Media Ban on Baum’s Trial
M&C: Sana’a, Yemen - A state security court in Sana’a imposed a media gag order Monday in the trial of three opposition leaders charged with stirring up violent protests in southern Yemen earlier this year.
Presiding judge Muhssien Alwan issued the order at the start of the second hearing into the case, saying that the gag order applied to both local and foreign media.
Police officers guarding the court’s gate prevented journalists from entering even before the judge issued the ban. When the highly publicized trial began on May 28, journalists were allowed into the courtroom.
Hassan Baoum, Yahya al-Shouaibi and Ali al-Gharib, all senior members of the opposition Yemeni Socialist Party, are charged with instigating civil disorder.
Protests and riots hit several southern Yemeni cities where disgruntled youths took to the streets in April to protest what they called discriminatory army recruiting policies against southerners.
The Yemeni authorities charge the three men incited violent protests and riots that hit several southern cities.
At least 13 people were killed and more than 70 were injured in clashes with security forces.
I have 26 killed, hundreds injured and several hundred imprisoned.
Update 1: Defense withdraws, and Baoum admits to calling for secesssion.
Sahwa Net –The defense of three political prisoners withdrew from the court on Monday as it decided imposing media ban in the trial. Journalists were prevented from attending the trial even before the judge issued the ban.
The three senior leaders of the Yemeni Social Party, Hassan Ba Oam, Yahya al-Shouaibi and Ali al-Gharib are charged with inciting violent protests and riots that hit several southern cities in this year . In the hearing, Hassan Ba Oam admitted that he had called to secession, and refusing Yemen’s regime and the trial.
Update 2: Two of three defense withdrew, one is a journalist.
The Ruling Party website (I guess the ban doesn’t apply to them.) The Court also decided banning publication that would affect the process of justice and permitting publication of only proceedings of the trial. The body defending the defendants withdrew from the court except the defence lawyer of defendant Hassan Baoum.
Defendant Ali Haitham al-Gharib claimed that this charge is a publication charge and that he is a journalist, demanding that his file be sent to the Press Prosecution but the chairman of prosecution replied to the defendant statement that the crime is against the security of the state.
Statements of the defendant Hassan Baoum were read out at the court session, among them his saying that he does not recognize the Republic. When asked about reality of statements attributed to him the defendant confessed that they were his words and said in front of the court that the south is occupied by the “Arab Republic of Yemen” and that he does not recognize the regime and the law. Addressing the Judge he said,” I do not recognize the court or its judgment.”
The General Prosecution presented evidence against the defendants Hassan Baoum, which is a speech he delivered at Yashim festival, Shabwa governorate on 6 March 2008, including instigation on secession as well as that the south is colonized and its riches are being plundered and demanding the return of the south republic and the liberation of the south from the occupiers and that their slogan is revolution by the south.
When the defendant was asked about phrases attributed to him in his speech he said it was his speech with all its content. The defendant lawyer Mohammed al-Saqqaf said the address that was recorded is considered as violating agreements and conventions and that the whole thing was concocted the prosecution replied that it had permitted monitoring and observations. Chairman of the prosecution said it has nothing remaining concerning the defendant Baoum except demonstrating evidence in voice and picture. The court then decided postponement for two weeks for demonstration of the rest of evidence.
