Press Review [Archives:2001/16/Press Review]
Formation of the new government and the tasks awaiting it is still one of the main news stories prominent in this week’s Yemen’s press. This week’s newspapers have also focused on various local incidents and questions preoccupying the public, in addition to news on some Arab and world developments.
Formation of the new government headed by prime minister Abdulqader Bajamal has also captured the themes of most of the articles and analyzes published in this week’s newspapers of Yemen.
Main Headlines:
– Government Program Concentrates on the President’s Directives
– Al-Islah Distinguishes Between Authority and the Ruling Party
– Journalists Conditions on Journalists Syndicate’s Table
– Council of Ministers Approves Draft of Government Program
– Palestine Ambassador: America Supports Israel’s Aggression
– Law on Consumer Protection Prepared
– Committee Set Up to Work Out Final Touches of the Government Program
– Teachers Stage Open Strike in Haja & Lahj
– No Improvement in Human Rights Conditions in Yemen
– Seven Persons Arrested as Suspected to be Involved in USS Cole Blast
– Yemen Tops the List of Arab Countries in Unemployment
– Armed Engagement between Two Tribes in Abyan
– Conflicting Responses towards Bajamal’s Government
– Taiz Suffers from Water Shortages, Scarcity of Foreign Investments
– Media Circles Express Skepticism VS UN’s Grants & Prizes
– Saudi Side at Borders Committee Arrives in Aden
– A Drowned Child Body Found in Mukala
– Local Councils Request President’s Intervention for Assuming their Authorities
– Verdict on Case of A British National Disguised As A Woman, Next Week
– Peaceful Demonstrations in Dhalie Suppresses with Gunfire
– Gunmen Storm Sanaa University Campus, Attack on a Student
– Former Health Minister Describes Attack on His House as Cowardice Act
– Arab Economic Summit Next November
– Solving Expatriates Issues, Facilitating their Dealing with State Apparatus, the Major Task of Expatriates Affairs Ministry
– Number of Tourists to Yemen Increased in the 1st Quarter of 2001.
Al-Naqid Al-Arabi Independent Weekly, April 12, 2001.
The newspaper’s editorial has defined the main tasks facing the government of prime minister Bajamal. The editorial says that national tasks before the new government are big and heavy and require hard work to achieve the aspirations.
Reform is an inevitable national demand beginning from economic development to administrative and financial reform through placing the proper individual in the proper place.
There is also the need for educational reform in our path towards the future. There should be a continued effort for reforming the health sector, particularly liquidating markets from smuggled drugs. As for the industrial sector the editorial demands providing protection for the national industries. It is not necessary to prevent or stop importation but to regulate it and combat smuggling as a protective measure to the national economy and industry.
As-Sahwa weekly, April 12, 2001.
An article by Mr Zaid bin Ali Ash-Shami on the new government in Yemen says the new government is facing a practical touchstone. It has to prove itself as a government for the people, not against them. It has to prove also that what is said is not merely an illusion but reality. It has to prove that it is not a government intent on effecting privatization, neither a government for normalization or for bringing about new doses. It is for the government to assure its not being a one of globalization or a totalitarianism captured by a narrow partisan vision.
The author maintains his view by saying ” we are not dreaming of improving the living standard of the people but we do hope that there would not be new or additional burdens on the citizen. We hope that the government will keep successful institutions and support them as well as tackle their problems. We are looking forward to witnessing stands by the government compatible with the political leadership approach of ceasing all steps of normalization which have been already begun with the Zionist enemy are everyday proving to be more arrogant and reckless.
RAY weekly, Organ of the Sons of Yemen League party, April 10, 2001.
The newspaper editorial has discussed the prospects of change following the formation of the new government headed by Mr Bajammal.
The editorial says as RAY party ”Since we are having the innate characteristic of clinging to any ray of hope of setting foot on the road of renaissance and development, we look with optimism to this new government depending on its indications.
It is of special significance to presume that the first steps of change are in the offing. That is why we are at present yearning for a future based on comprehensive reform, bringing potentials and placing us upon the thresholds of a new course. A course where politics are an instrument serving the march towards integrated development. Al-Hakika weekly, April 12, 2001.
The newspaper editorial says there are those who fight investment and do not want any good for the homeland because they really live on blackmailing investors or sometimes rather share with them. Investment law does offer many facilities to investors with the purpose of attracting them for working inside the country, but red tape and corruption destroy all privileges of this law. There are some who would undermine investment process under the slogan of ” re-planning ” of projects already under construction, the editorial maintains. Studies on those projects cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and took months of efforts to prepare and then to start implementation. The writer calls for putting an end to such randomly planed of projects and financial squander.
Al-Mithaq weekly, organ of the People’s General Congress Party, April 9, 2001.
The newspaper editorial is this week was devoted to discussing the ”Opposition Crisis.”
The editorial has lashed out at some opposition parties for taking a critical stand towards the new government and, in some cases even before the announcement of its formation. The paper says that the negative attitude of some opposition newspapers has disclosed that some opposition parties have savored the opposition for merely the sake of opposition. Some of them started talking about the new government as if it has been meant for escaping from a crisis.
The editorial says it would have been logical for those to wait and see what the new government could offer. Or at least see if it is capable of performing its job, affirming that such stand confirms where some opposition parties are leading.
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