Tunisian journalists criticize government tactics

Relations between Tunisian journalists and the interim government have soured in recent weeks.

By Houda Trabelsi for Magharebia in Tunis – 21/07/11

Tunisian reporters on Monday (July 18th) staged a protest outside the headquarters of the National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists (SNJT) to denounce what they say are government efforts to control the press.

The demonstrators criticized remarks made by interim Prime Minister Beji Caid Essebsi directed at media organizations. Protestors took particular issue with last week's violent dispersal of the Kasbah sit-in, which left ten journalists injured.

SNJT's executive bureau expressed concern that authorities were seeking to reassert their control over the nation's newly free media. The SNJT issued a statement in which it condemned "insults and humiliation" by the interim administration.

"The bureau is declaring its absolute rejection of the measures that are aimed at marginalizing the media sector and imposing restrictions on journalists," said Najiba Hamrouni, a SNJT chairperson. "The SNJT's executive bureau considers these behaviors a stark aggression on journalists, freedom of opinion and expression, and citizens' right to information."

She added that the syndicate was "warning against the consequences of repetition of such practices and is reserving its legal right to react to them in the way it deems appropriate".

"It is also calling for putting an end to attempts to restrict journalists' right to obtaining information and presenting it to the public opinion neutrally and independently," Hamrouni said.

The union is taking legal action against Interior Minister Habib Essid over the Kasbah clash, according to Mongi Khadraoui, a member of the SNJT executive bureau. He said the clash was a "disgrace in the face of the repressive police apparatus".

"After January 14th, attacks on journalists have taken several forms, starting with rebukes by the police with so much malice, then verbal attacks by several political parties and forces against anyone who reports any information that is not in their favor, and finally assaults and detention by some citizens of journalists while they were doing their job," said Aymen Rezgui, another member of the SNJT executive bureau.

Rezgui accused the government of using the media as a scapegoat for the country's problems, telling Magharebia that "journalists have become the weakest ring and a card that the government plays to mask all of its mistakes and shortcomings".

In his turn, young reporter Aymen Bchini told Magharebia that the prime minister's remarks were "an insult to the people". He added that the government's aim was "to treat journalists lightly, denigrate, intimidate and force them to show their allegiance".

"This is rejected both in form and content; otherwise we will lose our credibility with our people who are still not trusting us and doubting our integrity although they know that journalists' behaviors differ from one person to another. Therefore, the interim minister should officially apologize," Bchini said.

Meanwhile, Anissa Slim told Magharebia that "the government and public opinion's lack of respect for the media is mainly because the fragility of sector and due to some journalists' failure to observe the ethics of profession."

"We don't have any other option but to continue to struggle against those opportunists who have sabotaged the media sector in Tunisia," she concluded.

Source: Magharebia.
Link: http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2011/07/21/feature-01.