Al-Wahda [Archives:2005/823/Press Review]

2 Mar.2005
Main headlines

– Yemen receives first of its citizens from Guantanamo detention

– Parliamentary committee demands the government implementation of the international agreement on fighting corruption

– Health ministry calls for forming higher committee for combating dengue

– Opening competing companies for the operation of container port in Aden

– Nasserite Unionist Organisation concluded its conference successfully

Columnist Nour Ba Abbad says in her article that the phrase of “taxpayers” is much used in advanced societies where the citizen has reached a progressed level regarding their rights and duties.

The citizen in those societies could express his worry and resentment if the taxes he has paid were spent not in the proper direction.

The taxpayer situation in the developing countries is in a state of enmity and coerciveness. He feels the injustice due to the large amount of taxes he pays without tangibly finds any improvement in services as the taxes would go to the financial circle of the state and fund social services of which he does find a kind of low standard.

In most cases, the citizen's taxes are channeled to favor of the authority needs, especially for strengthening its positions and influence as well as being spent on wars and hostilities. He consequently does not perceive how to practice his rights and defend his right to know how those taxes revenues were spent.

We have to look for the areas of power in the civil societies, to activate those sites, and also to enhance popular monitoring and accountability.
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