Compiled by:
  Mohamed Abbas
  Yemen Times

Issue's Editorial
The Federation of the People's Forces (FPF) has always sided with the Right wherever it exists. During its long history, the FPF has allied itself with the interests of the masses and never sought to achieve selfish or temporary gains. The FPF is still walking on this road, holding to its policy to support upright behavior practiced by anyone either inside or outside the government, and confronting evil trends. Our main occupation has always been to build sound foundations which can secure the interests of the people, hence our keenness to join hands with anyone fighting for this goal. We have been very careful to keep away form condemning individuals, for it is the crime, not the criminal, that we can not overlook.
The FPF was among the first parties which called for the establishment of Order and the enhancement of Institutional Orientation, to allow the people to chose the best way to serve their interests. Nevertheless, the FPF would like to see that names indicate real objects so as to fill the gap between words and practice.

-- Issue's Editorial.
At the beginning was the Word and at the beginning I would like to stress that my intention in writing was not and will never be to distort the image or ruin the reputation of any officials. During my long career in writing, I have disciplined my pen to the addressing of mistakes and redressing of imbalances perpetrated by some official in the ruling community who gives himself the right to do as he likes, when he likes. Thus, through the influence of his post and the abuse of public funds, this official can inflict persecution, pain, injustice on the larger numbers in the society. Against these corrupt practices, clean writers can use their pens as the only means to condemn corruption wherever it comes from and whoever causes it. However, when writers draw the attention of some official to his wrongs or criticize his misconduct, he immediately turns furious and threatens to break the neck of any one who dares to point fingers at him. This childish reaction is out of date, and writers are no more intimidated by this crippled practices, nor can they be hushed by such an ailing mentality. In contrast, we as writers hold the belief in implanting and spreading the concept of constructive dialogue and civilized communication as the only approach to mutual understanding. The umbrella of democracy shields the writer and invites him to call for implementing of the constitutional articles related to the officials' financial accountability. In this regard there are two articles in the constitution which completely ban the involvement of government officials in business areas so as to avoid clash of interests. Article 117, related to the President of the Republic, and Article 134, related to the Prime minister, his deputies and the cabinet ministers, forbid the engagement of these officials directly or indirectly in any " private enterprise or business, financial, trade, or industrial concerns." Now all this is nice, but where is the effect of such articles in reality? Though we can not point a finger of accusation to a certain official, we can not at the same time blind our eyes to conspicuous aspects of some officials sudden wealth which any body can see in the exquisite villas and palaces and the spacious tracts of land. Even if these two Articles were applied in reality, we still feel that this is not enough. A statement of financial status signed by any official before he/she takes over would eliminate the ground for suspicion directed at all officials, including the honest among them.

27/4/1999.
Main Headlines:
1- Yemeni businessmen are fleeing the country to Ethiopia.
2- A British police team from Scotland yard are waiting for a permit to meet with Abul-Hassan.
3- Demonstration protest organized by The National committee for the defense of the oppressed victims in Hadrahmout.
4- A tribal conciliation to end the conflict between the A'al Al-doulah and A'al Jebah tribes in Shebwah.
5- The US Ambassador to Sanaa pays inspection visit to the American oil companies working in Mareb.
6- A Capital Secretariat court passes a verdict abolishing the ban on Al-Shoura newspaper.
7- Our country takes part in the first meeting for the nation states which have signed the Land mines Treaty. The meeting is held in Maputo, Mozambique.

-- Issue's Editorial
Arab-Arab relations are awaiting a great amount of care and seriousness from the Arab rulers, who should work soon to remove shortcomings which might have accumulated over time. Today's world is the world of blocking and reciprocal exchange of interests and there is nothing that stops the Arab Nation from bringing this fact into force in all economic, political and defense programs.
Relations between individual states might sometimes turn bad, a thing the Arabs are familiar with, but what should not be gambled with is the Arab National Strategy, if such a thing exists. If not, then it is a real catastrophe, which we sincerely hope that the Arab Rulers will be able to correct.

-- Issue's Editorial
The great human role the NATO -led by the United States and its main ally in Europe, the UK- plays in the current crisis in Kosovo is a continuity of the mission of the Free World to stand up to dictators everywhere. For a long time, Humanity has been suffering from dictators who practiced various acts of persecution, torture and oppression against mankind for racial, religious or political reasons. In the past, these dictators were left free as their policies inside their countries were considered by the International Community part of the state's sovereignty. Now that has changed and that's why NATO's recent intervention has been appreciated in many places, including the Islamic World. In fact, this intervention has come just in time to stop the arrogance of a dictator who is still unable to communicate in the language of today's world. Let us nourish the hope that the NATO will extend its hand to save other persecuted groups of mankind in many parts of the world.

27/4/1999.
Main Headlines:
1- Ba-Jemmal says that the PGC is willing to lend the opposition votes to enable them nominate their presidential candidate.
2- Commenting on the above statement, Mr. Mohammed Ali Assaqqaf asks about how we will to pay back the PGC's loan and the outrageous interest rates!
3- A peaceful march and public ceremony will be organized in Mukala, Hadrahmout to commemorate the victims of last year's oppression.
4- A consensus in Aden and Lahg governorates on broadly authorized local government.
5- A truce is reached between the two tribes of A'al Jebah and Al-doulah.
6- US General Zinni discusses joint military training and maneuvers between his country and Yemen.
7- Armed group attacks citizens in Wessab district, Dhamar governorate.
8- A 35 year old French man committed suicide by throwing himself down from the fifth floor of the Taj-Sheba hotel.
9- In Taiz, a psychologically disturbed person opens fire on a number of citizens, killing one and injuring three others.

28/4/1999.
Main Headlines:
1- The Speaker of the Parliament, Shiekh Al-Ahmar, invites the government to implement its decree that would increase the teachers' salaries by 20%.
2- Dr. Al-Iryani hails the teachers' role, and reiterates the government strong support for teachers.
3- The Minister of Education declares to the paper that the educational committee designed to review educational curriculums will meet soon.
4- Security forces arrest a gang for forging the state's Presidency stamp.
5- Mr. Hatem Abu Hatem, member of the central committee of the Nasserite Unionist Party, declares to the paper that the path to power lies through polling centers and public opinion.

Issue's Editorial
Democracy is the language of the future, and the only gateway not only to build man's mind but also to enable it to assimilate principles of freedom. These are also the requirements for development. Democracy can never be brought into force through raising slogans or by stagnant and prototypical behaviors of parties. Rather, it is a horizon of hope to create a better reality based on the healthy atmosphere in which rules and principles of democracy are respected and embraced by all.
However, it is hard to a violence-oriented person to fit in a democratic environment. What happened in this country back in 1993 is a strong evidence that the culture of violence needs a dear price to be eliminated. Yet what happened back then also proves that the will of democracy must prevail and persons of egotistical trends will sooner or later find themselves completely outside the popular opinions.

--Issue's Editorial
All speculations, fortune telling and calculations have become useless, now that the Nasserites have proved that they are beyond comprehension by any one who does not understand their philosophy. This philosophy, based on the principle of trial and error, is the Nasserites scientific approach which their historical leader Jamal Abdul Nasser had practically adopted. Therefore, our philosophy is not based on ready- made ideologies that compel realities to respond to them. Rather, it is reality that determines this philosophy within a comprehensive strategy that can absorb changes and developments in the Arab arena. Hence, the inability of non-Nasserites to reach an accurate assessment of our way of thinking, no matter how developed their tools of reasoning and calculations were. At best their assessments are mere speculations, of which some may incidentally be true, as is the case in the latest convention of our Party which concluded with unexpected results that certainly disappointed many of those fortune tellers.