Elegy to the Founder of Yemen Times, Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Saqqaf by Opposition Opposition Honors the Late [Archives:1999/30/Local News]

Organized by the opposition parties, a ceremony to pay a final tribute to Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Saqqaf and Abdullah Sallam Naji was held in Al-Turbah on Thursday, July 22. In the beginning of the ceremony Mr. Mohammed Sultan Abdulla, Spokesman of Taiz-Ibb Coordination Council of the Opposition- Al-Mawasit Branch delivered a speech in which he said: 
“A lot of people gathered together this morning in Al-Turbah to pay tribute to the late Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Saqqaf. This event has moved our emotions for the departure of this great man who can never be forgotten. Fear built a new place inside of us after his death but we will do our best to overcome it. This event came along with another painful event which is paying tribute to another patriot; Abdulla Sallam Naji. May God bless them both.” 
In an answer to Yemen Times questions about the death of Dr. Al-Saqqaf, Mr. Abdu Al-Ilah Al-Mouhiby, member of the consultative council and head of the Popular Forces Federation in Al-Turbah, said: 
“First of all, I would like to thank the Yemen Times for the great efforts it makes to highlight the problems of the common people. Regarding your question, Dr. Al-Saqqaf’s death was shocking to everybody. His death has left a big gap not only for his friends and acquaintances but also for the whole humanity. He died, but he is still alive in our hearts because great men never die. He has left us a good example of a real patriot to be followed. 
Through the Yemen Times I want to say that we have lived with great patriots like Dr. Abdu Al-Aziz Al-Saqqaf and Ali Abdu Al-Aziz Nassr and today we trust the new generation which will follow their footsteps. At the same time I would like to express my sorrow for the loss of the real sense of democracy in our country.” 
Commenting on the current situation with regards to the presidential elections, Mr. Al- Mouhiby said: 
“We were very enthusiastic about the elections in the beginning because we thought that they would be real and the competition would be between the Government and the opposition. We wanted real elections in which all the parties participate but the fact was disappointing, the so-called competition would be inside the ruling party.” 
What the People Say 
In a question to T. Ahamed Aoon, A member of the Unionist Nasserite party in Al-turbah , who said: 
the death of Al-Saqqaf was terrifying to the majority of the people who found themselves facing something they have never anticipated. Regarding his evaluation of the the upcoming Presidential elections after the recommendation of the Parliament, he said: ” We are looking to the Presidential elections from its indications and not from the results as it is a foregone conclusion that the President, Ali Abdullah Saleh is the winner. As the ruling party refused to recommend the opposition’s candidate, the elections will be comic and farcical because it lacks real and heated competition 
Yemen Times also interviewed Mansoor Abul aziz, the vice chairman of the Opposition Coordination Council in the region, who said: Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Saqqaf’s death had a painful impact on us. We never expected such a thing to happen. About his evaluation of the situation, he said: everything has happened not as we expected which actually creates strong confusion in the process of the emerging democracies. 
Mr. Abdullah Abdul Walee Al-Monaifee, the Chairman of the Coordination Council of the Opposition Parties, said: “The death of Al-Saqqaf was a strong shock to all Yemenis. He was the best model Yemen has ever seen. However, his soul, contributions, and great efforts will live on forever. We organize this ceremony to express our appreciation of his efforts and contribution, and all that done by the late, Abdulah Salaam Nagee, who had been a multidimensional literary figure in our country. 
” I see that our parliament and the ruling party are controlling and handling things to their interest under the cover of democracy”. he added 
A speech was made by Mr. Emad Al-Saqqaf, Yemen Times Taiz Bureau Chief. He expressed the tensity of love the late showed towards Yemen and Yemenis and said: “He never pursued any material gains, and his only concern was to tell the truth, comfort the afflicted, afflict the comfortable and to build the modern Yemen, the society of law and order. His deeds and great contributions make him the most dominant figure in the society. 

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