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Al-Ahram Weekly 24 - 30 June 1999 Issue No. 435 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 24 - 30 June 1999 Issue No. 435
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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 Interview Travel Sports Time Out Chronicles People Cartoons Letters Rumours of freedom
By Salama Ahmed Salama
I happened to be in Jordan as the kingdom was celebrating its fifty-third anniversary, revering the Hashemite kingdom and commemorating its independence from foreign rule. In the history of nations, the beginning of any new epoch is a time of expectations. Hopes of better times, greater development and thoroughgoing reform run high. Such expectations fill the air in Jordan, where it is widely anticipated that political and constitutional reforms will redress many of the setbacks of the past five years.
Hopes of reform are openly discussed in the media and elsewhere. Topping the list of controversial issues are the electoral law, the law on publications and the freedom of the press, and relations with Israel.
The series of setbacks suffered by the democratisation process in Jordan was precipitated mainly by disputes over the electoral law, or the so-called one-vote law. Many political parties reacted to the new legislation, which abolished proportional representation, by simply boycotting elections. Debate between advocates and opponents of the law has resumed today. Several ideas have been put forth: the election of the prime minister has been proposed as a measure to reform the political system. Yet in Jordan, as in other Arab countries which have opted for political pluralism, questions regarding the extent to which popular will and the fair representation of different political trends are respected remain unanswered.
The law on press freedom, which is stirring up a great deal of discussion these days, is officially known as the Publications Law. After five consecutive amendments within the space of five years, the Publications Law is still viewed as placing intolerable restrictions on the press. The Publications Law in Jordan seems to have developed along lines similar to those followed by its counterpart in Egypt, where articles in the penal code are drawn upon to limit freedom of expression and opinion. The Press Syndicate in Jordan is currently discussing proposed amendments in the hope of expanding the scope of freedom in general, and the freedom of the press in particular.
Many aspects of the situation in Jordan are contingent on the state of relations with Israel, and on the extent to which Jordan succeeds in undertaking a total revision of its political system. Such a revision has been promised by the new king. It may be expected to resolve tension between political forces currently clashing at the domestic level.
