Armies of Liberation

All they do is lie. Its really a very Stalinistic regime- they lie big lies. From the ruling party’s website- no one was hurt in Dhalie:

Almotamar.net - Yemeni official information source has on Thursday (6/25) denied Al-Jazeera TV channel and other media instruments reports on occurrence of killed or wounded in the massive demonstration supporting the unity in Al-Dhalie governorate on Wednesday. The march was organised by political, social and cultural activities in the governorate in loyalty to the unity and in condemnation of the voices calling for separation, sedition and sowing feelings of hatred among the sons of the one homeland.

On the other hand the source condemned the attack on Al-Jazeera TV channel team while it was heading for Dhalie to cover the march in support of the unity, at the hands of anarchic outlaw elements.

Second statement by Southern Yemeni Womans Union:

Our fighting sons and revolutionist brothers,

We as southern women believe in the right to restore our land, the land of law and order, The Peoples Democratic Republic of Yemen.

We came to protest in front of the Ayyam newspaper, the paper that provided the truth, and acted as a torch of light and liberty in the darkness that the occupation made us live in. We reject the repression of freedom that was given to us a right in all the constitutions and international covenants.

(Read on …)

The Yemeni government has shut down seven independant Arabic language newspapers and established a new press court for trials of journalists. Now the government is taking aim at the English language Yemen Post, warning the paper not to cooperate with international media- or else.

From the Yemen Post

Over the last two weeks, the Yemen Post received numerous threats from different sides due to its coverage of the foreigners that were kidnapped and killed. The Yemen Post was the main independent source for 90% of the international media. Its comments were even given priority over the government and what it announced.
Last week, meetings took place between the Yemen Post and leading figures of the government. In the meetings, The Yemen Post was firmly asked not to work with international media outlets and to limit its self to local media. Direct threats were given. The option on the table was to agree to cooperate with the government whether it was right or wrong in what they announce. In the end, the Yemen Post refused.
It is sad that these people don’t understand that the job of media is not covering what it is asked of it to cover, but to cover the truth.
Yemen has not yet understood the difference between independent and governmental media, and the Yemen Post has vowed to show everyone the difference.
What I clearly want to say is that the Yemen Post is doing what it was established to do, and that is lead Yemeni media, raise its standards, and through its sources throughout the country, be able to serve not only Yemen, but the international community with concrete information about what is really happening.
Even with the threats we are given, the Post will not soften its stance and will work to be the most trusted local and international news source in Yemen.

Good!

RESEARCHERS’ APPEAL TO THE YEMENI GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT A FREE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE LOCAL PRESS

Your Excellency,

We researchers, who had the special opportunity to conduct our studies on Yemen, are writing to express our deep concern about the current situation of the Yemeni press.

During the past month, May 2009, we noticed a sharp increase and intensification of confiscation of newspapers, restriction of access to printing facilities and distribution systems, lawsuits against publishers, detention of journalists, blocking of web sites, and use of force against press offices as well as the announcement of establishment of a special press court. We would like to express our particular worry that all of this seems to harm not only the Yemeni press, but also Yemen’s international reputation. While reports, articles and books used to testify to the comparatively free press of the Republic of Yemen, we fear Yemen is losing this distinction among the countries of the Arabian Peninsula.

However, the Yemeni press – its diversity of viewpoints, capacity of reporting and multiplicity of newspapers and magazines – is, in our professional experience, an essential source for historical, political, social and economic understanding of the country.

For this reason, we jointly decided to appeal to your position of leadership in the Yemeni government to end these restrictions on the press and to support to free circulation of ideas, opinions, and information.

Conscious that we share a common dedication to the study of Yemen, we respectfully ask your consideration of our appeal.

Sincerely,
- Paul Aarts (the Netherlands)[1]
- April Alley (the United States)
- Caroline Blayney (the United States)
- Robert D. Burrowes (the United States)
- Sheila Carapico (the United States)
- Nora Colton (the United States)
- Susanne Dahlgren (Finland)[2]
- Marina de Regt (the Netherlands)[3]
- James Dickins (the United Kingdom)
- Charles F. Dunbar (the United States)[4]
- Iris Glosemeyer (Germany)
- Bradley Heinz (the United States)[5]
- Jean Lambert (France)
- Kamil Mahdi (the United Kingdom)
- Brinkley Messick (the United States)[6]
- Martha Mundy (the United Kingdom)
- Monica Perini (Italy)
- J.E. Peterson (the United States)
- Charles Schmitz (the United States)[7]
- Jillian Schwedler (the United States)[8]
- Anna Wuerth (Germany)
(June 15, 2009)

[1] Senior Lecturer International Relations, Department of Political Science, University of Amsterdam.
[2] Academy Research Fellow, Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies
[3] International Institute of Social History, Amsterdam.
[4] Professor of International Relations, Boston University.
[5] Stanford University.
[6] Professor of Anthropology, Columbia University, New York.
[7] Towson University
[8] Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Massachusetts Amherst.

الرئيس علي عبدالله صالح

السفارة اليمنية c/o
;فخامة الرئيس, تحية طيبة و بعد

.نحن الباحثين ممن كانت لهم الفرصة للدراسة في اليمن, نعرب لكم عن قلقنا الشديد في الوضع الراهن للصحافة اليمنية
ًًًًًًًًًًخلال الشهر الماضي, مايو ٢٠٠٩ , لاحفظنا تزايداً ملوحظاً في مصادرة الصحف, تقييد للطباعة و النشر, دعاوى قضائية ضد رؤساء التحرير, اعتقال للصحافيين, حجب مواقع على شبكة انترنت و استعمال للقوة ضد مكاتب صحافية و كذلك اقامة محكمة خاصة بوسائل الاعلام

.نود بذلك الاعراب عن قلقنا و أسفنا العميقين, لأن ذلك لا يمس الصحافيين اليمنيين فقط, و انما يمس ايضاً بسمعة اليمن الدولية

.بينما تشهد التقارير و المقالات و الكتب لليمن لحرية صحافتها مقارنة بغيرها من دول شبه الجزيرة العربية, نحن على خوف شديد من ان تفقد اليمن هذه الميزة
.رغم ذلك الصحافة البمنية بتعدد وجهات نظرها, بقدرتها التقريرية, وتعدد صفحها و مجلاتها, بحسب بتجربتنا المهنية, تعد مصدراً اساسياً لتفهم أمور الدولة تاريخياً و سياسياً و اجتماعياً و قتصادياً

ً
.من أجل ذلك كله, قررنا معاً ان نتوجه بهذا النداء الى سيادتكم و من موقعكم في قيادة الحكومة اليمنية, لانهاء هذه القيود على الصحافة اليمنية,و دعم تبادل الأراء و الأفكار و المعلومات

.علماً بأننا جميعاً نتاشرك في تفانينا و فخرنا بالدراسة في اليمن, نتوجه اليكم بكل تقدير وبتبجيل بأن تأخذون بالحسبان نداءنا هذا مع فائق الشكر

(ترجمة احمد)

Its very good of the CPJ and RSF and other journalists organizations are staying on top of the assualt on the Yemeni media, but why are the donors so quiet on the issue that is so clear cut?

From News Yemen:

Six newspapers the Ministry of Information have suspended since a month have lost Yr 80 million (almost $400,000) and as many as 200 staff lost their income sources due to the suspension and suppression against those newspapers, said a press report prepared by journalist Mohammad al-Hakimi.

A source in the Aden-based al-Ayyam daily said the newspaper lost Yr 181 million until now, approximately Yr 21 million per a week. He said the paper continues to lose money. It added that 1185 vendors who used to circulate the paper have lost their income resource due to the suppression against the paper.

The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on the government of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh to end censorship of independent newspapers and to identify and prosecute those who assaulted Al-Jazeera journalists on two occasions in the south of the country.
Fans of the suspended newspapers organized in Karesh district in Lahj last Thursday a protest to the government’s policy against newspapers.

More from the Yemen Post:
(Read on …)

Lets see if Mujawar can get his orders implemented and if the Ministry of Information recognizes his authority. Government journalists to get a raise. Meanwhile the non-governmental media has been crippled.

Mujawar order to transform journalists’ inspiration into action SANA’A, June 25 (Saba) – Prime Minister Ali Muhammad Mujawar on Thursday ordered the relevant authorities to implement the March 10 cabinet decision on the journalists job description as soon as possible.

The project calls for job description and classification at the media institutions including the Yemen News Agency Saba, the General Radio and Television Corporation and the military media institutions.

The PM’s order comes in reply to notes sent by the Yemeni Journalist Syndicate in which the government was urged to transform the idea into a concrete action as well as providing necessary funds for the media sector within the next year’s budget.

Mujawar also ordered to give back money cut from the budget allocated for the journalists and approve salary increases ordered previously.

He also called on the Ministry of Public Health and Population to care of the journalists and their families through enabling them to get special treatment at the public hospitals.

The PM also called on the Communication Ministry to provide free internet services for the journalists, asking them to go after many Arab countries.

He also ordered the Information Ministry to continue publishing national newspapers at the al-Thawra Printings according to contracts signed with papers.

Not only is the Yemeni government beating up journalists and arresting them, but by confiscating the newspapers and not allowing them to print- they are driving them out of business.

Oh and Obama is increasing aid!!! Apparently without conditions. How pathetic is that? Pushing the counter-terror priorities at the expense of civil rights is a short sighted, counter-productive strategy especially considering the duplicity of the Yemeni regime on the terror issue.

Committee to Protect Journalists
330 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001 USA Phone: (212) 465‑1004 Fax: (212) 465‑9568 Web: www.cpj.org E-Mail: media@cpj.org
Contacts:
Mohamed Abdel Dayem, program coordinator
Phone: (212) 465-1004, x103; E-mail: m.abdel.dayem@cpj.org

Mariwan Hama-Saeed, research associate
Phone: (212) 465-1004, x104; E-mail: mariwan@cpj.org

Months-long assault on media continues in Yemen

New York, June 24, 2009—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on the government of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh to end censorship of independent newspapers and to identify and prosecute those who assaulted Al-Jazeera journalists on two occasions in the south of the country.

Yemen’s popular daily, Al-Ayyam, the weeklies Al-Nida and Al-Watani, as well as five other independent newspapers, were banned by the government in early May. Al-Ayyam and Al-Watani remain banned, journalists told CPJ. Although the ban against Al-Nida and the five other publications has been lifted, the state-owned Al-Thawra printing house has refused to print the papers, according to several journalists. As a result, Al-Nida remains out of circulation. The five other newspapers have since contracted with smaller printing houses, journalists told CPJ.

Sami Ghaleb, editor of Al-Nida, told CPJ that government officials had promised to instruct the state-owned Al-Thawra printing house to print his weekly, but that has not happened thus far. Even those newspapers that have resumed publication, he said, have faced sporadic confiscation.

On Monday, Al-Jazeera’s Aden correspondent, Fadel Mubarak, was assaulted by masked individuals while covering protests in Jea’ar in the southern governorate of Abyen. Mubarak, whose camera was also stolen, was treated at a local hospital and required stitches to his head, journalists told CPJ.

On June 17, unidentified individuals threw rocks at an Al-Jazeera crew on its way to Daalea City, in southern Yemen, to cover a rally organized by the ruling party, the satellite news channel reported. No crew members were hurt, but the vehicle was damaged.

“We condemn the continued harassment of independent journalism and the criminal assaults on Fadel Mubarak and other Al-Jazeera personnel. All independent papers should be allowed to resume publication, and the individuals who attacked Mubarak must be brought to justice,” said Mohamed Abdel Dayem, CPJ’s Middle East and North Africa program coordinator. “We hold the Yemeni government responsible for the censorship they have imposed and for their failure to ensure the safety of our colleagues.”

The Freedoms Committee of the Yemeni Journalists’ Syndicate said it has documented dozens of attacks against the press since May. The syndicate and numerous other sources said official and pro-government media have run repeated commentary blaming recent unrest on independent news outlets that offer critical coverage of sensitive issues and interviews with opposition figures.

In previous years, CPJ documented numerous assaults on independent journalists, including Jamal Amer, editor of Al-Wasat and CPJ International Press Freedom Awardee in 2006. No one has been brought to justice in that case, despite government promises to do so.

The most recent round of hostility to independent journalism reached its peak on May 13 when security forces fired on the offices of Al-Ayyam in Aden, the country’s second-largest city and a hot-bed of opposition to Saleh. Physical assaults have been coupled with dozens of arrests of independent journalists, editors, and bloggers, the latest of which was today’s arrest of Abdel Rakeeb Al-Hedyani, editor-in chief of Al-Watani. Al-Hedyani was released later in the day, journalists told CPJ.

CPJ has documented a number of other arrests. Fuad Rashid, editor-in-chief of the news Web site Mukalla ‎Press, who was arrested on May 4, remains in custody, said Samia al-Aghbry of the Yemeni Journalists’ Syndicate.

The Committee to Protect Journalists is a New York-based, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to defending press freedom around the world.

URL: Here

Great expose on the causes, mechanisms and outcome of media repression in relation to the Sa’ada War from AMS:

Restricting access to information can be as serious a threat to journalism as overt censorship or government persecution. The ongoing insurgency in Yemen’s northern governorate of Sa‘ada is one example of how a state’s attempt to enforce an information blackout has helped hide and sustain a conflict that has festered over four years, killing thousands and leaving a city destroyed, and continuing to stoke fears of a return to violence.

The Sa‘ada governorate, located in Yemen’s mountainous northern region on the border with Saudi Arabia and home to around 750 thousand people, has witnessed stop and go wars since 2004.[1] Precise numbers of the dead and wounded are unknown because no organization, national or international, has been allowed full access to the area to make an independent account of the violence, although most estimates put the death toll well into the thousands.

(Read on …)

What is that? One office for every newspaper that they want to drive out of business?

Yemen Post

As Ministry of Information has recently been transformed to a new site, President Ali Abdullah Saleh paid a short visit to the new ministry building earlier this week. News about the visit has two different sides.

The state-run news agency “Saba” reported that the President congratulated the ministry employees for the new building, and urged members of various media organs, audio, visual and print media, to improve and upgrade the information content and provide a meaningful messages that help the country towards progress and advancement adding that he inspected the various facilities of the ministry, the ongoing work as well as the work plan of the various institutions and organs of the ministry, however informed sources said that the President’s visit had a completely different aim.

Sources at the Ministry of Information said that during his visit to the ministry building, the President directed the ministry leadership to vacate the new building of the Ministry.
“Due to the huge size of the building compared with the small staff number of the ministry, President directed that the ministry should be moved again to the previous building giving no more details about any other body that might receive the building instead ” the source said.
The new six-store building of the Ministry of Information was inaugurated in March 19 2009 at a total cost of YR1, 899,984,000.

The building contains 142 offices; set In 264.43 square meters .It includes a kindergarten for the employees’ children, a hall for events, activities and workshops, in addition to two gardens, inside and outside car parks for more than 300 cars.

Mr.Abdul Rahman Saleh Al-Samty is a political activist in the Governorate of Lahj. He was arrested 20 days ago and through the fastest court proceedings ever he was convicted after 3 court sessions.

The charges were:
1. communicating with Hasson Baom.
2. establishing the committee of Al-Ayyam Newspaper Supporters in his area.
3. receiving funds from abroad.
4. being a member of “The National Council to Retrieve The South”

The court found him innocent of all charges except No. 2 , and during the trial he was asked repeatedly “why do you support AL-AYYAM?” to which he replied ” because of the injustice the newspaper in facing”… the prosecutor then asked “What injustice are you talking about?”

It was very clear to everyone who attended the court sessions that the main charge that got him arrested was supporting AL-AYYAM Newspaper.

He was sentenced to 3 months in jail.

The oppression of all media reporting on the southern protests continues full swing.

Yesterday morning, 18th June, northern security forces abducted the South-Yemenite Journalist, owner and chief editor of the Adengulf–website, Salah Al-Saqladi, and brought him to jail in unknown location. This act is part of the brutal campaign of official terror against southern media and southern political activists who struggle for freedom of expression of opinion and
coverage of the southern movement

The soldiers of the security service of the occupation authority broke into the house of Mr. Al-Saqladi morning in the city of Aden with dozens of military crews surrounding the house from all sides intimidating women and children in an inhuman and barbaric way. They confiscated his computer, private papers and tools they could find in his house.

The Adengulf-News condemns this criminal act and the repressive practices of the regime in Sanaa to its chief editor, Salah Al-Saqladi and all southern people. It stresses that the regime will have to take full responsibility of Al-Saqladi´s life and security. At the same time, Adengulf assures all its readers to continue Al-Saqladi´s work in exposing the crimes of the occupation of Yemen and to continue the struggle and the delivery of information to the world.

Adengulf-News takes also the opportunity to appeal to all local and international media and human rights organizations to carry out their duties to condemn such practices by the occupation authorities against southern media and journalism and take immediate actions to force the government of Sanaa to release Mr. Al-Saqladi and all other southern detainees. This regime should respect the freedom of expression of opinion and stop the information blockade against the South and unblock southern websites and newspapers

Oh yes lets have dialog and local council empowerment… As long as no one speaks their mind, everything should be fine. There’s also something going on with one of the reporters from al Ayyam, but I haven’t clarified it yet. The following is from Aden Press:

In the brutal campaign of terror against media and media southern dozens of soldiers of the security services of the occupation authorities to break into the house of Yemeni human rights activist and freedom fighter, a journalist, media Alsaglde Salah Ahmed, editor of the Gulf of Aden, the news this morning on Thursday in the city of Aden Khormaksar, with dozens of crews of military surrounded his house from all sides.

وقد قام جنود الاحتلال باقتحام منزله وإرعاب أهله وأطفاله بصورة همجية لا إنسانية وصادروا جهاز كمبيوتره الخاص وعبثوا بالأوراق وأدوات السقلدي الشخصية بعد ذلك قاموا باختطافه إلى مكان مجهول . The occupation soldiers broke into his house and intimidate the people and children are barbaric, inhuman and confiscated his computer system and messed with the Securities and Alsaglde Personal tools then they abducted to an unknown location.
ويأتي اختطاف الصحفي السقلدي بعد أقل من شهر من تلقي جهات في الأمن الساسي اليمني أوامر قهرية بالقبض عليه على إثر نشاطه الإعلامي والصحفي والحقوقي . .

This is in addition to the considerable propaganda network set up already. Working as an undeclared agent for a foreign government is illegal in the US, just ask Amen Ahmed Ali.

Gov’t agrees on media plan draft for expatriates
[09 June 2009]
SANA’A, June 09 (Saba) - The cabinet agreed on Tuesday on the national plan draft of activating the media role for expatriates submitted by the Ministerial Committee headed by Minister of Expatriates Affairs.

During the cabinet’s weekly meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Ali Mujawar, it approved the establishment of a committee under the chairmanship of Expatriates Affairs Minister to implement the content and directions of the plan in coordination with the concerned authorities.

The plan aims to activate the media role targeting this social segment and ties it with its country as well as working to highlight the developmental role of expatriates and saving their cultural and regional identity.

The plan also targets to shed light on the expatriates’ intellectual creativity and raising awareness on their legal rights abroad.

Yemen Times

“Yemen’s constitution prohibits the establishment of exceptional courts,” said Mohammad Naji Allaw, Chairman of the National Organization for Defending Rights and Freedoms, known as HOOD.

“Nowhere else in the world has a press court ever existed,” he pointed out.

“In the special court for journalism related cases, the government will be able to choose any judge who is ready to do what the government asks,” Allaw explained.

Allaw suggested to journalists to avoid dealing with the new court which he thinks was mainly established because the government discovered that journalists who were cleared from charges at courts turned into patriotic heroes, embarrassing the government.

“If formalists think the special press court is illegal, they can submit an appeal against it,” said Dr. Abdullah Farawan, head of the Judicial Inspection branch at the Ministry of Justice.

Sami Ghalib, editor-in-chief of Al-Nida newspaper, was investigated two weeks ago by the special press prosecution on Tuesday, June 9 because of his editorial “April 27: Militacracy Day” published in issue 194 of Al-Nida. He was investigated along with three others of his staff: Abduaziz Al-Majidi, Shafia Al-Abd and Foad Musad.

Minister of Information Hassan Al-Lawzi denied any orders by his ministry to stop newspapers. He did however officially order publishers and publishing houses to put their names on the newspapers they publish.

Journalist Hamoud Munasar described the new court in his own words. “The government kept silent for a long time, and when it finally decided on something, it came out with an ungrateful decision.” Munasar supported the call to avoid dealing with the press court.

Ali Al-Jaradi, whose newspaper Al-Ahali was confiscated in Taiz by security asked the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate to be more effective in accounting the establishment of a special press court.

Three challenges face journalism in Yemen: the judiciary which sometimes lacks integrity and independence, laws that restrict freedom of expression and the security behavior of attacking and kidnapping journalists, according to journalist Abdulbari Taher.

“This court is a historic mistake by the government,” said MP Abdulrazaq Al-Hajri. “It harms the country and its government.”

The government’s special press court has disappointed journalists and human rights activists both inside the country and around the world. It was approved by the Supreme Judicial Council and established at the beginning of May at the suggestion of Minister of Justice Ghazi Shayef Al-Aghbari, who said the decision to establish it was “not politically motivated, but purely professional.”

BMC

Press freedom ‘damaged’ in Yemen crackdown

The growing separatist unrest in southern Yemen and the ensuing government crackdown has already made a casualty of press freedom.

Eight publications independent or critical of President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s administration were suspended in early May when police halted their distribution and seized all copies.

The information ministry accused them of violating the press law which bans the publication of anything that could threaten the unity of Yemen, the poorest Arab country.

The regime accused the seven weeklies and the main southern daily, Aden-based Al-Ayyam, of siding with anti-government protesters in the south.

(Read on …)

What used to be the al Wasat website is here. Actually al Wasat moderated a lot since a few years ago when Jamal Amer got some pretty serious threats, and the paper was in no way promoting seperatism, just reporting the news of the unrest. But the Yemeni government can’t bear the truth, in any area.

The hackers wrote: “Unity is a Red Line.” It also says “Unity or Death”:

Idiots.

Probably every one of the 22 newly licensed papers is pro-regime and Tawwakol Karaman (WJWC) didn’t get her license yet. I would love to be wrong, really I would.

Al Qaeda can publish magazines and statements on the internet, but not civil society. Whats up with that? Everybody is blocked in Yemen except al Qaeda? The newspapers are inciting hatred but not Wahishi? Such garbage.

Zawya Yemen granted licenses for 22 new newspapers including 14 local newspapers, three newspapers for civil organizations and five for political parties in accordance with legal procedures, said Deputy Minister of Information Mohammed Shaher. Shaher said that there were further requests for issuing newspapers which are under studying by the ministry.

Currently around eight newspapers in Yemen were banned by the information ministry from printing and are accused of inciting hatred and indiscrimination in the country after covering what is happening in the southern governorates. Many local and international organizations have demanded that Yemeni government stop violating the rights of newspapers and freedom of the press.

Previously, Minister of information Hassan al-Lawzi said in a press conference that all Yemeni newspapers must take into consideration the national principles and the common interest of the nation when they are dealing with their press coverage.

As it should. Its also important to keep an eye on the massive and growing blockage of the internet.

Saleh doesn’t actually understand what democracy is, or if he does, he’s determined to kill it. Meanwhile a free media is one of the few things that could markedly increase stability and good governance in the mid term. The southern issue was taboo for so long that is exploding now with an intensity that shocks some. The international journalists organizations are doing a good job in reporting and protesting Saleh’s absurd and brutal Stalinist tactics.

President urged to halt persecution of news media

Reporters Without Borders wrote again today to President Ali Abdullah Saleh and his information minister, Hassan Ahmed Al-Lawzi, to condemn the latest measures taken by the government with the clear aim of gagging the news media.

“All these measures constitute serious and repeated violations of press freedom,” Reporters Without Borders said. “The authorities must put an immediate stop to all these forms of harassment and intimidation. All of Yemen’s journalists must be allowed to express their views freely.”

Reporters Without Borders is particularly concerned about a recent decision to set up a special court in Sanaa to try press offences. “We believe that such a court has only one aim, namely to muzzle journalists,” the letter said.

Citing the need to defend “national unity,” the information minister banned the printing of eight independent newspapers on 4 May for allegedly promoting “separatism.” Seven of them were weeklies and the eighth was the Aden-based daily Al-Ayyam (http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=31187), whose headquarters in Aden were fired on by soldiers and police on 13 May (http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=31303)

Reporters Without Borders has learned that police arrested journalist Yahya Bamahfouz, the editor of the Hadramawt news website, on 12 May in Mukalla (500 km east of Sanaa), seizing his computer and work material. His family says his state of health is worrying. Reporters Without Borders calls for his immediate and unconditional release.

Saleh Khamis bin Mehanna, an independent journalist who is critical of the government, has meanwhile been the victim of a physical attack by members of the security forces in Mukalla. It is the second time he has been attacked by government agents.

The news editions “willingly disappeared”, just like the southern protesters shot themselves, al-Khaiwani beat himself up to damage the reputation of the security forces, and in 2005, the fuel riots were prompted by “saboteurs in military uniforms” (thats actually what they said). Its like the country is run by a six year old bully who lies constantly and badly.

Govt. denies banning newspapers, accuses TV channels of harming Yemen’s unity
26/05/2009
SANA’A, NewsYemen : Information Minister Hassan al-Lawzi, who is also the government’s spokesman, has denied any decision taken by the Ministry of Information to suspend newspapers and said it only issues an administrative measure against some media who have violated press law.

In his press conference on Tuesday, al-Lawzi told reporters that some newspapers willingly disappeared for some individual conditions and troubles with printers.
But al-Lawzi said the ministry admitted that the Ministry of Information had warned the government and private printers to carry responsibility for any violation of press law.

Newspapers’ chief editors say they still have fears to get their newspapers confiscated after printing. They also said that owners of printers, private and public, still refuse to print newspapers which the Information Ministry has suspended.

Owners of printers want a clear permission from the ministry to print such newspapers to avoid legal problem with the ministry, said the newspapers’ editors.

Al-Lawzi has also said some TV channels unprofessionally intervene in Yemen’s internal affairs and violate the national sovereignty of Yemen. “Some TV channels host people and put pressure on them to talk against the Yemeni Unity and we have the evidence,” said al-Lawzi.

This is very good. I needed a list. My head is spinning trying to keep up with the assault on the Yemeni media. CPJ:

President Ali Abdullah Saleh
C/o Embassy of the Republic of Yemen
2319 Wyoming Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20008

Via facsimile 202-337-2017

Your Excellency,

The Committee to Protect Journalists writes to express its concern about your government’s recent crackdown on media outlets that have covered civil unrest in the southern part of Yemen.

In recent weeks, CPJ has documented a staggering number of attacks by the government on critical newspapers and Web sites–from the barring of newspapers sales to holding journalists incommunicado to attacking and firing at the offices of a newspaper and, most disturbingly, the establishment of a special court to try press offenses.

Since May 1, CPJ has noted the following attacks on independent and critical press in Yemen:

(Read on …)

This is amazing stuff right here and could change the Middle East quicker, more cheaply and with a better outcome than anything else going on.

Yemen Times

CAIRO, May 16 — A new tool to circumvent website censorship named “Alkasir” was released today in its BETA version 1.0 and is now in the public domain. The release comes after the software was publicly revealed for the first time in Cairo yesterday during the first day of the “Blogging the Future” summit organized by the Kamal Adham Center for Journalism Training and Research.

The software, whose name originates from the Arabic word ‘alkasir’, meaning ‘the circumventer’, is now accessible and according to its developer, Walid Al-Saqaf, an be downloaded directly from the web at http://alkasir.com/download.

(Read on …)

Where are the donors? The UN? Ah yes, the UN praised Yemen’s HR record and the donors are interested in al Qaeda and in stabilizing the criminalized regime of Ali Abduallh Saleh. What kind of moronic, shortsighted 9/10 type of thinking is that? Not a creative, pragmatic or forward thinking individual in the bunch. To the extent that the circumstance in 2009 was predictable in 2004, averting the looming disaster on all fronts certainly cannot be a function of more of the same reactive policies.

Yemen Times

SANA’A, May 17— The government has prevented the distribution of seven independent newspapers for the second week running and charged its journalists with attempting to harm supreme national interests, triggering widespread condemnation from media and human rights organizations worldwide.

Up to 30 editors and journalists from newspapers Al-Share’, Al-Masdar, Al-Diyar, Al-Nida’, Al-Watani and Al-Ahali, as well as Al-Ayyam, have been accused of inciting their readers to armed insurrection and posing a threat to national unity.

Based on a request by the Ministry of Information, the Press and Publication Prosecution last week questioned journalists from these newspapers, before charging them with, among others, provoking sectarian strife among Yemenis.

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Gulf Times

Yemen president pledges reforms
DPA/Sanaa
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh pledged yesterday to carry out administrative reforms to empower municipalities to better respond to the people’s needs after a wave of violent protests in the country’s southern cities.
Saleh said his government would propose constitutional amendments that would permit the election of district mayors who are, under the current system, appointed centrally.
“God willing, we are conducting constitutional amendments to give the local authority wider jurisdictions than what it has got now,” the Yemeni leader said, quoted by the official Saba news agency.
“We are working on a constitutional amendment and establishing a local governance system with wider powers under which the district mayors would be elected,” he said.
The agency said Saleh made the remarks during a meeting in Sanaa with dignitaries and tribal chiefs from the southern Lahj province, which saw most of the violent protests.
He said the reforms would produce municipal boards that are capable of reaching out to segments of the population that otherwise would not be serviced in an appropriate manner.
The move follows the violent protests in three southern provinces in the past few weeks.

Ashaq Alwast

Yemen: Government to Launch Bill Restricting Opposition Moves

Sana’a, Asharq Al-Awsat- The Yemeni authorities announced that they intend to enact a law criminalizing any action that “harms the national unity” of the country. The announcement comes amid escalating developments in the south of the country that began sometime ago. These developments escalated lately together with activities by the public, known as the “Peaceful Southern Movement.”

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Echoes US terminology including “legitimate grievances”

Al Sahwa

Sahwa Net – The European Union has voiced deep concern over the recent incidents of political violence in the South of Yemen, calling all parts to abandon violence .

EU urges government , political parities, civil society organization and Yemeni citizens to engage in dialogue in order to identify issues of concern and take urgent action to address legitimate grievances.

It further criticized the recent restrictions on newspapers in the wake of news coverage of events in the south , calling the Yemeni government to stand by the freedom of media and access to information as fundamental rights.

” The European Union recognizes and welcomes the role of the GCC in supporting Yemen’s development, as expressed at the 19th EU-GCC Joint Council and Ministerial meeting on 29 April in Muscat” It added .

A paper by parliament member, Ahmad Saif Hashid, presented at the media women forum, on freedom of the audio & visual media.

The real situation of the media in Yemen is still a bad one and suffers great guardianship and forbidding either implicitly or explicitly. For example, possessing satellite channels is absolutely not allowed as well as the mobile short news messages service is subjected only to desire of the government, while about twenty electronic media news websites are veiled. The print media is overloaded with a great deal of materials that are prohibited, to be published, by disgraceful law. The Illegal acts committed against the press and journalists are beyond calculation and the worst is that such acts are practiced daily or semi-daily.

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With a flair for the dramatic, this gesture is as powerfully symbolic as when the motorcycle drivers left the head on of a bull on Parliament’s steps in 2005. The regime is blaming the JMP, but its unlikely. (More at the Yemen Post.)

Saboteurs burn newspapers kiosks in Dhalie city
Saturday, 16-May-2009
Almotamar.net - A group of saboteurs on Saturday set fie to shops selling newspapers in the city of Al-Dhalie following a sit-in in solid airy with suspended newspapers.
Almotamar.net correspondent in Dhalie said the sit-in was soon changed into riot acts and unrest as around 80 persons attacked a kiosk for selling newspapers in downtown of the city. Al-Hamidi kiosk is considered the main distributer for all official, partisan and independent newspapers.

They burned the newspapers of Al-Thawra, 14 October, Al-Jumhuriya, Al-Mithaq, 22 May, Akhnar Al-Yaoum, Al-Shumou, and Fajr Al-Dhaie while they left the newspapers of the opposition Joint Meeting Parties JMP.

Worth mentioning is that those acts came as part of directions by the JMP that held meetings of sabotage in Aden with the aim of solidarity with the Al-Ayyam newspaper and the parties agreed on committing those acts, according to confirmed sources.

Not one group in Yemen is capable of putting out a press release in English, sorry, so here we have more bad google translation:

Press release

We, the heads of editors of the independent newspaper the undersigned express our condemnation of the serious action taken by the Ministry of Information recently, which is an explicit reversal of the Constitution of the Republic of Yemen, and the most important pillars of the state unit, which celebrates the anniversary of the Yemeni after 19 days.

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There were 15 women, six children and a toddler in the compound when the assault began. Also a note: “Yemeni security forces are asking neighbours who live around Al-ayyam building (family home and office) to evacuate their houses as it seems a preparation for another attempt.”

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned the shocking disregard for safety of journalists and media staff who were caught in the crossfire of a battle between security forces and armed guards at a publishing house in Yemen.

“This is an appalling event where journalists and media staff have been endangered by the reckless use of violence,” said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. “Troops should be withdrawn, all armed men stood down and all sides should respect the use of democratic means to resolve their differences.”

According to reports, one man was killed and a number of others injured when security forces opened fire on the offices of the newspaper Alayyam, whose editor and publisher, Hisham Basharaheel, is facing arrest in a police investigation over a killing which took place last year.

Basharaheel is a fierce critic of the authorities and there is confusion over the attack on his newspaper which was surrounded by security forces yesterday. The publisher brought in his own armed security guards and a firefight broke out with journalists and other media staff trapped inside the building.

The IFJ fully supports the Yemeni Syndicate of Journalists (YJS), an IFJ affiliate, which is calling for an end to threats of violence and for the safety of journalists and media staff at the paper to be guaranteed.

“It is unconscionable to deliberately turn journalists’ workplace into a battle ground,” added White. “But, such an indiscriminate assault on civilian premises without clear warning for occupants to leave the place is the height of irresponsibility.”

For more information contact the IFJ at +32 2 235 2207

Not to mention kidnapping, death threats, license refusal etc etc

Yemen: Halt Crackdowns on Newspapers
Censorship by Printing Ban, Military Assault and Special Court

(New York, May 16, 2009) – Yemen’s government should immediately cease attacks on independent newspapers and scrap plans for a special court to try media cases, Human Rights Watch said today.

“These actions are a clear effort to silence independent voices in Yemen,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “President Abdullah Ali Saleh needs to end this campaign of intimidation and censorship.”

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Yemeni government forces are using tear gas and bullets to attack the offices of al Ayyam; several employees are injured.

The security forces began gathering yesterday but residents formed a human shield in front of the building.

What kind of goverment shoots up a newspaper? Its just unbelievable.

Update by RSF:

REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS / REPORTERS SANS FRONTIERES
PRESS RELEASE / COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE
ENGLISH / FRENCH / ARABIC
13.05.2009

YEMEN
Soldiers fire on Aden-based newspaper, killing one employee and wounding three others

Reporters Without Borders condemns the military assault which government soldiers launched against the headquarters of the daily Al Ayyam in Aden (360 km south of Sanaa) at 11:30 a.m. today. One of the newspaper’s employees was killed and three others were wounded.

“The Yemeni authorities have been going out of their way to persecute Al Ayyam and this military assault is the culmination,” Reporters Without Borders said. “Even the world’s worst dictatorships do not go this far. The countries of the Arab League and the international community must intercede so that Al Ayyam can resume working normally.”

The Yemeni army began its assault on Al Ayyam’s headquarters, located in the Aden district of Crater, by firing tear gas. This was followed by gunfire that killed one employee and injured three others. Troops sealed off the streets leading to the newspaper and set up military checkpoints to prevent access to the neighbourhood.

Harassment of Al Ayyam began to escalate on 1 May when a truck carrying about 16,500 copies of the newspaper was intercepted by gunmen on the Lahej road 50 km north of Aden. The driver was forced to abandon the truck and all the copies were seized.

The same thing happened on the morning of 3 May to two of the newspaper’s delivery trucks, one bound for Taez and the other for Sanaa. A total of 30,000 copies of the newspaper were taken and the drivers were held for 17 hours. These attacks are believed to have been the work of a pro-government organisation that claims to defend national unity.

The next day, 4 May, the information minister banned the printing of Al Ayyam and six other newspapers for allegedly promoting “separatism.” Many journalists staged a sit-in in Sanaa on 7 May in solidarity with the seven newspapers.

There were more attacks on the newspaper’s vehicles on 9 May, while police and soldiers made an attempt to arrest Al Ayyam editor Hisham Bashareel on 11 May. Street leading to the newspaper were blocked the same morning. The authorities claim that Bashareel is wanted for his role in a murder outside Al Ayyam’s office in Sanaa in 2008.

Al-Ayyam’s local correspondents have often been threatened in the past and its Sanaa office was the target of an armed attack on 12 February 2008 (http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=25751).

Created in 1958, Al-Ayyam is one of Yemen’s leading dailies. It has no political affiliation but, with headquarters in the southern city of Aden, it acts as a mouthpiece of the inhabitants of the poor southern provinces and has provided extensive coverage of the social unrest in the south in recent months.

Good, it deserves attention.

REPORTERS WITH0UT BORDERS / REPORTERS SANS FRONTIERES

PRESS RELEASE / COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE
ENGLISH / FRENCH / ARABIC
05.05.2009

YEMEN
Aden-based daily’s delivery trucks intercepted

Reporters Without Borders condemns the repeated hijacking of trucks carrying copies of the privately-owned daily Al-Ayyam in the past few days. The interceptions appear to be have prompted by the Yemen-based newspaper’s coverage of protests in the south of the country.

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More bad Google translation. Several journalists, academics, human rights workers and others were denied visas to Yemen recently. The following story deals with Laurent Bonneyfoy, French academic, who had a visa and was refused entry at the airport. He wasn’t even permitted to call the French Embassy or his wife in Sana’a before being turned around and flown back out. He was working on research with the International Crisis Group on the Sa’ada War. The ICG is an impartial and respected organization that focuses on conflict resolution.

This tactic of denying visas along with the banning of several major newspapers is clearly a regime tactic to hide the truth and prevent its dissemination internally and internationally. Its such a dirtbag regime, but it plays the game very well. Bonneyfoy is never very controversial or critical and normally sticks to boutique topics, but any research on Sa’ada scares the regime. There’s a lot still hidden that they want to stay hidden. As I’ve said before, this tactic of threatened and actual Visa denial causes some to temper their public analysis. Its understandable, but the world and the Yemeni people suffer for it.

Saleh’s propaganda machine is actually quite impressive in its repressive and proactive aspects domestically and internationally. The several other instances of recent Visa refusals are equally egregious. You’ll have to take my word for it until they become public.

Al Needa: طرد الشهود من اليمن وإغلاق البلاد على حروب غير محدودة - نبيل سبيع Expelled from Yemen, witnesses and the closure of the country’s wars, however limited - Subaie
الخميس , 30 أبريل 2009 م Thursday, April 30, 2009 m
Print Send News
أجرت منظمة دولية مرموقة بحثا في اليمن حول إيجاد شروط أساسية لبناء سلام دائم في صعدة وتزمع إصدار تقرير حول ذلك بعد أسبوعين، لكن القصة ليست هنا. Held a prestigious international organization in Yemen, on the search to find the conditions essential to building a lasting peace in Saada and intends to issue a report on that after two weeks, but the story is not here. القصة في أن التقرير تسبب بطرد الباحث الفرنسي بونفوا الذي عمل عليه وهذه قد تكون بداية سياسة جديدة تنتهجها صنعاء: The story that the report caused Bonfoi, causing him to expel the French researcher who worked for him and this could be the beginning of a new policy sanaa:
الوضع في اليمن ذاهب إلى الأسوأ.

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the internet is already blocked….

What they mean is any paper that publishes news of the southern unrest is violating the press and publications law which prohibits articles based on the effect they have on the public, and one outlawed effect is “undermining unity”. It shows how draconian the law is. There should be something along soon in English.

from al Thawra, govt paper:

وزارةالإعلام : الصحف التي تمس بالوحدة الوطنية سيجري ايقافها And Zarpalialam: newspapers, which affect the national unity will be stopped
الإثنين - 4 - مايو - 2009 - الثورة نت Monday - 4 - May - 2009 - Net Revolution

قالت وزارة الإعلام انه سيتم تطبيق القانون بحق الصحف التي تمس بالثوابت الوطنية والدينية , وقال محمد شاهر وكيل وزارة الإعلام انه سيتم ايقاف كل الصحف التي تمس بالوحدة الوطنية, ودعا محمد شاهر الإعلام الوطني الرسمي والحزبي والاهلي والمستقل بكل أنواعه سواء منه المرئي أو المقروء او المسموع في اليمن الى الارتقاء بنفسه الى مستوى المسؤلية الوطنية وعدم المساس بالثوابت الوطنية أو الدينية وقال وكيل وزارة الإعلام ان أي وسيلة إعلامية ايا كان نوعها أو طبيعة عملها الإعلامي تقوم في ممارستها الإعلامية على المساس بوحدة الوطن فهي بذلك تخالف قانون الصحافة والمطبوعات والنشر وسيتم مباشرة التصدي لها من قبل وزارة الإعلام بحسب ما هو مخولا لها قانونيا واتخاذ الإجراءات الصارمة بحقها . Ministry of Information said it will be the application of the law affecting the right of the newspapers that national and religious principles, “said Mohammad Shaher and Undersecretary of the Ministry of Information he will stop all the newspapers, which affect the national unity, and called Muhammad Shahir national media and party official, al-Ahli, independent of all kinds, whether it video or audio, or reading in the Yemen to promote himself to the level of national responsibility and not compromising the principles of national or religious, said Undersecretary of the Ministry of Information means any information of any kind or nature of work in the media briefing on the exercise of prejudice to the unity of the homeland are so contrary to the law of the press and publishing and printing and will be directly addressed by Ministry of Information as it is legally empowered to take strict measures against them.

Ok here we go, English. Thank goodness the CPJ is on it at least, but how pathetic another news blackout like Sa’ada. We know what that means- its going to get bad. What a shame that they stopped printing, the regime should be ashamed at this thuggish behaivor but they are the psychotics of governance, no conscience at all:

Yemen On Line Government seizes newspaper offices in Yemen
After confiscating thousands of copies of a critical independent newspaper, authorities laid siege today to the paper’s offices in Aden, Yemen. The daily, Al-Ayyam, has been covering the ongoing conflict in the country’s southern region.

(Read on …)

Update: 6 other papers in addition to al Ayyam are blockaded including al Needa and al Sharie.

As the south heats up, more newspapers in the region are targeted for reporting the news.

Two al Ayyam delivery drivers were kidnapped and fifty thousand copies of the the paper were confiscated.

The following is one of the regular southern updates and didn’t come from al Ayyam itself.

A very respectful national newspaper and most sold one in Yemen has been targeted by security forces at checkpoints for the last few days and correspondents provoked on many occasions in the past few weeks.

Brief Introduction:

Al-ayyam newspaper is non government funded newspaper, privately owned and one of the very popular, respected, most selling one in Yemen. The newspaper covers political, economical, sport and social news. Established in the sixties in Aden - Yemen.

For enquiries:

Website: www.al-ayyam.info
Tel. +0967 - 1 - 2255170
Email: editor@al-ayyam.info
Staff spoken language: Arabic & English
Editor in Chief: Basha Bashraheel, Hisham Bashraheel & Tamam Bashraheel.

Events: On 4th of May (early hours of morning) security forces waited outside printing building and confiscated all copies due to be delivered nationally.
On 3rd of May (early hours of morning) two delivery vans, drivers and content (believed - approx. 18000 copies on one van and approx 12000 copies on second van) have been disappeared to unknown destination and destiny still unknown to the time of writing this notification.
On 1st of May a delivery driver was kidnapped by people who later appeared but delivery van, cash and content (approx. 12000 copies believed to be set on fire deliberately).

On a regular basis Al-ayyam correspondents around Yemen have encountered various methods of humiliation, disgrace and singled out to stop them from continuing to do their loved career, profession and to cover events.

The newspaper have been accused by regime and put on trial unjustifiably to prevent them to broadcast the truth which proudly and bravely management have been doing regardless amid regime constant warning through sms and phone calls by unknown people believed to be encouraged by security forces and bluntly by senior government officers in the government media.

Reasons: The newspaper one of few that covers events bravely and professionally about the situation in regions in Yemen and regime excessive use of force against innocent people by using artillery and tanks shells in the north region called Sadaa (war broke out five time). also, recently and ongoing in he region called Radfan (refer to links below). These high standards, professionalism and determination annoyed the regime who disrespect human rights, treaties, international community and particularly journalists and unbiased media in Yemen.

Appeal: As International organisations, agencies and associations, we therefore appeal to you to bring this up with the highest authorities internationally to continue promoting media, journalism and freedom of speech. It takes courageous people to continue with their belief in journalism specially in countries that do not believe in democracy or the promotion of human rights.

Its an organization focused on the protection of children. And they do very good advocacy work.

Naba News
هاكرز يلحقون دماراً كاملاً بموقع منظمة سياج لحماية الطفولة Hackers wreak havoc in full the location of the fence for the Protection of Children
الخميس, 09-إبريل-2009 Thursday, 09 - April -2009
نبأ نيوز - News report –

دانت منظمة سياج لحماية الطفولة بشدة جريمة القرصنة الإلكترونية التي تعرض لها موقعها على شبكة الانترنت ( www.seyaj.org ) والتي أدت إلى تدميره بكافة محتوياته ومواده الصحفية. Denounced the fence to the protection of children seriously the crime of piracy against the electronic website (Www.seyaj.org), which led to the destruction of all its contents and press articles.

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