Indicators on cabinet reshuffling [Archives:2006/921/Opinion]

By: Mustafa Ragih
The recent cabinet reshuffling was rather strange and full of contradictions since it came just a week after 23 top Al-Qaeda prisoners escaped from Political Security Central Prison. The announcement of the new appointments was supposed to be topped by security officials. Political Security Chairman Ghalib Al-Qamsh retained his post despite rumors circulating on Yemeni streets that he would be replaced after the Al-Qaeda prisoners' escape.

The Minister of Interior, who is responsible for security and prisons, was promoted to Deputy Prime Minister in addition to retaining his post in the Interior Ministry, which seemed unable to arrest the fugitives.

The Minister of Interior may not be held accountable for the Political Security Central Prison scandal since the Al-Qaeda suspects were imprisoned in an organization affiliated with the presidential office. Nevertheless, the official must be held to account for the escape of Al-Houthi supporters a month ago and the security absence in Taiz province. The new cabinet appointments were supposed to take place in the Interior Ministry and the Central Bank of Yemen was to open a new horizon to implement economic reforms entitlements, which still are stumbling until now.

At first glance, one may think the reshuffling was broadly significant. After more than 10 years in his post, Minister of Finance Alawi Al-Salami was transferred to the Shoura Council. No one expected such a minister, whose name is inscribed in the Ministry of Finance, to leave office for Al-Asali. Al-Asali himself never aspired to be appointed Minister of Finance. Over the past period, the new minister was known for his excessive writings defending the regime and the ruling party. His writings can be likened to mere political records for media consumption.

According to his records, the new Finance Minister does not appear to be an economist eligible to manage the state's finances. What is of crucial importance is that Al-Asali's record and his academic and political activities make him a personality of sharp antagonism and political reactions, causing him to lose trust among independent academics and opposition parties.

Al-Asali was appointed Ministry of Finance Undersecretary when the Islamist Islah Party was involved in the coalition government following the 1994 civil war. He quit Islah and joined the ruling party, the General People's Congress, before his appointment in the new government.

Another shock to media is the appointment of Hassan Al-Lawzi to a second term as Minister of Information. Al-Lawzi, North Yemen's Information Minister in the 1980s, has a history that does not qualify him for a period of growing democracy and freedom. It also seems there has been no change in his behavior. On the contrary, he became more oppressive toward press freedom and media openness. While a majority of state officials did not back the new draft press law of the past few months, Al-Lawzi topped the list of those supporting the law. Additionally, he was the head of the Shoura Council Media Committee. His conduct led him to be criticized by the opposition journalism community and official media as well.

However, replacing governors was beneficial to a great extent. Transferring Yahya Al-Amri from Sa'ada to Al-Beidha was required during the Sa'ada war. A new Sa'ada governor can play a vital role in calming security tensions in the province, as he will not appear to be a party in the war.

Mustafa Ragih is a Yemeni journalist
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