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Al-Ahram Weekly 17 - 23 June 1999 Issue No. 434 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 17 - 23 June 1999 Issue No. 434
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Profile Features Living Travel Sports Time Out Chronicles People Cartoons Letters Fight on for freedom
By Mohamed El-Sayed Said *
In the aftermath of the press's heroic battle against Law 93, optimism prevailed. The new law failed to enshrine a number of essential measures that would have freed the press, but it featured a number of very important gains. The law did not recognise the right of individuals to establish privately owned newspapers, but it did make this possible for joint stock companies.
The government, however, was not comfortable with this small concession. It seemed to be searching for a way to renege on it, and indeed it did, simply by issuing new legislation on joint stock companies and placing companies specialised in publishing under state control. Now these companies must obtain the cabinet's approval before registering. The cabinet has given itself the power to issue or withhold licences in publishing. What can journalists do? They don't have a leg to stand on. The press has no right to interfere in business legislation.
The election of the Syndicate's council and chairman on 28 June is a good opportunity to renew the battle for the right of private and public entities, whether individuals or companies, to establish and own newspapers. Candidates should make their position clear on this point. Unified legislation on the press is the only viable option, and we must press for an alternative to the current situation, in which the press is regulated by many different laws, including the law on companies.
*This week's Soapbox speaker is deputy director of Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies.
