Jordan accepts responsibility for attack on press

[News_Editor]

Jordan accepts responsibility for attack on press

2011-07-21 02:43:45 GMT+7 (ICT)

AMMAN (BNO NEWS) -- Chief of the Jordanian Public Security Directorate (PSD) Major General Hussein hazza' Majali on Wednesday held authorities responsible for a police attack on journalists and photographers during a pro-reform demonstration in Amman last Friday.

Head of the Jordanian Press Association (JPA) Tareq Momani told Ammon News that Majali admitted during a closed meeting at the JPA headquarters attended by Minister of Interior Mazen Saket and Minister of Media Affairs and Communications Abdullah Abu Rumman that a number of officers and policemen violated orders. Majali apologized for the events and vowed to prosecute those PSD members who are found guilty of violating orders not to attack protestors or journalists.

During the meeting, the two ministers and Majali gave a detailed explanation of the results of an investigation launched shortly after Friday's attacks. The investigation said that the attacks were "incidental" and that the PSD takes "full responsibility for correcting it."

Majali noted during the meeting that PSD will work with JPA to ensure that similar incidents do not happen again.

At least 10 journalists were injured when policemen tried to disperse protesters in the demonstration organized by a coalition of youth activists, also known as July 15. Several cameras were also destroyed or confiscated as journalists covered the pro-reform demonstration in downtown Amman.

Many of the journalists were wearing bright orange vests with clearly marked "PRESS" logos that were distributed by the PSD, which asked journalists to wear them in an effort to distinguish them from protestors in case clashes erupted.

Following the attacks on Friday, Momani blasted the PSD and said the vests were a "trap to identify and target journalists." Momani on Sunday demanded the government to hold security forces responsible and to take measures to prevent attacks on journalists.

The attacks came a day after PSD announced coordinating measures with JPA and the Center for Freedom and Protection of Journalists to ensure the safety of journalists and facilitate their coverage of Friday's protest.

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