Around this time of the year (20th of January), the President of the United States addresses a joint session of the Congress to report on the state of affairs in the country. It is a common practice of leaders of democratic countries to put their performance on the line for evaluation by the representatives of the people and the public at large based on their report of conditions in the country and to show that they are well in command of the situation, notwithstanding the difficulties that may be seen here and there. They also give their perception of how things appear to them, applauding themselves, somewhat modestly, for their accomplishments, while at the same time not failing to mention the downside of the state of affairs in the country and explaining the circumstances surrounding such unfavorable conditions and proposing the substantive remedies that hopefully deal with such deviations of the norm. At the same time, they will present these proposals to their respective parliaments to authorize the necessary appropriations for financing the remedies, while pointing out the standards that may be used to adjudicate their performance in dealing with the downside of things according to criteria that are measurable and observable. The point to be made here is that there is no “perfect nation”, where all things are rosy and bright, while discontent and frustrations are invisible within the society. Yet, life is made easier when things are laid out in the open and dialogue is invited with a view towards reaching consensus on the appropriate course that nations should follow in managing their affairs and in remedying their problems.
Time and again, Common Sense has called for a realistic self-appraisal of the state of the nation, and it goes without saying that there is sufficient evidence to warrant such a comprehensive self-assessment, with most indications showing unfavorable signs of decay and social disintegration, with no clear signs that things are about to take a turn for the better. This analysis is called for, not so much because it is deemed to be a common practice of democratic societies (assuming that there is a common understanding between the rulers and the people of this country on what a democratic society really entails for both the rulers and the governed). It is almost impossible for any keen observer of the mood of the overwhelming majority of the Yemeni people, from all walks of life and transversing all the social strata of the society, not to discern that the downside in the state of affairs in the country prevails in just about every sector of our socio-economic-political make-up with unparalleled stubbornness. Moreover, if the government and the various powerbrokers that purport to have a grasp of the helms of authority in the land are not the cause of the almost unbearable level to which most areas of our social fabric have literally collapsed to and continue their sustainable downward slide, at least they should have the courtesy to recognize that such conditions deserve to be seriously looked into, if not dealt with constructively, with a view towards arriving to a halt to this sustainable slide into the abyss of social decay and fragmentation. We are truly facing monumental problems that often defy logical explanation orfail to find sympathy and understanding for the failure of the institutions of government to contend with the situation in an agreeable manner that reflects serious concern of those holding the helms of power for the obvious absence of care for the well-being of the nation and the welfare of its people. When we say this – and by we, this observer seems to speak for many keen observers, we share the contention that the time has come for constructive dialogue and action to exit this dismal climate that hangs over us, which is not created by any force majeure, but by the careless and self-centered attitude that seems to prevail among those responsible for overseeing public affairs in the country, who forgot that it was they who sought these positions, but apparently overlooked the awesome moral and ethical implications that go with public office, and the inevitable accountability they are bound to face for their performance – good or bad! But the wide-ranging mishap of the state of affairs seems to be looked in a rather nonchalant way by almost every senior official, who might have some potential for influencing the course of events in the country, that one is bound to look aghast at the ineptitude by which crisis after crisis is managed in the country, as though the regime and the organs it purports to mange is immune from accountability and responsibility for being unable to alleviate the overall calamity that our management of public affairs has become.
We know that these words are not what could be to the liking of many of those who have captured a niche here and there in the loose fabric that links the various elements of the power structure in the country, but somehow someone has to make it clear to the society that what we are facing does not defy solution, as the apparent impotence of government at this time seems to indicate. The issues are relatively simple and often require no more than will power and a great sense of loyalty to the Republic and faith in our self that we really should be in a much better state. On the other hand, if these elements cannot be made to see the bad side of the state of affairs of the country, it would be difficult to expect that they are willing or able to respond to the aspirations of the majority of the people of the country, rich and poor, who have all expressed their obvious disapproval of how affairs in the country are managed, or rather mismanaged, and surely the best way to start is by insisting that there is no one in the society above the law.
There is no question in any one’s mind that when a society has different standards for the application of law, with respect to the different elements of the society, where the governed find little mercy and the rulers have almost unquestioned immunity from prosecution and punishment as ordained in the very laws the rulers have sworn to uphold, then that society is bound to face the kind of situation Yemen seems to have fallen into, and its people have become victims of almost voluntarily. The essential logic in the state of affairs of the country is that this is not the work of any external or supernatural force, but rather, regrettably, a course, which fellow countrymen have chosen for us and somehow find it difficult to realize the ill health of the nation that is paramount and the great disservice to the national interest of the country that such a situation brings to fore.
We implore our leaders to seriously assess the present state of the nation and to assess their performance and the reason why this performance has not shown any hopeful let up in the continuing deterioration of the economy, and in the lawlessness that is reflected by the rising disregard for human life and safety, which has spread among the criminal elements and even among the elements of the elite of the society, and in the disintegration of our values and mores, many of which have transformed into expensive ceremonial extravaganzas that defy logic and social equity, which the Qur’an calls for and which our Constitution insists to be the motto of our national being. There is no reason why rulers and governed can not come to a shared realization that where we stand now is unhealthy for both sides and it is often those that tend to overlook the downside of a country’s conditions that are the first to feel its prickly stings when the suffering reaches a level of uncontrollable anger that strikes at anyone that failed to have the sympathy for their fellow citizens who have been denied access to all that our religion and constitution insist are standard rights and privileges for all the people in the land. These are fundamentals of government that cannot be overlooked. Surely, any self-assessment would show there is a for social ordinances that apply to both the rulers and the governed equitably. Otherwise that downside will continue to reflect the inevitable demise that inefficient government and inequitable application of law are bound to lead to, while at the same time give a chance for all latent evils of the society to come out and unleash their horrifying poisons throughout the fabric of the society. In the end, those who even purport to enjoy immunity from the demise and the suffering of the majority of their people, will be the first to look for a way out of the situation, in body and in soul.

Jalal Al-Sharaabi
Yemen Times

A year has elapsed since the beginning of the 3rd millennium. However, there are still many questions about Yemen’s situation in this new year and about what has been achieved so far.
Available statistics and facts about children’s situation, their education, increase of poverty rate, overpopulation, deterioration of agriculture and water shortage are big problems facing the improvement of the standard icome level for the Yemeni citizen and for improving the national economy. Above all, corruption prevailing in ministries and lack of a strong administrative control policy have shifted most of the country into a corruption breeding environment that requires much effort to rectify. The situation is getting worse in terms of violations of human rights and freedom of press.
Statistics reflect ominous indications about the horrifying rate of population growth, which is estimated at 3.7%. With this incredible rate, Yemen is only second to the Gaza Strip in population growth in the world. According to the census of 96, the population density was 13 people per one square kilometer in 1995. Undoubtedly, this ratio is more than double the 1996 figures by now. This poses many challenges facing the national economy. The rapidly growing population rate has led to the deterioration of the national economy and shortage in vital requirements such as water and agricultural land.
As far as poverty is concerned, it is pathetic to admit that the average total monthly spending per capita for a Yemeni does not exceed YR 800. This average is too much below the international poverty line. According to a survey study about the average Yemeni family budget, the average monthly spending of the poor is 614 Rials in rural areas and 623 Rials in urban areas. According to the study, 17.4% of people in urban areas live under the poverty line.
Participation of Yemeni woman in the development process is still small due to many reasons. The rate of illiteracy among females is high, especially in the countryside where it reaches 84%. Besides, many females join education at a late age. Furthermore, due to marriage or financial deficiency, most girls discontinue their education at the primary stage or university level.
Women’s role is confined to hard seasonal agricultural jobs in which they form 83% of the total labor force. However, women are not trained or taught to achieve the maximum benefit from their hard work in this field as they use primitive tools and ideas. About 20% of the national economy was contributed by Women in 1994.
As for children, the issue turns took dangerous. It is difficult to admit that even as we are in the third millennium, Yemeni children are still deprived of basic education. Even though the government had allocated 20% of its budget to education, this was still not enough to cover all students, as 30% to 40% of Yemeni children are not enrolled in any educational program. Yemen needs more than 15 thousand new schools to overcome this problem. If the problem continues, we may be slowly building up a partially illeterate generation, which is both shameful and unaccceptable. Adding to that the fact that 400,000 Yemeni children are born in Yemen every year, leading to the conclusion that if nothing is done, our future is surely going to be in the hands of illetartes. Adding to this, the misery of 89% of children, who represent the child labor sector. Millions of children work as farmers, blacksmiths, mechanics, car-cleaners and street sellers on sidewalks and crossroads. It is sad to say it, but Yemeni children are not only deprived of education and qualitieis of life, they are even deprived of their own childhood.
Lack of food security is another major problem in Yemen and must be given top priority as soon as possible. A study made in 1998 indicated that locally produced good goods for the year 1997 showed a downward trend due to the drop of the government’s subsidy on foodstuff from 75% to 15%.
As for the livestock wealth, we find that despite the increasing number of livestock to more than 10 million, pasture lands are unsufficient for the increasing numner, leading to the spread of diseases, of which the deadly Rift Valley Fever that killed humans as well as llivestock was the latest.
As for the water issue, we certainly can see a potential water crisis within the few coming years. Being the only renewed resource of water, rain provides quantities of water estimated at around 93 billion cubic meters annually. Despite this large quantity of rain water, it is wasted due to the lack of dams or draining channels. The latest estimation of the amount of surface water flowing on Yemeni lands ranged between 1.5 and 2 billion cubic meters and the annual quantity of drawn-up waters from underground is estimated at a staggering 2.4 billion cubic meters, 90% of it used for agricultural purposes, especially for qat. This matter causes the level of water to decrease on an average of 0.6% to 6 meters annually. The water balance has become negative at about 900 billion cubic meters due to the increasing consumption of water from the 45 artesian wells. The statistics of the Planning General Administration indicated that the number of water reserve projects built and financed by the Investment Program was 34 dams and reservoirs. Experts remind once and again that if nothing is done soon, there may be a potential of a national water crisis, especially around the Sanaa basin.
The provided statistics and numbers do make us concerend of the progress of our country. However, the many challenges and problems mentioned are left for the officials to ponder for some time.
Against all of those numbers, shall we have hope in the possible progress and developmental process of our country, or are we just fooling ourselves and should give up hope?
You decide!

Nageeb M.Yabli
The civil community in Yemen along with specific global quarters were shocked on the 20th of Dec. 2000 by the demise Aziz Al-Saqqaf, wife of the late Dr. Abdul Aziz Al-Saqqaf, one of the most renowned opinion makers.
Patriot Abdulaziz and Aziza Al-Saqqaf were great by all measures, as both were forced a status for them not by the strength of tribe and not induced by wealth nor threatened by the thick stick. Let us eleborate each case separately.
Patriot Professor Abdul Aziz Al-Saqqaf lived for 48 years, full of hard struggle. He qualified himself from primary to doctorate in a community plagued by illiteracy and dictatorship. He gave scholarly lectures in public finance to his students in Sana’a University.
The great Abdulaziz established the beloved and widely circulated “Yemen Times” an act which both governments of People’s Democratic Republic (PDRY) and the Yemen Arab Republic (YAR) failed to do. The same failure applies to Republic of Yemens’ government. Although a precedence was marked by the late patriot Mohammed Ali Bashraheel in his weekly the “Recorder”, and late patriot Mohammed Ali Luqman in his weekly “Aden Chronicle”. Both were published in Aden during the golden days of the British administration. Yemen Times served as a medium enlightening the local and foreign communities with the Yemeni state of affairs based on black and white.
Yemen Times served as a free forum for a range of opinions. It opened wide channels with organization of the civil community and world organizations operating in the field of development and human rights issues. The latest reform patriot Abdulaziz fought hard for the Emerging Democracies Forum to beheld in Yemen. That is in a nutshell some facts about Patriot Abdulaziz.
Late patriot Aziza Al-Saqqaf lived for 48 years, full of supreme missions. She came from Al-Hadharem, in Taiz to Sana’a. She joined her husband in the U.S.A. (1978) who was preparing for his Ph.D. By then she had a dual-task: caring for her husband and children and managing her high-school education. In 1985, she completed her B.A. (English Department), from Sana’a University. She successfully managed a one- year Humphury program. She then started her career in English Language teaching. Late Aziza led a multi-faceted rich life. Late Aziza belonged to the tradition of her predecessors Um Saleh Luqman, Saeeda Bashraheel, Radhya Ihsan Allah, Malica Nageeb.. etc., who all fought for the cause of civil community in Aden before independence.
Her sons and daughters, (Walid, Nadia, Haifa and Raydan) are smart graduates, which is a clear evidence of their upbringing.
Commenting on the demise of her mother, her daughter Nadia said : “It seems that she (Aziza) missed my father a lot, and it was that they meet again soon.” This is quite apropriate. Indeed, you have conveyd my sentiments.
To the sons and daughters, of Abdulaziz and Aziza Al-Saqqaf; do emulate the unique ideals of your great parents.

Let us fight together for the sake of their lofty tasks. trust, the Almighty God will be there in our defense.
May Allah shower His generous mercy on their souls! Amen!

Abdou Moh’d Talib
Swedish Institute
Taiz
I am sure that all of us appreciate the importance of youth in any country. No one can deny their everlasting roles. They are the real wealth of a country and pillars of strength and power and they are the potential shapers of tomorrow. Now the question under discussion is: Where do we put our youth today? Are they on the right track?
With a single scrutinizing look at the condition and behavior of our youth toady, we get a sense of disappointed. Streets teem with guys of different ages back and forth around the clock, hanging around, killing time, troubling passers-by and indulging in trivial deeds. Take for example, those who remain, till the cows come home, showing improper behavior towards girls and enjoy flirting with them along passages and paths. To get more examples, open you eyes on those who stay up involved in rioting and assault. They are found debating all the time about petty things like someone’s haircut, the latest in base songs, fashion and so forth. In addition, they are addicted to, for long hours, expanding gossip and exchanging loud burst of laughters at the same time. They keep themselves busy with chewing Qat and pursuing wicked TV-channels. They are also crazy about trying the latest in fashion and they feel proud of wearing T-shirts that have pictures of their favorite singers or cine heroes. They look at them as their models.
If you round up more about their conducts, you will discover more disappointing things. Youth today are trying their best to be taken notes of by the society regardless of whether they were off beat in their dress or their behavior.
It is really a shame upon all of us which prompts sorrow and anguish. The situation of our youth is outrightly heart-rending and needs to be remedied before we are in the soup.
In short, today’s youth should be taken care of by the society, organizations, parties and unions. The foremost thing our youth need to evolve is the strength of character which would eventually mould the national character. Our national character in Yemen involves a deep commitment to human values and principles. The youth today should, by all means, preserve and protect the value system and our invaluable wealth of national heritage. They should also have a clear understanding of the tasks ahead of them for nation building. The need of the moment is promoting a sense of responsibility, of self awareness, of cultural awareness as well as a sense of dedication for ensuring an all round progress of our beloved homeland. Remember our guys, Youth means a predominance of courage and adventure over a life of ease. Will we learn to get along? I hope so.

Gary Vey
garyvey@earthlink.net
As a citizen of America, I knew almost nothing of Yemen before my studies of ancient history and languages. My work led me to study Yemen and the archaeological work at Bilqis in particular. I have since then been engrossed in the study of the history and current politics of your beautiful land.
I read the Yemen Times weekly and see the same stories in every new issue. There is the poverty and unequal distribution of wealth and prosperity from the urban city areas to the remote tribal villages and there is kidnapping and unrest as a result of the poverty and anger at the slow progress. There is also the attempts of outside countries to influence Yemen, such as the Saudis, who wish to place a pipeline through the country, and the USA who wish to establish a military base under the premise that this is to prevent smuggling.
I feel the frustration myself. I know that your beautiful country can become a wealthy nation with pilgrimages and tourism beyond your wildest dreams. I know that your infrastructure of roads, hotels, water and sewage can all be brought up to the level of even the most progressive nations with the establishment of a tourism and religious site that will serve all religions and beliefs. I know that young children will receive an excellent education and that their health will be maintained and that they will become the future of Yemen’s natural resources.
Why don’t the people of Yemen see these visions?
In the Bilqis archaeological site you have the temple of Queen Saba and the great Sabaean kingdom. This is the only place on our planet where we can see the evidence of Biblical times, when Solomon and Saba formed a union, which crossed racial boundaries and religious taboos. This is a special place, for Christians, Jews and Moslems - not unlike the Temple of the Mound in Jerusalem. But there is a difference. This special location has not been claimed by any one faith and so could be a “hate-free zone” where all people could come to pay homage to the One God, forgetting for a brief moment the human messengers that reminded us that the Father was all important.
Please, people of Yemen, make this happen. You are a special people who have forgotten your special place in history. Please awaken and grow into a neutral and peaceful country. Ask the World Bank to assist you with funds to build your infrastructure so that you can become this pan-religious and safe oasis for believers in the Lord. Become Yemeni people first and devote yourself to the work of peace and do not tolerate the politics of more powerful nations. You, people of Yemen, seed of Saba and Abraham, have the most powerful Lord on your side.
First you must become non-political. Do not make deals with foreign nations that will influence your future. Avoid being influenced by Islam or Judaism or Christianity. Align yourself with the Lord - the One God - and start a revival to honor the Lord instead of arguing about his messengers. Did not Jesus and Muhammed demand that you honor the Father? Did they ask to be honored as a God? You, people of Yemen, can right this wrong. And the One God will make your land strong and your people will be the peacemakers of the world.
In your heart of hearts, you know this to be true. Why wait generations to see this happen. Why not NOW?