Hadharem Welfare Association (HWA)* [Archives:2000/36/Business & Economy]

Background
The Hadharem Welfare Association (HWA) is a successor of an old cooperative, which had existed in the Hadharem area in the Huggariah District of Taiz Governorate. Cooperative effort is an old Arab tradition, which can be traced back to centuries. It is a communal system that leads people who belong to the same region or tribe to assist one another in executing private and public projects.
In the modern times, cooperative works have been limited to public projects, which are generally used by public such as schools, clinics, roads, water supply, etc. Some cooperatives have even progressed from the traditional service orientation to more productive field like tree-planting, crafts and cottage industry and women’s skills, etc.
During the 1970’s, most cooperatives, which had been based on private voluntary initiatives, were grouped by the central government in order to “help” them. This centralization effort has resulted in the death of most local initiatives. As a result, the cooperative movement, which had been so vigorous and active in the 1960s and 1970s, all of a sudden lost its soul, and then its life.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the people of Yemen found a different outlet for their energy and desire for self-help initiatives. This was which were established as charitable associations (we may call them ‘NGOs’) which were established as charitable associations and societies. By the end of 1997, some 2,000 such NGOs had been established and many more are in the formation stage.

HWA
The HWA was first established in 1972. In early 1990s, it was re-invigorated after a long phase of dormancy. It embarked on many service and production-oriented projects. It financed or co-financed schools, clinics, roads, water supply, etc. it also built a small water cistern (dam), a woman’s development center, a nursery for trees, a cultural/sports center and many such projects.
The present leadership of the HWA was elected in October 1994. HWA was the first NGO in the Republic in allowing women to vote for local association’s representatives. As a result of active performance, HWA enjoyed a lot of influence within a surrounding region extending to cover most of the southern part of Shamayatain district: with some 80,000 residents. But this success was going to be the source of trouble for the HWA.

Botched Pluralism in Yemen
Starting with the re-unification of the country in 1990, Yemen accepted a pluralist political system. Many political parties came into existence, and they were all competing to win the support of as many Yemenis as possible.
The competition was often rough, leading to the civil war of the summer 1994. The result of the war heralded the return of Yemen to almost a one-[arty state in which the President’s political party. The People’s General Congress (PGC) enjoyed preponderant influence and power.
Starting immediately after the war, every body was expected to cope with the new line and realign themselves with the PGC. Many individuals, groups, unions, associations and other blocks acquiesced.

Confrontation with the Government
Along the same line, overtures were made to the HWA to cope with the new line. The association was expected transform its projects to breeding and recruitment ground for PGC membership. The board members who had been elected by the people were also expected to join the PGC or at least show sympathy and support for this party. But these overtures were met with stiff resistance from the board members, and especially the chairman, professor Abdulaziz Al-Saqqaf, who is fierce independent.
In a short time, it was clear that the HWA was headed for a collision course with the ruling party. It was only a matter of time before push came to shove.
In November 1995, the Prime Minister, Mr. Abdulaziz Abdulghani, issued an order to close down HWA. This was the first time in Yemen’s history that a legally elected body of an NGO is nullified and replaced by a group had-picked by the Prime Minister.
The people of the region refused the Prime Minister’s order and told him that his order were illegal. Furthermore, the people held a general assembly in which they re-affirmed their trust in the elected board, and authorized to sue the Prime Minister and take him to court.
Then, a court case was filed at the Al-Gharbiyah Primary Court of Sana’a. The HWA sent its lawyers, led by Dr. Mohammad Al-Mikhlafi, and the Prime Minister was represented by lawyers from the Ministry of Legal Affairs. Presiding over the case was Judge Abdullah al-Jindari. After eleven months of deliberations, the court ruled that the Prime Minister had acted contrary to the haw, and that his orders were null and void. The court further instructed the authorities to allow HWA to function again, and to enable the legally elected board to be responsible for the NGO. At first, the Prime Minister refused. But since the chairman of HWA is a chief editor of the English newspaper (“Yemen Times”) and well-known person in Yemen and abroad, this case attracted wide attention, and after media campaign against him, the Prime Minister relented.

Lost Property
When the HWA regained control over its property in late 1996, much of its assets had been looted. Examples of the assets lost are the sewing machines and other equipment purchased by the assistance from Japan (through the small-scall projects financed by the Embassy of Japan).
The value of the lost property is estimated 7.2 million Yemeni Rials. In addition, the HWA lost two years as well as chances for the implementation of a number of projects those were in the pipeline. The board members estimate the total loss to HWA was YR25 million (about US$ 200,200).

Present Situation
The HWA is trying to overcome the problems into which it was thrown, and is trying to start again. This means re-planning some of its old projects, and designing new ones.
At the same time, this NGO is trying very hard not to be caught in the same confrontational position. If the ruling politicians want something from the NGO with reasonable claim, the NGO will probably oblige. On the other hand, for the sake the HWA preserves its integrity, neutrality and professionalism, in the political competition of Yemen and in the context of present stage of democracy of Yemeni, it may have to make some concessions.
The HWA will hold its next general election in November 1998.

This article was written in 1997 by late Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Saqqaf, Professor of Economics, Sana’a University, and published in ‘Middle East Studies Series’ No. 47, 2000 titled “Social Development under the Structural Adjustment Policy in Yemen: Quest for Community Participation.”

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