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The Bani Hareth court resumed last Saturday sessions to look into the case of Adam who is accused of murdering a number of girl students. It was expected that a number of the accused's accomplices would be presented, but neither this happened nor the impatiently-awaited report was completely translated. Mr. Abdul Aziz Al-Baghdadi, attorney of Zainab's family filed a case against Sana'a University, demanding compensation of two million and thirty thousand dollars (US$ 2,030,000.) The session was finally adjourned to next Saturday until the translation is over. Mr. Alen Goulty, Director of the Middle East and North Africa in the Commonwealth office arrived in Sana'a yesterday on an official visit to Yemen. Mr. Goulty is expected to discuss various issues with Yemeni officials. On the other hand, the US Assistant Secretary of State, Mr. Edward Walker is scheduled to arrive in Sana'a on August 9. He is expected to meet with President Saleh and discuss several issues with him. The "Yemen Times" source in Aden said that a Chinese engineer working at Aden Sewerage Project, implemented by a Chinese company, was assaulted early this week by a traffic policeman. The policeman alleged that the engineer had obstructed traffic after laying sewerage pipes near a footpath at Khormaksar area. To the surprise of the pedestrians the policeman sent blows on the engineer with his fist. Eye-witnesses at the scene said the policeman threw dust and pebbles on the Chinese expert's face, who stood nonplused at the policeman's behavior. The appearance of security guards of Aden Security Director saved the situation. Meanwhile, last week Yemeni traffic policemen were adorned with badges on their traffic gear and armed with batons . The move came owing to assaults on policemen from drivers; particularly drivers of "luxurious" vehicles. The National Committee for Defending Human Rights and Liberties requested the Prosecutor to urgently set up an ad hoc committee to prove the existence of a "Private Jail" in Sana'a University campus and to take all legal measures against the people involved. The committee asserted that was a flagrant violation of article 247 of the penal code stipulated in the constitution. Headed by lawyer Mohammed Naji Allaw, the committee has already been to the site and found a container 'jail' located at the main entrance of the Faculty of Legislation and Law. The committee has also visited some illegal jails including one in the Economic Military Corporation. A number of people who had been illegally detained were released. Worth noting that many private jails have been found in Al-Udain and Dhamar. The Supreme Court is shortly to hear a civil suit submitted by a number of Opposition figures, intellectuals, writers and advocates who claimed non-constitutionality of Local Government Law, a reliable source told the "Yemen Times." Quoting a number of Opposition members whom the "Yemen Times" have contacted, the source added that those members had last Tuesday met Chief Justice, Zaid Al-Gamrah at his office at the Ministry of Justice and requested him to accept their case, submitted by attorney Ahmed Al-Wadei and other 100 persons. The CJ ordered payment of YR.100,000 as surety which was paid together with other court fees, the source said reminding that court fees had already been paid when the case was first submitted to the court. At a "Discussion Forum" at the RAY headquarters, these members affirmed continuation of their efforts to proceed with the case, the source said. It is understood that the Local Government Bill was sanctioned by the Parliament and was passed as a law by the President in defiance of the Constitution of Yemen. The Quradhah and Al-Marzouh villages in Saber, Taiz governorate resumed clashes last Friday killing at least one person. Worth noting Quradhah has been at loggerheads with Al-Marzouh for a long time over water springs without reaching a satisfactory settlement. A press release issued by the World Bank reported that Yemen, which has the largest number of projects: (four) approved this year in Middle East & North Africa region, benefited from an IDA concessional lending this fiscal year after receiving US$144.8 million. Yemen also received a commercial debt reduction grant of US$15.1 million in fiscal year 2000. Total IBRD and IDA lending for the MENA region reached about US$34 billion by the end of fiscal year 2000. Yemen which was one of the major IDA beneficiaries, cumulatively received in commitments up until June 2000 US$1.8 billion. More than 800 employees and workers of the state establishment for Land Transport, Aden branch, went on a general strike last Thursday and stopped work at buses and trucks in protest to delay in paying their salaries, social security rights and also the rights of dead employees. Mr. Mohammed Ali Saad, President of Aden-branch Transport Trade Union Committee said workers' families demanded solutions for their just demands as they were on the brink of hunger and displacement. They have censured officials in Aden Province of negligence over their grievances. Meanwhile workers at the establishment's branches Lahj and Abyan provinces, suffering from the same problems, have joined Aden workers in their demands. Officials at the Sana'a-based General Confederation of Republic Workers' Unions and also the General Transport Union have been mediating with the Ministry of Transport officials in Sana'a to solve the problems and pay their past 8 months wages. A move which led to the suspension of any strike till August 15 as a last chance. The Yemeni agricultural exports to Saudi Arabia constitutes 4,6% of the Yemen's exports for 1998 which constitutes 8% of the national domestic product, minister of agriculture said. Statistics indicate that the agricultural exports are on a rapid increase to the neighboring countries, especially to those in the African continent. "Exports to Saudi Arabia in the first half of this year reached 41561 tons amounting to 4,231,162,400 and that coffee, fruits and vegetables are the main exports. There are about 166 dams are now being built so as to make use of rain water." minister of agriculture said. Results of secondary school stage and its equivalent were officially announced in a press conference held by Vice Minister of Education, Eng. Abdul Malik Al-Mo'alimy in the Educational Research and Development Center last Wednesday. Out of 127,260 students attending the examinations, 105,871 (83.2%) passed with the rate of 83.6% in the scientific section, 81.9% in the literary and 96.5% in the commercial section. On the other hand, passing rates of students of the Scientific Institutes was 81% in both sections; scientific and literary. For the second successive year, girls got ahead of boys, achieving the first 33 top positions among 63 students. The Yemeni Teachers Syndicate concluded last Thursday the second meeting for the governorates offices leaders held in Ibb during July 7-August 3. The event was attended by Governor of Ibb, Mr. Abdul Qader Hilal and chairman of the syndicate. At the end of the meeting, participants sent a letter to the President confirming their support to end the syndicate dualism in the educational sector. The Al-Saeed Establishment for Sciences and Culture organizes this morning a lecture on optical culture in Yemen by Dr. Omar Abdul Aziz at the establishment building behind Al-Sha'ab school. The event comes within a series of scientific and cultural activities organized by the establishment. Organized Wednesday 2.8.2000 in Procter & Gambel headquarters, a ceremony and lunch party was given in celebrating its new product "Fairy". The party was attended by a number of media men and businessmen. A number of addresses were delivered in which the speakers named the reasons why the company started investment in Yemen. They ascribed it to economic stability, oil and gas wealth, tourism, and the existence of Aden port. They indicated that the company was established in 1993 after making agreement between Mohammed Saif Thabet Group and P&G with a $ 35 million capital. Now there are 170 employees in the company of whom 97% are Yemenis. A number of party organ and independent newspapers have been supbeonaed to stand before the Press and Publication Court for questioning on some articles published and considered to be a violation of the Press and Publication Law. Since 1990 this is the first time such a campaign is launched. Within one week the number of newspapers summoned reached 6 Yemeni newspapers, a step peers view as the beginning for censoring freedom of the press. Rahmah Hujairah, corespondent of the "Zahrat Al-Khalij" magazine has been summoned to appear before court for questioning and investigation following publication of a report about the Faculty of Medicine in which she interviewed Dr. Al-Wurafi. The report was also published in other newspapers. Al-Wurafi was detained by the Political Security for a week for investigation. However, he denied what was published in the magazine leading to summoning Rahmah for questioning. Al-Wahdawi newspaper, mouthpiece of the People's Nasserite Unionist Party, received an arraignment to stand before court as it published a news item on a judge from Taiz. The court is still looking into a case filed against the newspaper as it published an opinion article, viewed as offending the ruling royal family in Saudi Arabia by the Ministry of Information. Al-Balagh independent newspaper is now on court after a case filed last week by the Ministry of Information. The newspaper was accused of publishing a news item about an Iraqi teacher working at the Education College, Amran, 25km away from Sana'a, who is said to have raped 8 students. However, it later appeared that it was a groundless information. The Press and Publication Prosecution has also called Mr. Khalid Al-Hamadi, correspondent of "Al-Kudss Al-Arabi" newspaper, to appear in court as he reported news offensive to the reputation of Yemen. Aden-based Al-Ayyam independent newspaper is also being tried for different cases on different articles and news items published. Al-Tajamo'o newspaper, mouthpiece of Yemeni Wahdawi Congregation, was under threat of closure while it is tried for 20 cases. On the other hand, there are many other pending cases in courts against other journalists and newspapers including the imprisonment of Ali Al-Surari, chief editor of Ath-Thawri newspaper, mouthpiece of the Yemeni Socialist Party. Sheikh Al-Zindani has also made a request to the court to implement the 80-lash verdict against Sa'ad's sons: Abdullah Sa'ad, ex-chief editor of Al-Shura who died quite a long time ago, and his brother Abduljabar Sa'ad upon publishing an article in Al-Shura newspaper, viewed as abusive to Al-Zindani. He is now again calling upon the court to implement the verdict. Al-Thakafiah newspaper against which aggressive campaigns have recently been launched upon re-publishing a novel by the Yemeni late novelist Mohammed Abdulwali titled "Sana'a an Open City", viewed as including some insulting expressions against the Almighty God. The court has adjourned its sessions to August 16, 2000. Al-Hekmah Al-Yamania magazine, published by the Artists and Yemeni Writers Union, is also tried for publishing a story by Ahmad Al-Jarmozi in 1999, and who died two years ago, viewed as abusive to the Almighty God. Al-Sahwah newspaper, mouthpiece of Yemeni Congregation for Reform, 'Islah', is now in court after a case filed by Mohammed Naji Allaw and Ali Saif Hassan, assistant secretary general of the People's Nasseriate Unionist Party. Al-Sahwah re-published some excerpts from Al-Jarmozi's story, already published in Al-Hekmah Al-Yamania magazine, to let the readers judge if it contains abusive expressions to the Almighty or not. Al-Ihya'a Al-Arabi newspaper, mouthpiece of the Arab Baath Socialist Party, is also being tried due some reports published about Al-Thakafiah and its chief editor's trials. Al-Nass independent newspaper has also received a warrant to appear before the prosecution. While the Information minister was strongly confirming the freedom of press, many media sources wonder about these inclusive campaigns launched against newspapers and journalists. Organized by the Human Rights Information & Training Center (HRITC) organizes a four-day workshop to train journalists on human rights issues started yesterday. Arab human rights experts are taking part in the workshop like Professor Mohammed Ameen Maidani, the director of the Arab Program at the the International Institute for Human Rights, France and Mr. Abdullah Khaleel and Majdi Helmi from Egypt. In the opening speech, Mr. Izzaddin Al-Asbahi, Director General of HRITC highlighted the significance of the workshop as it targets the journalists who are to play an important informative role in the society on their rights. Mr. Al-Asbahi added that media can be instrumental in getting people understand their rights and accordingly defend them. More than 30 journalists from different Yemeni governorates are taking part in the workshop. A meeting was held last Monday at the National Woman Committee (NWC) headquarters to discuss the significance of woman's participation in elections as a candidate and voter and the role which the Committee can play in this field. The meeting was attended by Yemeni women leaders and a delegation from the visiting American Democratic Institute headed by Thomas Melia, Vice-President of the NDI. Drawing up a plan on awareness among women to prepare them for elections and the need to develop the idea of elections awareness, were also discussed. Rasheeda Al-Hamadani, NWC Chairman affirmed that awareness should initially start with eradicating illiteracy among men and women, specially that many inherited traditions still hinder woman's participation. On the other hand, the NWC held a meeting last Sunday with an American delegation from the American Tax Relations Society, headed by John Antolin. NWC Chairman and vice-Chairman and a number of members also took part. The agenda was to study the problems which women face in the fields of health and education and other areas. Available statistics disclose disturbing figures on woman's conditions in health particularly in rural areas where women live a health-deteriorated life owing to increased work, malnutrition and rest during pregnancy and delivery. The NWC had in the past issued publications on woman's conditions in Yemen and the difficulties she faced, showing figures and facts which really need studies. The Committee is expected to intensify its works and studies during the next few days in order to know the extent of improvements. It will also encourage woman's political rivalry in the forthcoming elections. |
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