multiple articles and Amnesty International and other human rights organizations adopted his case in 1997? He was tortured to death in an Aden prison. Where did the issue go after that? It deliberately was forgotten. His mother died after a long pursuit of officials and the case file was thrown into the cupboards of oblivion without knowing what happened. Was the issue investigated? A few months ago, Al-Shabani's lawyer spoke of a legitimate doctor's report confirming that he died as a result of torture. The way in which the case was handled did not allow Al-Shabani to rest in his grave.
Qat seller Mujahed Al-Samhi was killed by municipality soldiers last year. His case drew the attention of press and human rights organizations. Public pressure led to the case being referred to the court since the crime was committed by official employees. What is new now? Interest in this issue has waned. This not only will cause Al-Samhi's family to lose confidence in public support and solidarity, but it will lead to the case being tossed out due to prolonged judicial procedures.
News of political parties and their confrontation with the authority has dominated the political scene since the Joint Meeting Parties announced their political reforms program. These events came after two years of the parties hiding behind journalists. During this period, the press played a primary role in fueling political controversy and raising the ceiling of freedom of expression. The press sometimes seems to play the role that's supposed to be played by political parties: “Presenting the political program.”
The situation now is gradually returning to normal, with political parties giving more priority to political argument in the country and the press acting as a mirror for everything.
Mustafa Ragih is a Yemeni journalist.
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[archive-e:929-v:14-y:2006-d:2006-03-16-p:opinion]
