AKEED, Aya Khawaldeh

Local media outlets have remained silent on the issue raised by users of social media sites concerning a court decision to auction off forest trees in Dibbeen. They only published the denial issued by former Prime Minister Samir Rifai regarding comments about him on these sites.

The Jordanian Media Credibility Monitor (AKEED) has been following reactions to the court ruling since its issuance. On 14 June 2017, the daily Al Rai published a judicial ruling by the Jerash Court of First Instance to sell at auction the property of Munya Resort and Spa Company. Samir Rifai was the chairman of its board of directors. The company is considered to be owned by the Social Security Corporation. The sale also involves the property of Aman Jordan Decapolis for Tourism Investments, one of the subsidiaries of Dubai Capital.

Many Facebook users circulated a photocopy of the ad and posted angry comments, deploring the sale of oak, maple, and juniper trees, which are 5-100 years old. The trees, which total 8,000, are worth 931,845 Jordanian dinars.

The comments attacked the person of Samir Rifai and held him responsible for wasting this forest wealth. Based on what was stated in these angry reactions, the Agricultural Engineers Association issued a press release titled "Grandchildren Fail So They Sell Trees of Grandfathers," which was published by two news sites and a daily newspaper. In the press release, the association council affirmed that the ad came as a shock to Jordanian society, which knows the value of these trees. The council referred in its statement to its prior warning about the fate of the project, saying that there was a need for conscious will to face minds that go too far in destroying the future of generations.

Media outlets did not heed the court ruling or the press release of the Agricultural Engineers Association. They only published the viewpoint of Rifai through the denial statement he posted on his personal page on Facebook six days after the ad of the court ruling. They did not refer to the origin of the story and the reason for the comments. Meanwhile, several sites that published Rifai"s statement referred to an old incident narrated by the vice president of the Agricultural Engineers Association about the rejection of the former president of the association of the project and his willingness to buy the land for 8 million dinars. However, the representative of the Social Security Corporation declined the offer.

Other news sites considered what Rifai posted on his page an exemplary initiative since he asked for the advice of his followers regarding the posts and comments that raised suspicions about him.

Events unfolded fast as Rifai"s statement was circulated. Minister of Agriculture Khaled Hneifat confirmed in a statement to a news site that the forest trees in Dibbeen were the responsibility of the ministry and would not be cut down as cutting them down required the approval of the ministry, whether the land is public or private property. He said that the ad contained valuation of the contents of the land.

A memorandum of understanding was signed in 2006 on the Dibbeen tourist project between Dubai Capital and the Investment Unit of the Social Security Corporation. The project started in 2009, but it faced numerous problems, key of which involves the area and the number of trees that would be cut down. The project was supposed to be established on an area of 430 donums, but this idea faced opposition by environmental associations and civil society organizations because the area is rich in pine trees. Thus, the area was reduced to half.

In an interview with AKEED, Tariq Momani, chief editor of Al Rai stressed that professional press material is committed to presenting the whole issue and from the beginnings. It should also present all viewpoints without showing bias in favor of a certain party, especially in cases that are of such importance and seriousness. The issue of selling trees has to do with an important environmental aspect in Jordan, which should be preserved. Therefore, media outlets should have given this issue great importance and searched for accurate and correct information and presented all views.

AKEED would like to recall the key mission of the media, which is the right of society to know. These outlets should be committed to covering sensitive issues that affect citizens and the country. They should also cover all trends in a neutral and comprehensive manner and present the facts without any bias.