Letters to the Editor [Archives:2001/34/Letters to the Editor]
Dear Editor,
I just wanted to know why there is too many problems with kidnapping in Yemen. I mean, what is wrong? Isn’t the government capable of handling its society well?
I have lived in Yemen for 6 years and all I could remember was troubles and troubles and a society that often prejudges people. I hope that the conditions have changed now. I just wanted to say these few words after I received the news of the kidnapped German diplomat.
Khadrina Hussein
[email protected]
Dear Editor,
My name is Hameed Alnajar from Detroit Metro USA. I would like to state my opinion about the situation in Yemen from my prospective. You seem to have a lot of information in your newspaper regarding the Yemeni way of life. I am a Police Officer from Detroit. From reading some of your articles, it seems that Yemen needs a new government as well as an oversight committee to oversee the appointed officials. There is a lot of corruption there and the way to start is from the top down. Clean up the house. It should be the government for the people not for the governor.
HAMEED ALNAJAR
[email protected]
NOTHING BUT FACTS
In our big cities, very rarely you will spot beggars in tattered clothes on the streets, where as you will often see the same species in a uniform, they are named traffic police. For only YR. 50/- you are harassed and if this species is carrying a couple of stars on his shoulders he will settle for not less than YR. 100/-. They are supposed to ensure smooth traffic flow but they are least bothered. Do not rely on these men for your safety. Just depend on yourself. If you are walking, look before you cross and if you are driving, ensure that you take your wallet with you.
Mothers and Fathers of bright children, please do not bother to ensure that your child is studying hard for good results, all you have to do is to ensure your child enters the exam hall with no less than YR 200/- in his/her pocket. He will be allowed to cheat through notes and even consult the examiner and/or the other students in the hall. In Yemen, a high-marked sheet is better than the knowledge gained. Ultimately your child will proceed for higher studies only if he has a high-marked sheet.
Employees on demand, please start getting used to promises only. Employers usually give you a pat on the back for a well-done job and then change faces within 24 hours so as to discourage you from approaching them for your rights. This policy has proved to be successful in 99.9% of all private firms. Those were nothing but facts.
Gawid Sikander Khan, Aden
[email protected]
Needed to Contact with Friend Urgently
I need your help. Please help me to find my old friend with the name Tkhabit Abdallah Mohamed Saeed from Yemen (Sana’a or Taiz). He left Russia and headed back home in 1995 after graduating from Oil and Gas Academia (in Moscow). I am currently in Canada and I hope that you will be able through your newspaper to reach my friend to have him contact me through my below email as soon as possible.
Youssouf Mahamat
[email protected]
Dear Editor
Whatever I say and I seek in the language dictionaries I can not find nice and beautiful words to express about my love and wonder for YT stuff and all the topics you are publishing in our best and esteemed English newspaper and also for the high position you have achieved I hope more success and progress for your esteemed news paper.
In occasion I would like to take this opportunity to inform you that I sent some coupons for free classified ADV, to promote our restaurant and they have not been published so far.
Besides this letter there are coupons please try to publish two of them in English and Arabic in your next issues as soon as possible. I should very much appreciate if you would be kind enough to publish our advertisements.
With best wishes
General Manager
Gamel Abduaziz Al-Shaibani
Dear Editor,
You often publish stories about the incompetency of the government, and the irregularities in the enforcement of its laws. Here is another such “story” with a real truth behind it.
I’m myself a Canadian married to a Yemeni, hence my children have dual citizenship. Even though I have a five year’s “Iaqmah”, or Resident’s Permit to live in this country, i have to obtain a “Visa to Exit” whenever I want to travel! Last year, I went to Canada for a visit, and the most absurd thing is that I was given a “Visa to Exit and Return within three months” as written in my passport. Since I was planning on staying for more than three months, I was naturally concerned that upon my return I may have to face some problems with the authorities at the Sana’a Airport. However, we were told that I could ‘easily’ renew my exist and entry Visa from the Yemen Embassy in Canada.
Well, while in Canada I called up the Yemen Embassy and related to them my problem. They continuously assured me that I was in no need of such a Visa to re-enter Yemen since I have a five year’s permit. I asked them still to give this assurance in writing, and I was told that I could easily obtain this Visa at the Airport!
After eight month in Canada, I came back via London on Yemenia. I must admit the in-flight service and the food were great. Their only mistake was not distributing declaration cards. I was smart enough to ask them for one myself. This way I was able to avoid delays, as everyone else at the Airport told to fill in the cards, and I had mine ready in my hand.
At the Immigration Counter, I was told I had no Visa to Enter. I repeated what the Yemen Embassy had so faithfully insisted upon: I did not need a Visa to enter as my Resident’s Permit was still valid. To my surprise, I found that the Immigration Officials in Sana’a really do not care what their Embassy in Canada says or does. Thus I was forced to go to the Visa counter to obtain my Visa. I was to find no one sitting behind the counter. I was outraged! Working at the airport, one would assume that these officials are kept informed about in-coming flights, so they can prepare themselves accordingly in advance. This is far from the truth in Sana’a.
To make a long story short, I made a bit of a shuffle to let everyone around me know how pissed I was after an exhausting eight hour flight. The result: I was allowed to pass through to collect my baggage while my passport was given to someone to stamp upon in an Entry Visa. IN the end, I was charged around YR5,000 for the Visa I already had and did not need!
The reader is free to draw his/her own conclusion, however, some of mine are as follows:
1- The Embassy of Yemen in Canada says one thing, and the officials at Sana’a a
Airport say another. This mean they are both unaware of the laws of the country they represent.
2- Foreigners need permission to exist from the Gov’t, and consent from the spouse really has no bearing on the issue. Where does the Gov’t come up with some of its policies?? “Questioning always”
Sadaf Shah
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