6 THE JAPAN TIMES TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2010 (3) world Egyptian media face crackdown

Cairo announce if he will run in next TV stations, part of the gov- politically and economically, me to shut Dream TV down, I AP year’s presidential contest. ernment’s economic liberal- so how do we expect them to will do so. Am I going to fight ------Authorities want ‘‘calm and ization program. The new me- protect freedom of the press?’’ the state? I can’t,’’ real estate With lively independent news- obedience to pave the way for dia outlets brought a fresh ap- Eissa said. ‘‘Everybody is un- tycoon Ahmed Bahgat told the papers and rollicking TV polit- Parliament and presidential proach and professionalism, der the ruling regime’s fin- daily Al-Masry Al-Youm, a ical talk shows, Egypt’s jour- elections and achieve a quiet tackling controversial issues gers.’’ daily whose 2004 founding nalists in recent years have transition of power,’’ promi- and doing investigations that Television talk shows have sparked the wave of new inde- pushed the boundaries of what nent columnist Salama Ah- held officials to task. also felt the pressure. Orbit pendent publications. you can say about the govern- med Salama wrote about the Journalists are barred by TV’s 12-year-old ‘‘Cairo To- Bahgat is one of the major ment in this authoritarian na- crackdown. their own union’s bylaws from day’’ went off the air last week, shareholders in the newspa- tion — so much so that they ‘‘They want the loud, blar- owning their own papers — or followed soon after by the en- per and owns Dream TV satel- grew confident that growing ing voices to stop upsetting the else they lose union member- tire network itself. lite channel, whose widely press freedoms were irrevers- seats of power,’’ he said. ship — so businessmen Ten other TV networks, popular political talk shows ible. For nearly 50 years, media seemed a perfect alternative. most with religious program- earn much higher ratings than Now the backlash has come, ming, were shut off the air and anything on state television. with a media crackdown in ‘Businessmen are not free politically and 20 others received warnings of He acknowledged he almost this top U.S. ally that included closure by Egypt’s main satel- fired his well known present- the ousting of a prominent, economically, so how do we expect them to lite operator. er, Mona el-Shazli, in April af- muckraking editor. And jour- protect freedom of the press? Everybody is under Officials accused them of ter she interviewed the new nalists have discovered that spreading Islamic extrem- leader of the opposition Mus- the foundation of their greater the ruling regime’s fingers.’ ism, though critics say the lim Brotherhood organization freedoms — the millionaire FORMER AL-DUSTOUR EDITOR IBRAHIM EISSA move was timed to cover up on her talk show, ‘‘10 in the businessmen who opened up a the crackdown on political Evening.’’ generation of private media, in Egypt were monopolized by With the strengthening pri- talk shows and newspapers. Telecom mogul Naguib Sa- full of criticism of authority — the government. Staid state vate sector behind them, jour- The country’s telecommu- wiris, also a shareholder of Al- are just as vulnerable to gov- newspapers and television nalists began to believe the ge- nications regulator also can- Masry Al-Youm and owner of ernment pressure as their pre- trotted out the daily activities nie of press freedom could not celed permits for companies his own satellite channels, decessors. of the president, fed a stream be put back in the bottle. providing direct satellite news said he has to be careful not to Hard pressed: An Egyptian journalist sits under a banner supporting Ibrahim Eissa in Cairo on The removal of Ibrahim of state propaganda and, more But Eissa’s dismissal — feeds from Egypt, requiring step on the regime’s toes. Monday. Eissa’s firing by the businessman who bought his newspaper comes at a particularly Eissa as editor of the Al-Dus- broadly, were met with yawns soon after Al-Dustour was them to reapply for them in an ‘‘I don’t want to upset any- sensitive time for the normally sclerotic Egyptian politics. The banner reads, ‘‘The firing of tour newspaper and the silenc- by the public. The only alter- bought by two businessmen, apparent effort to control who body because someone might Ibrahim Eissa is an attack on journalistic freedom.’’ AP ing of several TV programs native were the mouthpiece including the local manufac- broadcasts live from the come and say, ‘Something comes at a particularly sensi- newspapers of the state-sanc- turer of Viagra — showed how streets. The regulator set new went wrong on your station,’ believes he may have hit on an men’s interference goes be- thority in Egypt are gone. tive time for the normally tioned — in fact, state-fi- wrong they were. It served as rules limiting the sending of and this will have repercus- alternative way of financing. yond politics to commercial ‘‘Recess is over, even if you sclerotic Egyptian politics. nanced — opposition parties, a reminder that the new mass text messages, a tool of- sions,’’ he told the newspaper, He’s planning a new privately interests. ‘‘They would ask me haven’t heard the bell ring,’’ Bruising parliamentary elec- which stayed within strict wealthy class of financiers ten used by activists to mobi- which has given only muted owned daily, Al-Karnak, in to run stories attacking some Bilal Fadel, a columnist in Al- tions are just a month away, boundaries. created by economic liberal- lize their followers. coverage to the Eissa situa- which each shareholder will of their opponents or they ask Masry Al-Youm, wrote after and the country is gripped by But in the early part of the ization ultimately owe their The businessmen them- tion. be allowed at most 10 percent me to let their friends write a Orbit TV was shut down. ‘‘In uncertainty over who will suc- decade, businessmen were al- success to the government and selves freely admit they are no Hisham Kassem, who was of the shares to weaken inter- column. You name it,’’ he said. this part of the world, the prin- ceed 82-year-old President lowed to start founding their are leery of challenging it. defenders of the press. Al-Masry Al-Youm’s deputy ference. But journalists worry that cipal has the right to cancel re- Hosni Mubarak, who has yet to own newspapers and satellite ‘‘Businessmen are not free ‘‘If I get a phone call telling head until he resigned in 2006, Kassem says business- the days of stirring up au- cess forever.’’ Austria national day Lively exchange continues between Japan, Austria

Jutta Stefan-Bastl only are of mutual benefit but Ozawa as musical director of events in the cultural, eco- ticipating in the U.N. Security will reach the magic number AMBASSADOR OF AUSTRIA also represent an important the Vienna State Opera and nomic, and scientific and oth- Council, giving us the opportu- of ¥1 billion that we had ------contribution in working to- the Austrian conductor Chris- er fields taking place over the nity to work together even achieved before the econom- In my capacity as ambassa- ward a better understanding tian Arming as musical direc- year. more closely on many global ic and financial crisis. dor of the Republic of Austria of each other’s cultures, heri- tor of the New Japan Philhar- questions facing the interna- Austria is an ideal hub for in Japan, I tage and history. monic Orchestra only as ex- U.N. Security Council tional community. foreign companies wishing to would like to ex- Even though Austria is not amples. The strengthening of the Unit- do business in Central and tend my best a big country, it has a strong ed Nations in working toward Business relations Southeastern Europe as well. greetings to the image in the mind of many Japan-Austria Year peace and stability has always Japan is the one of the most Austrian banks and compa- readers of The Japanese people. Of course, In 2009, Japan and Austria been one of the guiding princi- important trading partners nies are very well-positioned Japan Times on classical music, beautiful took the opportunity of cele- ples of Austria’s foreign poli- overseas and the second- in these markets, with Austria the occasion of landscapes and skiing are as- brating 140 years of bilateral cy. In that spirit, Austria has most important market in being among the top three di- Austria’s Na- pects that contribute to foster relations during our Japan- participated in various U.N. Asia. Austria exports a great rect investors in most of the tional Day. this phenomenon. Over Austria Year 2009 in a worthy peacekeeping operations and variety of goods to Japan, countries in this region. 200.000 Japanese tourists vis- fashion. On Oct. 18, 1869, Ja- hosts one of the headquarters with machines and vehicles Relations with Japan ited Austria last year — Vien- pan and Austria concluded of the United Nations. It’s only accounting for about one- I would like to close by taking Relations between Austria na, Austria’s capital, and the Treaty of Trade, Shipping natural that Austria also third of those. Austria also the opportunity to express my and Japan are free of any ten- Salzburg, Wolfgang Amadeus and Amity, thus establishing wants to participate as active- exports wood products, sincere wish that the readers sions and based on deep mutu- Mozart’s birthplace, being the diplomatic relations. This an- ly as possible in the United Na- chemicals, beverages and of The Japan Times will follow al esteem that the people of Ja- most popular destinations for niversary contributed to tions policy deliberations in other specialties. In 2009, the the example of the large num- pan and Austria hold for each our visitors from Japan. deepen our excellent rela- the organs of the U.N. I am total exports to Japan ber of Japanese tourists who other. This manifests itself in Austrian cultural institu- tions even further with a num- particularly pleased that both amounted to about ¥772.1 visit Austria every year to Festive mood: An open-air market at the Belvedere palace in many ways and makes repre- tions like the Vienna Philhar- ber of high-ranking official our countries are at present million and the first half of come to my country to enjoy Vienna provides a pleasant time during the Christmas senting Austria in Japan as an monic Orchestra and the Vi- visits and a broad range of nonpermanent members par- 2010 promises that we again its many features. season. EMBASSY OF AUSTRIA ambassador such a rewarding enna Boy’s Choir are wel- experience. comed with enormous There is a lively exchange enthusiasm by the Japanese Museum to re-create baroque atmosphere in Japan between the two countries doc- audience, which makes per- umented by a large number of forming in Japan a special ex- Austrian-Japanese Friend- perience and honor for the Tomoko Otake museum plans to display high-class musicians for mu- the Liechtenstein family ship societies throughout Ja- artists. Over the years, thou- STAFF WRITER around 150 to 200 objects — not seum visitors, Kraftner said. worked hard to rebuild its fi- pan as well as partnerships be- sands of Japanese music stu------just paintings and sculptures, With some of the biggest nances, leading to the re- tween Japanese and Austrian dents have studied in Austria, The Liechtenstein Museum in but furniture, porcelains and private collections in the opening of the museum for towns. The number as well as taking with them experiences Austria will hold its first ex- even ceiling frescoes — in the world, the museum’s hold- the Princely Collections in the variety of concrete cooper- of my country that become hibitions in Japan in the fall hopes of re-creating the ba- ings include works by Antho- Vienna in March 2004, offer- ations — such as between Osa- multipliers for the relations of 2012 and officials are work- roque atmosphere of the fami- ny van Dyck, Lucas Cranach ing visitors an insight into the ka Castle and the Castle of Eg- between Japan and Austria on ing hard to make the muse- ly’s Vienna estate in Japan, mu- the Elder, Raphael, Rem- forgotten, rich cultural heri- genberg, the latter only re- so many levels. The cultural um’s shows here a success. seum director Johann Kraftner brandt van Rijn, Salomon tage of the Austrian capital, cently dedicated as a exchange is a two-way street, The museum in Vienna is said in an interview in Tokyo. van Ruysdael and Peter Paul Kraftner said. UNESCO World Heritage site, to mention the careers of the home to a vast private collec- ‘‘What’s really our goal is not Rubens. Prince Hans-Adam II, who as ‘‘Friendship Castles’’ — not Japanese star conductor Seiji tion of paintings, engravings, to install something like a dry The House of Liechtenstein lives in the Liechtenstein drawings, sculptures and museum on the wall,’’ he said. started acquiring major capital of Vaduz some 600 km other art objects spanning ‘‘What we are trying to do is to works of European art in the west of Vienna, spent ¤25 five centuries, acquired by bring the atmosphere of the Vi- 17th century, in line with the million of his personal money the princes of Liechtenstein, enna palace to Tokyo.’’ baroque ideal of princely pa- to finance the reopening of Baroque: Hercules Hall in the Liechtenstein Museum in a small country between Aus- The estate is extravagant, tronage of the arts. After los- the museum and is spending Vienna is adorned with an elegant 18th-century fresco on its tria and Switzerland. yet cozy, with a beautiful gar- ing nearly all of its posses- another ¤100 million for a ceiling. ©LIECHTENSTEIN MUSEUM For the exhibit in Japan, the den and regular concerts by sions during World War II, second museum to open in 2012, in the Vienna city center close to the Hofburg imperial palace, Kraftner said. The shows in Japan, which will take place at the Nation- al Art Center in Tokyo and two other venues beginning in fall 2012, will feature such masterpieces as Ruben’s por- trait of his daughter Clara Se- rena. The Japan shows come on the heels of the success last year of the ‘‘Treasures of the Habsburg Monarchy’’ exhibi- tion, which drew 640,000 visi- tors to its Tokyo and Kyoto venues. Kraftner is aware of the success of the Habsburg shows, noting that he wants to beat any other art exhibi- tion coming from Vienna. ‘‘We are in a hard competi- tion,’’ he said, chuckling, ‘‘and we always want to be better than others. It’s a high goal we have to reach, (but) it’s useless to send things over and afterwards (be told), ‘OK, but other things have been better.’ ’’

The Japan Times PUBDATE: 10/26/20010 PAGE: 6 C M Y K OUTPUT TIME: 19:45:12

10/26/1910 / / PT JTE/PG 6/ED 1