The suffering of the people in the Saada region has been detailed by online newspapers, such as Al-Shoura. The newspaper’s articles have brought attention to the region. Thus the Yemen government is seeking to settle with the rebels, in order to help the suffering people of the region. Despite the positive impact of Al-Shoura of bringing attention to the Saada conflict, the Yemen government has still arrested the newspaper’s editor. He is charged with being connected with terrorists.
The war between the Saada rebels and the Yemen government has finally come to a ceasefire. The rebels have decided to turn over military equipment to the government in exchange for the government releasing prisoners and also rebuilding the war-torn villages. The war destroyed the Saada region, and its people have suffered.
The war has also been a source of tension amongst the Yemen state sponsored media and its rival media outlets. The government has closed news networks which contradicted the message portrayed by the state sponsored networks. For example, recently it shut down www.al-shoura.net and www.aleshteraki.net for not following government regulations. (see Yemen Closes Two Rivals of the State News Network.)
On June 20, 2007 the Yemen government arrested, Abdel Abdul Karim al-Khawinay, the editor of the online newspaper Al-Shoura. He is allegedly connected to terrorists. His home was raided by Yemen security agents. The International Herald Tribune reported that al-Khawinay was beaten “with fists and gun-butts, then dragged him bleeding from the ear and nose to the police station. ‘His face, pajamas were all stained with blood,’ said al-Khawinay’s wife.”
Although the government has negotiated peace talks with the rebels, it is still seeking to control the media. The Yemen government believes that al-Khawinay has connections with the rebels. Al-Khawinay was arrested once before, but received a presidential pardon. Al-Shoura, al-Khawinay’s online newspaper, has continually attacked the government for favoritism and nepotism, instead of giving important government posts to the most qualified personnel. This continual barrage has culminated in the Yemen government trying to shut down the network.
Although the peace talks bode well for the people in the Saada region, the arrest of the newspaper editor is a sign of greater Yemen censorship. This is disconcerting, because it was newspapers like Al-Shoura, which showed the suffering in the Saada region. If the plight of the Saada people had not been voiced, then the Yemen government may have been less motivated to quickly help in the Saada region who are suffering.
Committee to Protect Journalists.Editor detained on terrorism allegations. 20 June 2007.
International Herald and Tribune. Journalists protest after police arrest opposition editor accused of supporting Shiite rebels. 20 June 2007.
Yemen Observer. Sa’ada rebellion draws to a close. 17 June 2007.
