Al-Wahdawi [Archives:2006/922/Press Review]
15 Feb.2006
Main headlines
– Cabinet reshuffles to manage lections of the ruling party
– Government negligence in encountering the threat of bird flu
– Security officials grilled in the case of prisoners escape
– Following increase in kidnapping children, demands for ousting leaderships of authority in Taiz
– Three soldiers and two women killed in confrontation in Saada
– Breaking through citizens houses in Amran in search for al-Houthi followers
– To prevent them from demonstration, oppressive practices against teachers
– Security pursuit of Al-Wahdawi newspaper, Yemen Journalists Syndicate: we refuse police ways against journalists
– As-Sabri demands re-formation of the Elections Supreme Commission
Columnist Ali Al-Saqqaf comments on the latest Yemeni cabinet reshuffle saying the reshuffle, as other similar ones before, has not brought forth something new and in general it was shocking and disappointing. Except the change that involved the minister al-Salami, any of the newcomer, departed or remained names have not been received with people's interest.
If there was any surprise, especially in the media circles, it was the return of Mr. Hasan Al-Lawzi to the ministry of information. Mr. al-Lawzi is a poet an intellectual and had previously been minister of information at the prime time of the totalitarian era. That has aroused large-scale argument among press and media circles that have divided in opinion about his return.
Many of those working in media fear that al-Lawzi return to mean restoration and revival the era of mouth muffling and suppression of freedoms. Oppositely, others think that the man and due to his culture, poetic spirit and experience would inaugurate a new media phase keeping pace with variables and accommodate changes.
Amidst justifiable pessimism and cautious optimism, hope remains high that the old new minister will take steps for the development of information in the country, but surely not among that the imposition and passing on the ill-famed press draft law.
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