Jordan Times
Sunday, March 14, 1999
Rawabdeh urges media to suggest changes to press law
By Amy Henderson
AMMAN — Prime Minister Abdur-Ra'uf S. Rawabdeh yesterday invited members of the press to submit to Parliament and the government their suggestions to amend the controversial Press and Publications Law.
“We will launch a dialogue on the media with open hearts and open minds,” Rawabdeh told members of the Jordan Press Association (JPA) council during a half hour meeting at the Professional Associations Complex. “The Parliament is the final reference point for all legislation, but we will continue discussions with the press association and all civil institutions.”
Journalists in mid-1997 began a campaign to stave off the introduction of highly restrictive legislation on the press, an effort that finally failed last fall, when Parliament, under pressure from the government, endorsed the most restrictive law in the Kingdom's history. Journalists sought to amend the law during the administration of the previous government — which resigned only 10 days ago — but failed to generate support for the initiative in either the Lower House or the Cabinet.
Although yesterday's meeting did not result in a solid announcement of government support to repeal or amend the law as many had hoped, JPA President Seif Sherif described the meeting as short but fruitful.
Sherif said he solicited the premier's “courageous vision” in support of the JPA's demand to amend 13 articles in the law that most severely curtail press freedoms and free speech.
“There were no promises,” he said. “But the prime minister was flexible and understanding. He said that all doors are open and that [the executive and legislative authorities and the press] can cooperate.”
His Majesty King Abdullah's letter of designation did not place the media high on the Rawabdeh government's agenda, but journalists anticipate that the appointment of three “liberal” politicians in key posts — Prime Minister Rawabdeh, Royal Court Chief Abdul Karim Kabariti and Information Minister Nasser Lawzi — will advance their cause.
Rawabdeh spoke adamantly against several articles in the 1998 press law during the debate in Parliament last summer, while Kabariti, during his term as prime minister three years ago, commenced the “deconstruction” of the Information Ministry with a view to leaving in its wake an information bureau and a government spokesperson. Kabariti also opposed the law in the Senate.
Lawzi is also known to favour greater press freedoms and enjoys a good relationship with much of the media.
Journalists noted that the meeting with the JPA has come ahead of meetings with all other professional associations or political parties and believe that momentum to review the law is gaining ground.
Last week, 12 Lower House deputies submitted a petition to amend several articles in the law to House Speaker Abdul Hadi Majali. Their request will be presented to the 80-member plenary, which in turn must muster a simple majority before requesting the government to agree to the amendments.
Yesterday, Press and Publications Department Director Iyad Qattan said the government had “no objection” to Parliament amending the law.
“If [deputies] decide to amend, it's their constitutional prerogative,” said Qattan. “The government is looking for all reasonable and workable alternatives and its main concern is that all changes are well-studied so that the next law does not have loopholes or gaps and is agreed on by all.”