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Mohammed Abdulwahed, the Yemeni Socialist Party’s chief of information, said that police had arrested five leaders of the party on Saturday 26 August, 2000, accusing them of meeting without a prior permit. The five leaders were detained in Aden while preparing for a national convention of the party due to be held in Sana’a on August 30. Mr. Wahed has said “The police’s excuses are weak stressing that the YSP is a legitimate party operating within an official government license and therefore is free to work in public without being in need of an official police permit. Among those detained was Mr. Ali Mansoor Mohammed, secretary general of the party’s Sana’a bureau. The German experts’ report on body parts found at the morgue of the college of Medicine revealed that organs examined belonged to 115 victims besides other full 18 bodies. Results of the report caused heated argumentation’s during the court hearing session yesterday leading to the withdrawal of victims’ attorneys, Ismael Al-Dailami and Abdul Aziz Al-Baghdadi. Argumentation were presented by Sana’a University representative, advocate Dr. Hassan Mugalli and Adam’s attorney, Dr. Mohammed Al-Khateeb. The session was adjourned for a week to hear the final report on finger prints. The Yemeni Socialist Party (YSP) is currently preparing for its fourth general congress scheduled for next Wednesday at the Military Academy in Sana’a. More than 2500 representatives of the party offices in the Republic and a number of politicians, intellectuals and media men will be attending the congress. Chairman of the press committee, Mr. Mohammed Ghaleb Ahmad said that the party would allow journalists, politicians and supervisors to attend the congress discussions. YSP’s nationwide elections shifted 70 new members to the Central Committee, an informed source told the Yemen Times. These, besides about 43 members who left the country during the war of 1994 were named as members of the national list. The source added that names of members outside Yemen to be approved by the party included, former secretary general of the YSP and former Vice President of the Republic Ali Salem Al-Beedh, erstwhile Prime Minister, Haider Abu Bakr Al-Attas, former Speaker Dr. Yassin Saeed Noaman. Discussions during the congress are expected to center on two premises, namely the party political coalition and current situation of the country. The fourth congress of the YSP has been adjourned for several times due to what an official in the party stated as financial problems. The first attempt to hold the congress in November 1998 was received with a campaign against the party accusing it of treachery. The call for the return of the party exiled members is expected to cause a heated debate with the government. A commemoration ceremony for the late Abdullah Sa’ad Mohammed, deceased one year ago was organized yesterday by the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate. Mr. Yasin al-Masodi and Mr. Mahboob Ali, chairman of journalists syndicate delivered speeches in the ceremony reviewing the late journalist’s life. The syndicate granted him the syndicate press card No 1 “repeated” for No 1 that was granted to Dr. Abdulaziz al-Saqqaf. The syndicate meeting hall was also named after him. Poems and speeches were presented in the ceremony. The ceremony was organized in coordination with the Information Ministry and al-Thawrah Press Establishment. Mohammed Hamoud al-Matri, chief of the presidency election campaign of the failed candidate Najib Qahtan al-Sha’abi, presented a letter of complaint to the Parliament’s complaints Committee accusing al-Sha’abi of blackmailing him. Al-Sha’abi had claimed to al-Matri that he phoned the President who promised to grant al-Matri an undersecretary degree and a car after endorsing 2000 budget and to appoint him as a permanent committee member. Al-Matri said that he had been waiting for a year to receive what he had been promised. However, so far he received nothing. He said “I was rather accused of being a bodyguard of the president. He also accused me in the Parliament of being a rouge, claiming that I possess some important documents pertaining to his land.” Al-Matri was used to follow up and conduct all the activities pertaining to al-Sha’abi election for the presidency. Yemen Times has also complained of not receiving its dues, more than YR 250,000, that Najib Qahtan al-Sha’abi has not paid yet in return for the election program and propaganda published in the Yemen Times. The complaints committee has summoned last Wednesday al-Sha’abi for questioning and investigation. No news are yet known. The Central Organization for Control & Audit (COCA) has lodged a memorandum with the Minister of Agriculture & Irrigation reporting results of its inspection and auditing in the tenders which are being executed by the Eastern Region Development Board in Marib Province. The memo disclosed a number of breaches in form of seizure of funds in different fields. Citing examples of such breaches, the memo claimed that the ERDB signed a IL112,455,822 (Italian Lire) worth contract of supply with the Beihan Trading Company on 24th November, 1994; but the recipient committee showed short-receipt of supplies. Another similar contract was signed with the local representative of Messers J. Tomix on 12th November, 1995; but the recipient committee showed short-receipt of supplies. Another examples showed that the Board paid cost of machines and equipment in excess to the allocated amount and on one occasion it approved bids with prices different from those sanctioned by the Higher Tender Board. Z.G.M was arrested on August 20 in Al-Sheikh Othman, Aden, after hitting a mother and her children while asleep with a 2x3 beam on their heads. The accused confessed to jumping into the house of Ali Mohammed Ahmad, who was on a pilgrimage, at night and used the beam to hit Ibraheem Ali Mohammed Ahmad (13), Rahah (19), Khaled (8) and their mother Zahrah Ismael (43) on their heads. Another child was also hit on his head and hands and is presently in the intensive care unit in Al-Jumhuriah Hospital with his family members. An Italian TV team headed by Dr. Ssa Patrizia Zuccari, a prominent cultural tourism organizer in Italy visited Yemen to produce a documentary film about Yemen’s natural environment and how it is being affected by industrialization, and harmful industrial objects. During their visit to Yemen Times, the team interviewed Mr. Walid A. Al-Saqqaf, Chief Editor of Yemen Times, and asked him about the environmental effects of plastic bags and the need to raise awareness about this issue. The team also interviewed several prominent figures in the country, including Dr. Abdulmalek Mansour, Minister of Culture and Tourism. “The visit was quite fruitful, and we have immediately fallen in love with your country” said Dr. Zuccari. Yemeni Journalists’ Syndicate (YJS) and the Arab Institute for Human Rights would on August 30-September 4 co-sponsor a training course on human rights for Yemeni media men. During the training course experts shall deliver a number of lectures and aimful programs would be arranged on ways of disseminating awareness of human rights. YJS sources maintained that the President would attend the inaugural session and address the attendants. The occasion is to be attended by a number of Arab experts in Human Rights field. A Saudi Arabian investors delegation representing Princess Noora Bint Saud’s Company of Dar Al-Roo’ya for Trade & Contracts left Yemen last week after reaching an agreement with both the Yemen Airlines (Alyemenia) and the National Bank over financing 65 residential units in Sana’a at the cost of US$10 million. The amount constitutes part of a US$35 million deal for construction of residential units for Alyemenia engineers and pilots in Sana’a and Aden. The Company Director, head of the delegation Mr. Nasser Al-Qahtani stated that during his visit he offered other projects such as construction of a civilian radar system at Sana’a Airport for the Public Corporation of Civil Aviation at the cost of US$82 million as well as maintenance at Sana’a Airport and building warehouses. Yemeni officials sought the assistance of the delegation to finance two other projects namely, completion of Aden TV building, including modernizing and developing it at a cost of US$20 million. The other proposed project was construction of a township in Sana’a with 140 residential units attached to the Yemen National Bank at a cost of US$40 million. Aspects of financing and implementing both projects are being studied. The Chairwoman of the Co.’s board of directors and its proprietor, Princess Noora, had authorized the delegation to invest US$100 million in Yemen in favor of her Dar Al-Roo’ya. An expended meeting for members and coordinators of the National Women Committee was held last Saturday at the Police Officers’ Club. The meeting which was chaired by Mrs. Rashidah Al-Hamdani, chairwomen of the Committee and Mrs. Horiah Mash-hour Vice Chairwomen discussed the analytical study made by the Committee on women’s status in 8 ministries. A number of recommendations and suggestions were made to enhance women’s participation in the decision making. Full report on women’s status in ministries next week. Both the Minister of Planning & Development and the French Charge d’ Affaires last Saturday (Aug.26) signed an agreement covering a fresh French grant in the field of food assistance for Yemen for the year 2000. The assistance is made-up of 7,300 tons of wheat flour: an increase of 25% compared to previous years assistance. France is understood to be offering food products grants to Yemen since the year 1983. In 1992, thirty-eight thousand tons of flour and five hundred tons of sugar were received. Out of this consignment, 2,500 tons of flour were distributed gratis to Socottra Island. In all, these grants assisted in financing development projects in different areas of Yemen. As was the case in 1995, out of the quota for the year 2000, five hundred tons of flour shall be sent to Socottra on board a French ship. The remaining 6,800 tons shall be marketed in Hodeidah. The revenue in Yemeni Riyals shall be transferred to a coffer administered jointly by the Ministry of Planning and the French Embassy. The fund shall be utilized for financing projects which would allow development of food production. The European Commission, Technical Advisory Office in Sana’a, issued on August 24 a statement on the occasion of allocating I million Euro to revive tourism in Yemen. The European Commission has supported tourism development in Yemen since 1989, when the first Tourism Master Plan was conceived. Subsequent EC-assisted interventions included the strengthening of collection and analysis of tourism statistics, a revision of the hotel and restaurant classification system and a survey of investment opportunities in seaside tourism along the Gulf of Aden. Whilst a detailed action plan will be developed during the forthcoming 6 months, the following priority areas of intervention have already been agreed upon: - Marketing support through the provision of expertise in image building to offset the at present partially negative perception of Yemen in key tourism - this will also include the design of coherent destination promotion companies and the tourism policy statement. - Strengthening the regulatory and supervisory systems in the General Tourism Authority, through continuous development and enforcement, the licensing and classification system of tourism facilities and the establishment of a comprehensive information database. - Devising a system that can help local communities to benefit from tourism. Too often these communities bear the inconveniences of tourism for little return. There will also be action to develop model tourism locations. The impending reform in local government will give local communities a greater say in deciding whether they wish to participate in such developments. - Training both for tourism administrators and tour guides. For most visitors the guides is the most important Yemeni person that they come into contact with. They are in effect national representatives and their training, awareness and appearance needs to be reflective of this important role. Within the next few days a project for operating cold storages to preserve Yemeni agricultural imports is to begin in a number of Saudi Arabian cities, Engineer Abdulrehman Al-Olfi, Secretary General of the Yemeni Agricultural Cooperatives Federation said. He added that the project includes providing a fleet of vehicles for transportation of agricultural products into the Kingdom. The project which costs SR.42 million has come into light following joint investment between the National Center for Agricultural Exports in Hodeidah Province and Saudi Arabian businessmen, Mr. Olfi said. More than 223,670 containers had been unloaded in the Container Terminal in Aden since official inauguration of the terminal in March 1999. In addition, the Aden seaport had received more than 539 carriers during the same period. An official at the Container Terminal stated that the increase in number of containers was a result of the increase in international shipping lines sailing to Aden port. On the other hand, customs’ revenue had during the same period reached YRs 3,673,203,788. According to an agreement initialed at Washington, the World Bank has approved a US$56 million loan for the expansion of basic education project in Yemen. The loan shall be used in three basic components for building schools in hinterlands and remote districts. It includes training and qualification and equipment. The agreement was signed by Dr. Yehya Al-Sha’bi, Minister of Education and the World Bank Advisor of Education Sector at the Human Resources Development Group. Mr. Ahmed A. Al-Samawi, Governor of the Central Bank, opened on Thursday an information campaign for awareness to safeguard the national bank notes from misuse and ill-circulation. In his inaugural address the Governor talked about the Bank’s contribution in the field of monetary reform within the financial reforms which the State sponsored during 1995. As a result international organizations were contacted and easy loans and other facilities were obtained. He also disclosed that through consultations and agreements Yemen was able to end the problems of its loans. Mr. Samawi stressed that all official and media efforts are focused to assist the Bank by disseminating awareness within the public over the need to preserve the national currency through rational use. He urged that people are made to understand the disadvantage of misused bills. According to the Governor, the Central Bank destroys Yr.20m worth canceled notes everyday. Water workshop held in Taiz and Ibb governorates concluded last Wednesday asserting that there must be some solutions to water crisis in the two governorates, especially Taiz. Recommendations of the workshop emphasized the importance of feeding districts including Shara’ab, al-Buraihi, al-Janad, Thi al-Sufal, etc. with water resources. Papers presented in the workshop indicated that there were 2300 wells in these districts; 1993 were primitive wells. Papers also indicated the increasing number of problems over water resources, random digging of wells, and pollution due to waste of factories and sewer system. In the concluding meeting, attended by governor of Taiz and deputy Ibb governor, an executive plan was presented by engineer Ahmed Al-Shami on administrating water resources from the top of Wadi Rasyan, whose area is 940 km2. He indicated the annual feed level and how water is used in the area. He said “Water is estimated at about 5 million m3 while consumed ground water is 41 million m3 of which 27 million m3 is used for agriculture, 3 million m3 for drinking in countryside, 4 million m3 for drinking in urban areas and 4 million m3 for industry. Grater Taiz population is 650,000 people while subscribers in the water Establishment do not exceed 37,000.” He finally indicated that there would be a water problem in the future. Abdullah Saleh Saif presented a review of the proposed administration of water in terms of establishing a basis for distributing water resources, setting up an organizing framework for distributing water, improving water services, addressing the damage of floods and sewer system. He finally reviewed countryside field visits stressing that people in those areas requested the establishment of societies in their areas to coordinate with water Establishment. Mrs. Entissar al-Harthi, NOWRA water awareness chairwoman, reviewed results of fields visits of women sector. She reflected women’s suffering in those areas indicating that these women called for compensating them for transferring water to cities by establishing schools, dispensaries, illiteracy centers, handicrafts centers, etc. She also revealed that there is a big number of people from the countryside sick due to the polluted water they get. In a statement to the YT, Engineer Jamal Mohammed Abduh, chairman of NOWRA, said “Yemen is characterized among the dry or semi-dry countries. It has few water resources in comparison to other countries. Moreover, there is a misuse and maladministration.” He pointed out that the executive plan to administer Taiz water resources came as the result of detail studies conducted on the area; how to get water, how to distribute it; how to protect water resources from pollution and using it up. He concluded by saying that these plans to be deemed successful, all parties should pull together and join efforts to face this crisis. |
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