Published on 10 May 2012 by Nadia Al-Sakkaf in View Point
There is a fundamental difference between the army and the security or police force of any given country. The army is there to protect the country against outside threats, while the police are responsible for protecting citizens within its borders.
Published on 30 April 2012 by Nadia Al-Sakkaf in View Point
With all the commotion about the national dialogue, and the first ministerial outreach committee to hold a dialogue with the youth finally established, I thought ‘here we go’, thinking positively that Yemen is on its way to true reconciliation.
Published on 23 April 2012 by Ramzy Alawi in View Point
Despite the dramatic deterioration in the circumstances of Yemenis working and living in Gulf countries, mainly Saudi Arabic, working in the Gulf countries still is a dream for many Yemenis.
Published on 16 April 2012 by Ramzy Alawi in View Point
A shocking discovery I made lately left me unnerved. Several leading figures in Yemen’s –so called – revolution did not approve or even acknowledge the protestors’ cause in Syria and Bahrain.
Published on 9 April 2012 by Nadia Al-Sakkaf in View Point
So much disturbance and threats of violence followed President Hadi’s recent bold decrees including those removing some military commanders, especially the heads of the air force and marine force.
Published on 2 April 2012 by Nadia Al-Sakkaf in View Point
Things are falling apart. The situation is getting dramatically out of hand as various political players are becoming increasingly rigid in their positions.
Published on 19 March 2012 by Nadia Al-Sakkaf in View Point
Now that Yemen is seemingly stepping in the right direction of stability, the world is gathering around to talk about it. There are endless conferences, think tank sessions, seminars, research papers and blog posts about Yemen, and what it needs or does not need.
Published on 12 March 2012 by Nadia Al-Sakkaf in View Point
In those exact words a friend of mine Abdulghani Al-Iryani, one of the founders of the Democratic Awakening Movement a new political party in the making, explained their work.
Published on 5 March 2012 by Nadia Al-Sakkaf in View Point
Last week the Yemen Times marked its 21st year since the first issue was published on Feb. 27, 1991. We started with a weekly newspaper, and throughout the years that followed the newspaper never stopped publishing, despite some very difficult political and economic circumstances.
Published on 27 February 2012 by Nadia Al-Sakkaf in View Point
Many of the millions who cast their vote for Hadi last week, including myself, participated because we believe this is a stepping stone for Yemen as a nation to become a real democracy.
Published on 19 February 2012 by Nadia Al-Sakkaf in View Point
Suddenly, after so much scaring off and bullying, the Yemeni government has had a change of heart towards foreign journalists and is allowing them to enter the country easily, especially in the run up to this week’s presidential elections.
Published on 16 February 2012 by Nadia Al-Sakkaf in View Point
On average, US garbage collectors earn double that of waiters and around $8,000 more than a teacher’s average salary.
Published on 6 February 2012 by Nadia Al-Sakkaf in View Point
In the past week, I traveled to two Arab countries, Qatar and Lebanon. Starting at Yemen’s border control, my occupation – listed in my passport as ‘journalist’ – gave me nothing but trouble.
Published on 30 January 2012 by Nadia Al-Sakkaf in View Point
The year 1990, when South Yemen and North Yemen united, marked an extraordinary democratic stage for Yemen because the country was ruled by a coalition of two parties; that of the north – the General Peoples Congress – and of the south – the Yemeni Socialists Party.
Published on 4 February 2012 by Nadia Al-Sakkaf in View Point
On a youth TV program I once saw the presenter ask a young Arab what his dreams were. The youth said, “I want a good job, good education, a good place to sleep and eventually get married and start a family”.
Published on 4 February 2012 by Nadia Al-Sakkaf in View Point
One of the grave setbacks in our education system is that as students, we are told to accept the given without questioning.
Published on 4 February 2012 by Nadia Al-Sakkaf in View Point
It is undeniable that Yemenis have now found their voice. Or at least have realized that by speaking out against injustices something can happen. In the past, there was a dominant sense of passiveness and dependency whereby everyone threw the blame around and no one wanted to take responsibility for taking a stand.
Published on 16 February 2012 by Nadia Al-Sakkaf in View Point
Many Yemenis today are considering not participating in the presidential elections due on February 21, 2012. The reason is obvious: It is a done deal. I, like many others, thought: “Why should we take the trouble, when there is an agreed candidate? With or without our vote, Vice President Hadi will be the next president according to the Gulf initiative anyway.”
Published on 11 February 2012 by Nadia Al-Sakkaf in View Point
So the old man is gone. Well, gone from power at least, as he is now back in Yemen. Keeping in mind that someone who is used to being the top man won’t be eager to let go of authority, it is very likely that he still has a hand in running the show from behind the scenes.
Published on 14 February 2012 by Nadia Al-Sakkaf in View Point
If Yemen is a country of 25 million, then 20 million of them don’t care if they have electricity or not and the other five million have their own generators. This is why Yemenis have not protested against the power cuts that in some cities, especially the capital Sana’a, see days pass by without electricity.
Families go broke treating their children’s Thalassemia