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Al-Ahram Weekly 29 Apr. - 5 May 1999 Issue No. 427 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 29 Apr. - 5 May 1999 Issue No. 427
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Profile Focus Special Travel Sports People Features Living Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters An impostor syndicate
By Salama Ahmed Salama
It seemed at first that the story had been fabricated: an electrician, a member of the Print Workers Syndicate, had obtained false documents enabling him to set up a "Free Journalists' Syndicate" as a rival to the legal Press Syndicate.
Journalists are more aware than anyone of the state's ability to monitor the slightest movement anywhere in the country, to search tirelessly until it discovers any subversive ideas or destructive thoughts; how could such a powerful and omniscient state have failed to perceive an illegal syndicate claiming to represent the press? The head of the false syndicate, nevertheless, was able to secure the approval of official bodies (which may or may not have been the instigators of the initiative in the first place) and to establish his association. Once established, the organisation not only proceeded to issue identity cards for its members, but even went on to publish its own newspaper.
The story of Sawt Al-Umma, the newspaper that was forced to close down two months ago by a decision of the Supreme Press Council, is well known. The Council had withdrawn the newspaper's licence on the pretext that its charter was illegal, and suggested modifications, yet would not allow the newspaper time to implement them. The newspaper was banned before the first issue could go to print.
In sharp contrast, the deliberate neglect demonstrated by those dealing with the fake syndicate and its unlicensed newspaper was astonishing. Some officials seemed to believe the whole story was just a professional squabble. The Press Council made no attempt to punish such a flagrant violation of the constitution and the law, not to mention such a clear encroachment on its own powers and functions; nor did the prosecutor-general take prompt measures to examine the official notice served him by the chairman of the real Press Syndicate, and based on the fact that a syndicate can be established only by a law duly approved by the People's Assembly. The fake syndicate head could have carried on his activities, and might even have taken over the legal syndicate one day.
Those who believe in the rule of law have to wonder which government body is supporting this action -- by its silence or its complicity. Who enabled the electrician to establish his syndicate, and even to initiate legal proceedings to place the legal syndicate under sequestration?
According to several observers, certain official bodies are concerned with the state of professional syndicates in Egypt, and are quite satisfied with the general deterioration and chaos that prevail, manifested most clearly in the postponement of Press Syndicate elections for an undetermined period, despite the fact that the elections were to be held over a month ago. Perhaps certain journalists would like to see the Press Syndicate meet the same fate as other syndicates, in the hope that one of them will be appointed its sequestrator.
Others have gone so far as to claim that old endeavours to change the structure of the Press Syndicate by expanding its membership to include radio and television journalists have been revived yet again, the idea being to tighten control of printed press, television and radio at one blow.
Whatever the case may be, as Al-Ahram's editor-in-chief has pointed out, competition in the media market has grown far more intense, and it has become necessary to modify the press law and regulations pertaining to conditions for registration. The law, it must be noted, dates back to Socialist Union days. Journalists need a syndicate board that is strong and united, and able to lobby for a new law that would improve on current legislation and bring together those stranded in the media market, unprotected and unbound by any professional code of ethics.
