Press Review - Issue 17

17 - April 26th thru May 2nd 1999, Vol IX

Compiled by:
Mohammed A. Abbas
Yemen Times RAY,
Sanaa Weekly, Mouthpiece of the League of Sons of Yemen,
20/04/1999 A: Front-Page Headlines:
1. Deputy Minister of Health Resigns.
2. MP Mohamed Allaw Questions the Minister of Interior on the Saeed Village Incidents.
3. The Rabitah Presents Its Vision of the Procedural Factors for Successful Elections,
4. Escalations of the Confrontations in Amran, and Arrest of 100 among the Supporters of Sheikh Sowdah.

B: Issue's Editorial:
Normalization of political life in Yemen in order to reduce the level of violence requires many actions. These can be summed up in introducing real political reforms that allow for a balanced participation in decisions. The specifics include a wide-ranging local government, judicial reforms leading to effective and independent justice, removal of factors of fragmentation and internecine tribal conflicts in society, addressing financial corruption and administrative negligence, enforcement of the law, etc.

Introducing these steps will reduce the level of violence in our society. Things being as they are, there is little meaning in holding elections. We know that the results are dictated in advance and the elections are merely a carnival to give the results legitimacy. Sadly, such steps will backfire because people will lose hope in achieving any change. It will also cast a shadow of doubt on democracy and those organizations supporting it.
Our party believes that there is no way out but through a minimum level of participation and democracy, to shun violence, and reconciliation that will allow the past wounds to heal. All this cannot be achieved except through meaningful and serious dialogue which excludes no one.

Al-Ummah,
Sanaa Weekly, Mouthpiece of Hizbul-Haq,
22/04/1999. A: Front-Page Headlines:
1. Campaign to Loot and Destroy Yemeni Heritage Continues.
2. The Sheikhs Demand Accountability from those Responsible for Attacks on Dhale'.
3. Demonstrations in Hadhramaut.
4. Objections in Dhamar Against the Behavior of Authorities.
5. In a meeting chaired by the PGC Secretary General, Dr. Al-Iryani, the General Secretariat approves the names of the PGC members who will take part in the electoral committees for registry.

B: Issue's Editorial
The NATO strikes on Yugoslavia continue at an intense and speedy tempo. Yet none of the goals for which these strikes are launched have been achieved. Enormous numbers of the displaced refugees are still pouring into the neighboring countries, waiting under agonizing conditions.
At the threshold of a new century, the international community is writing down another black page of human savageness as the civilian Kosovars find themselves torn between NATO's promises and the Serbs hellfire.
The continuity of this human tragedy is directly brought about by the Fascist mentality and immoral conscience of the Yugoslav President Solobodan Milosevitch. Not only has this Milosevitch abandoned humanity, but he is also putting on a bullheaded attitude of snobbishness, causing the innocent civilians in his country and in Kosovo to pay dearly for his stupid obstinacy. If Milosevitch's whims were not curbed, the Kosovar's tragedy will undoubtedly become a real curse on the coming century and the NATO will be trapped in deep water. However, it seems that the NATO has no choice but to keep up pressure on Milosevitch till he gives in to Rambouleh terms. The other scenario, in case of taking place, would mark the NATO's first defeat. Therefore we rule out that this mighty tiger will afford Milosevitch any form of concession.

Attariq,
Aden Weekly, Independent,
20/4/1999. A: Front-Page Headlines:
1. A tribal attack launched by Al-Jebah tribe on the town of Nessab in Shebwah governorate as a result of tribal animosity and reprisals between Al- Jebah and Al-Dulah tribe of Nessab. So far, the fight has ended with the death of four and the injury of another four.
2. A citizen of Dar Sa'ad, Aden, declares that he will be running for the presidential election against President Saleh. Mr. Ali Bin Ali Sabihi informed the paper that he is applying to the Parliament to nominate him for the coming presidential election.
3. The 2 villages of Mersebah and Al-Kerb in Zubaid, Dhale'a, have been exposed to arbitrary shilling fired at them form the military sites of the Armored Brigade 135. The Shelling created a state of panic among the area's population.
4. A high ranking military officer has arrested three citizens in Abain. The General staff officer of Brigade 312, positioned in Abyan, detained the three citizens over a dispute over a piece of land. The officer disregarded legal ownership documents of the three citizens.

B: Issue's Editorial:
It is nice to see a number of Aden's community leaders taking the initiative to declare a National Council that will embrace a group of distinguished political and social dignitaries in the city of Aden. The new NGO council is expected to contribute positively in defending the citizen's political, economic, and civil rights.
It is not a shame that this step has come late, though it's absolutely shameful that Aden should continue to be paralyzed and indifferent to public issues. This city should occupy its position not as an opposition echo, nor as a government tail, but as the leading place in the Yemeni National Movement which wrote down brilliant pages in the process of social enlightenment and cultural transformation. Today we sincerely hope that Aden will play its role in the socio-political interaction to move forward in the building up of a Yemen of justice, equality, progress and freedom.

Al-Ehya Al-Arabi:
Sanaa Weekly, Mouthpiece of
Arab BaÕath Socialist Party, 19/4/1999
A: Front-Page Headlines:
1. Mr. Ali Saleh Obad, the YSP Secretary General, Chairman of the Opposition Council of Coordination (OCC) has announced that the OCC will nominate its candidate for the presidential election.
2. The Ba'ath Party apologized for not taking part in the electoral committees. The apology has come as a result of the Supreme election Committee's turning down of the Ba'ath Party's proposals related to the correction of the voters charts.
3. Two persons were killed and ten others were injured in Hazm Al-Jowf, in a fight that seemed to have been instigated by an oral squabble in Souk Al-Qat market place.

Article Summary:
After being privatized, Government hospitals have now become as expensive as five star first class hotels. However, the services offered in these hospitals can not be compared even to the cheapest motels. Therefore, we would like to advise any patient to be hospitalized in a first class hotel room, as we believe that this will be less costly. Government hospitals are no longer offering free services and the patient is compelled to pay for even trivial services like buying a syringe and paying for the nurse to discharge it. All this in addition to the intolerable costs of rooms which sometimes top the rates of luxury hotels rooms.

Al-Thawry,
Sanaa Weekly, Mouthpiece of
Yemen Socialist Party, 22/4/1999.
A: Front-Page Headlines.
1. In a meeting chaired by the YSP Secretary General, The General Secretariat stated that the correction of the voters registry tables is a basic condition to the validity of the presidential election.
2. In a statement to the London based Ashark Al- Awset, the YSP secretary General says that the opposition presidential candidate will adopt a National Salvation Program.
3. Sanaa Community Teaching Syndicate strongly condemns the state's interference in the conferences and elections of the different syndicates and unions.
4. Tribal clashes continue in some areas in Ammran Governorate between Qafalet O'ther and government forces. The Government forces are reinforced by the forces of some Sheiks in the area.
5. Archeological and Security authorities are tight-lipped on another theft incident of unique manuscripts estimated at 147 pieces. The manuscripts were stolen from a place in the Historical town of Djibleh.

Al-Sahwah
Sanaa weekly, Mouthpiece of
Islah Party, 22/4/1999
A: Front-Page Headlines:
1. In a meeting chaired by the Islah Party's President Sheik Abdullah Bin Hussain Al-Ahmer, Islah Supreme committee (the party's politburo) has decided not to take part in the electoral committees of registry unless the voters tables are corrected.
2. In his word to the inauguration ceremony of Al-Iman University, President Saleh describes the construction of the university as an achievement of the revolution.
3. Members in the Parliament have asked the government for more openness and clarity related to the draft law of privatization, while the government shows no intention to amend this Law.
4. After two weeks of the president's instructions, the correction of the voters tables is still stumbling and the repeated names in the voters' tables amount to half a million.
5. The inflation of the Yemeni Rial is a natural result of the economic reform policies.

Article Summary:
I attended a meeting organized by the US Consulate in Aden which was devoted to the hearing and debate of the US State DepartmentÕs report on Human Rights in Yemen. The meeting began with the reading of the report by the Human Rights official in the US Embassy. She concluded the reading by admitting that even the United States does not fully respect human rights. I must say that she deserves credit for such statement.
The Issue of Human Rights can never be solved outside Yemen. It is time for all of us to realize the fact that we and we alone can solve this problem if we know what and what not to do in the world of politics. The US is far from being the defender of human rights. Disfigured humans are still born in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan. The hunting tools of the black Africans are still possessed by the grandsons of the white American testifying to this man's racial superiority complex. The tents of the Red Indians, constructed in the wild areas in America, are still testifying to the horrible genocide perpetrated by the white American against them. When some one was asked to compare the CIA and the MAFIA gangs he said that there is no difference between them, for the methods used by the two sides are identical.

Al-Ayyam,
Aden 3-weekly, Independent
22/4/1999. A: Front-Page Headlines:
1. Members in the Yemeni parliament are sending a call for accountability to the Government regarding the expenditure of tens of billions of YRs on fake projects.
2. A team of 3 officers from Scotland yard arrived in Yemen two weeks ago. The team is taking part in the current investigations related to the kidnapping and killing of 3 Britons. It is reported that the team has asked to meet with Abul-Hassan, the gang leader.
3. Mr. Mohammed N. Al-Sha'ef, an MP and chairman of special committee designed to discuss general elections and referendum draft, affirmed that the presidential elections must be held on time to avoid a constitutional vacuum.

Al Thawra,
Sanaa Daily, Official.
22/4/1999 A:Front-Page Headlines
1. The Parliament endorsed the law amending the republican decree related to the Court Fees and continued hearing on the General Election and Referendum draft law.
2. During its weekly meeting, the Council of Ministers endorsed the out comings of the joint Yemeni-Ethiopian committee meetings. The Cabinet also ratified a report submitted by the minister of health on the disciplinary measures taken against a number of drug stores and companies for their anti-public health safety acts.
3. In Aden city, Attwahi Primary Court has resumed hearings on case no 27 serious Crimes in which 9 Britons and one French were accused.
4. The Director of the media sector in the Supreme Election Committee announced that the voters tables will be revised soon adding the amendment of the Election Law is a necessity to avoid shortcomings.

B: Issue's Editorial:
At the end of coming June, The Republic of Yemen will host here in Sanaa a Summit conference for Emerging Democracies. Choosing Sanaa as the site of this meeting offers an international recognition that our democracy is growing. It also says that our experience has risen to world-standards, which enable it to become a model to be followed.
Yemen is often credited for the unhesitant and honest transformation to democracy based on political plurality and peaceful exchange of government. So far, this has been practiced in reality during two election experiences that were widely noted and appreciated in many places in the world.

President Ali Abdulla Saleh has never stopped emphasizing that democracy is a comprehensive system. Therefore he has been working in all directions to bring this concept into life. Democracy in this country will survive as long as there is the political will which enriches it with fresh inputs to ensure further improvement. This is clearly seen in 2 important events: The preparations for local government, and the presidential elections.
Free balloting to elect the president and the fixing of the presidency to a maximum of two 5-year terms are strong evidences for the credibility of political plurality and the civilized exchange of power.