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   Independent President Saleh ordered that the campaign against private prisons and for arresting wanted offenders should continue its job in al-Udain district, which witnessed armed clashes between groups loyal to local sheikhs: Sadeq Pasha and Mohammed al-Samawi. The President's instructions were given to the Minister of Local Affairs, the Attorney General and the Governor of Ibb. The security committee in Ibb governorate held a meeting last week to discuss the plan by which the President's instructions shall be implemented in the light of the recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee which investigated the case of private prisons in al-Udain and incidents linked to them. The Committee had reported to the President after more than 30 days of investigation in the district. The delay is thought to have resulted from disagreements among members of the Committee, which divided into two groups regarding making its report and its recommendations. Sultan al-Barkani, Chairman of the PGC Caucus in Parliament, has denied reports by Yemeni - especially opposition owned - newspapers about the border issue between Saudi Arabia and Yemen. He described those reports as a continuation of a policy of fallacy and suspiciousness adapted by some forces that aim at confusing the government and involving her in futile disputes. In an interview with Okaz, the Saudi daily, he considered these means to be aimed at keeping the issue pending for the Government in Yemen, so that it raises slogans that instigate the masses to rise, and raises doubts about the serious policy of the leadership in Yemen to solve this issue with our brethren in Saudi Arabia through cordial and brotherly means. Army units have besieged some areas of the tribe of Abeedah, Marib Governorate, after the tribe attacked an armed vehicle of Marib security forces. Reports say that the military units initiated the bombardment of some locations and buildings at which the attackers are thought to have hidden. There were no reports of losses or casualties.
Independent Israeli telephone sets bearing the brand name JACOB have spread in Aden. Our sources report that these sets don't bear the name of the country of manufacture, and that the first letter 'J' of the brand name is written in a way making it similar to the Israeli Kinnesset motto. Our sources report that these sets are only some of the many Israeli goods and commodities that have made it into Yemen through smuggling by land, sea and air. Sources added that the Yemeni authorities, by keeping quiet towards such developments, are normalizing the Yemeni - Israeli relations to an extent expected to be announced sometime during the first year of the Millennium. Al-Haq: "We publish this news and await the concerned authorities to deny it if it is unfounded." Smuggled Cigarettes Change into Soap Our sources report that a vehicle loaded with smuggled cigarettes has changed while it was under custody at Al-Barh area, with the help of the Almighty into one loaded with soap! The smugglers had exchanged fire with the political security men that were following them and were later arrested. The vehicle was handed over to the area security authorities in order to be later delivered to the customs department. However when time came and the vehicle was to be handed over it was discovered that the cigarettes had all changed into soap! Higher security authorities were informed and an investigation was promptly ordered. A very influential military officer has taken over 600 acres of land owned by the Al-Dob family of the Ubar Lasloom village in Tuban district, Lahj Governorate. Some local dwellers told Al-Haq that for years they had tried to resist by lawful means the influential person, but their efforts turned out to be in vain because of the military force he brought into the area to protect him. They said that because of that they had to accept the amount of 8 million rials which he offered them. They add that they were informed by the Lahj Attorney General that his office is unable to defend their rights in the face of this influential person who is ready to confront the vehicle of the attorney with a tank. They indicated that the document by which they relinquished their land was written at a dwelling and not ratified at a court of law. They stress that they shall demand their land, even if hundreds of years should pass.
BaÕath Party Today Lisbon will return Macao Island to China. Macao is the last and oldest European colony in Asia. The operation is taking place in a very calm atmosphere, very different from that when Peking took back Hong Kong two years ago. Local Macao authorities have endeavored to make clear the positive side of the returning process, especially China's confirmation of Mr. Edmund Hua as the local Prime Minister to replace the last Portuguese governor, effective 20th December. He shall return to China in the near future.
Independent International navigation lines opposite the Yemeni coasts in the Arab Sea and the southern Red Sea witnessed a number of piracy incidents that were aimed against commercial ships, the most important of which was the one against the Australian yacht. Navigation sources expressed their fears of the spreading marine piracy accidents which threaten the safety of international navigation and transport in this area, especially as the majority of these accidents are registered against unknown offenders, while the Yemeni coast guard forces are unable to efficiently cover the whole Yemeni coasts. Somali refugees continue to infiltrate illegally into the country, which adds to the already heavy security and economic burden. These informed political and economic sources confirmed to Al-Ra'y al-A'yam that the continuation of such piracy and refugee smuggling accidents in the Yemeni waters shall very negatively Yemen and its reputation in international navigation. It is recalled here that an unknown armed group intercepted a French boat last Friday opposite Balhaf, Shabwa Governorate, 10 miles from the coast, and robbed those on it, two French and a Swiss. They took all the money they had, in addition to a radio and diving equipment. The victims had asked the Mukalla port authorities for help, but got nothing. The victims reported that the offenders sailed towards the Somali coast after the incident. A meeting last Thursday of the Administrative Committee of the Mukalla Club and a number of Mukalla dignitaries has uncovered a scandal: 30 million rials have disappeared from the accounts. The said meeting came after the spread of a rumor that somebody who claimed to be a contractor had deceived the Director, claiming that he was going to construct the Club facilities at its Khalf Investments area. The General Director of The Mukalla Ministry of Youth and Sports Office had surrendered to the claimed contractor documents relating to an area of ground owned by the club, despite the fact that the said director was committed not to surrender the said documents to any party. However, the claiming contractor was supposed to input an amount of 30 million rials into the club's bank account. The fact that he didn't do so was discovered by some who are keen for the club interests and was reported to the relevant authorities. By that time, ownership of the area and documentation had changed hands three or four times. It was agreed that a committee should follow up this case with the Governor and the Judicial apparatus to safeguard the club's interests and ownership.
Official Preparations are being made at Hojariyah district, Taiz Governorate for the study of a unique local phenomenon that has confused researchers, said Mr. Faisal Al-Shargabi, the Secretary General of the Taiz Save the Environment Society. Mr. Al-Shargabi told the newspaper that concentrated thunderbolts fall directly on a local field annually, especially during the rainy season, a phenomenon that continues to confuse the local population and interested researchers. Mr. Shargabi indicated that his society is currently coordinating with interested research authorities within Taiz University and the Environmental Protection Council and the General Authority for Water Resources for the study of this peculiar phenomenon. A team of hydrological, geophysical, climate and environment experts shall be composed to monitor and study this phenomenon. Mr. Shargabi added that nearby wadi dries suddenly as the earth swallows all water when these thunderbolts occur. Some of the thunderbolts continue for about a minute and can be monitored when they fall on the location!!
Independent Eritrea confirmed yesterday that it is going to respect the International arbitration determining its borders with Yemen. A statement by the Eritrean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that 'International borders should be a line drawn if possible in the middle between the two coasts facing each other. An Eritrean source further clarified that the resolution taken by court allows Eritrean and Yemeni fishermen to fish around the Red Sea Islands. He added that traditional diving for collecting pearls and shells and using the islands for drying fish or maintenance is allowed. He continued by quoting the court resolution that Yemen shall take administrative moves regarding these traditional rights only after an advance agreement with Eritrea.
Islah Party, The Fifth Taibah Medical Camp is expected to perform one thousand free medical operations by Yemeni and Saudi doctors at Aden hospitals. They began last Tuesday registering the names of interested patients. Al-Sahwah is informed that the children's operations shall take place at Al-Gumhooriah Educational Hospital while women's operations shall be at Al-Wahdah Hospital (previously Friendship Hospital) and other operations at the Aden General Hospital. Registration of patients shall continue until the 22nd of Ramadhan in the relevant sections of the said hospitals, while the operations themselves shall take place next month.
Al-Haq Party: Some sources have predicted that the British Embassy intends to protest in the next few days because several tribal and military dignitaries in Aden Governorate have tapped areas adjacent to the Aden Jewish cemetery. The British Embassy fear that such tapping of the land by military and tribal dignitaries are paves the way for the later taking over the Jewish cemetery itself. The sources disclosed that some British Embassy officials visited the cemetery and the surrounding areas that are being tapped during the night and under security forces protection. |