When Will We Learn? [Archives:2000/39/Viewpoint]

The latest Rift Valley Fever disease that broke out lately in Yemen and the official media and press coverage of it reminded us of the same old mistakes that we continue to commit.
The official media is still not well aware of its role as the source of information that should be provided to the public on time and honestly. We have gone through humiliating times when a kidnapping incident happens in a certain part of the country, and only after all international news agencies and TV channels broadcast the news item will our TV channel do so. This is repeated again and again, one time for the City Center Explosion, another time for the Bab Al-Yemen Bombing, and this time for the disease in Hodeidah governorate.
Our government is still unaware of the true noble mission of its media and press. Isnt it humiliating to hear of the disease from three international news agencies before hearing about it from Sanaa? Cant the government realize that it should notify its people as soon as possible of this disease once it breaks out without any delay, show accurate numbers of deaths, the area where the disease is evident, and other information?
Day after day, we feel that we will never learn from our mistakes. This is the era of transparency, openness, democracy, and human rights, and without doubt, the right to know is a major human right issue. Why cant we understand that the government should reveal the truth of what is happening around us without hiding facts? Is it worrying about a certain chaos that would take place? Is it worrying about a damage that may be caused to its image? The governments image will truly be damaged when citizens feel that it did not do enough of awareness and did not reveal all the facts about events happening. Sometimes hiding the truth may be more damaging than revealing it. If such a disease would have emerged in any country in the world with a responsible government, media and official coverage would continue day and night spreading awareness about this issue and covering with exact details where the disease has spread and how many were killed. We cannot just have a short interview with an expert about the disease and that is it. Serious action should be taken on time, and coverage should include all the required information with details. It is a pity to see that the government has announced the death of 17 to 27 people while information on the ground states that the number is more than 80. Is the government fooling its people, or is it just hiding the facts for an unknown reason? It was not the reason for the disease to feel ashamed of the high number, why then does it hide it?
Hasnt time come when we would learn from our mistakes and try to take corrective methods? When will we continue to hold on to the old mentality of keeping the truth from the public? Why did the government sign the article about the right to know (Article 19) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, if it would not implement it? More and more questions need to be asked, but yet there is the most important question that we must seek an answer for is: When will we learn?

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