Press Review [Archives:2001/34/Press Review]
This week we offer a review of a variety of themes tackled by some writers and columnists published in some of local newspapers. The topics range between some political, economic and social matters.
Review of some analytical and critical articles published in local newspapers this week.
Al-Ihya’a Al-Arabi weekly, organ of the Arab Baath Socialist Party, 12 August 2001
The weekly’s editorial written by Dr Qassem Sallam confirms that most of Arab information media have become an instrument in the hands of the nation’s arch enemies. Arab media implement and propagate those enemies slogans and follow their psychological ways. Arab media have become a means through which leaders of the zionist entity could be introduced to every Arab home.
Most of Arab regimes that brag in a parrot-fashion of slogans of civilization openness and dialogue are the shortest tracks to attaining brain-washing process. This Arab information has changed into a parrot repeating what is dictated on it and what role designed for it to play. It is confusing, in meaning and dimensions, in form and essence, between the concept of Palestinian authority and the Palestinian state. It is deepening contradiction between the form and essence on the one hand and the immediate political view and strategic dimension of confrontation with the enemy occupying the land of Palestine.
The editorial maintains that it should be made clear that protection of Al-Quds requires an Arab stand placing the nation’s potentials and capabilities and power in service of the Palestinian Intifada, and the revolution through an Arab strategy aimed at liberation of Palestine from the hegemony and control of US imperialism and world zionism.
Al-Wahdawi weekly organ of the Nasserite Unionist organization, 14 August 2001
An article by Abdulkareem Abdullah Al-Sawsarra indicates that the present reality of Yemen, under an authority taking a stance of a spectator towards the horrible increase of population, does not herald good. The authority does not bear the responsibility of setting up a thorough program whose basic task is to convince the citizen on the importance of the organization of birth rate. The country and the people are situated in a geographical region void of huge resources that can meet the needs of millions of people. The authority has even been incapable of a better use of the present resources owing to the absence of those able to direct the limited resources towards serving of development.
This situation has created hundreds of thousands of beggars swarming the streets of the main cities of Yemen and drove the middle class into the bottom of poverty. The situation can be attributed to financial and administrative corruption, prevalence of nepotism, plunder and embezzlement. The authority did not find any solution for this situation but to submit to conditions of the World Bank aimed at applying the philosophy of the capitalist system. Al-Isbou weekly, 16 August 2001
In his article Mr Ahmed Said Ad-Dahmy says that the policy of government subsidy on commodities and services is not an economic or social mistake if necessitated by economic considerations, social causes and public interests. It is known that the subsidy on prices policy is pursued even in capitalist countries. As for canceling that policy it should be based on a level of economic analysis and accurate financial and social calculations in a manner comprehending facts on impact of that decision on various economic and social aspects provided that it serves the economic and social requisites and not to cause destroying effects on social and economic development. It is unjust and economically unacceptable to keep the citizen bear the bill of the costs of squander , corruption , economic inefficiency and administrative incompetence. It is also unjust that the financial burden be reflected in the form of pricing the produced commodities and services with rates much bigger than the real costs that are economically justified.
The writer concludes that putting an end to coercive, random and economically unjustifiable pricing makes it imperative on part of concerned sides to entrust the central apparatus for audition to study elements of the real not the actual costs. Commodities and services intended to have the subsidy lifted from them should be then priced on a realistic and objective basis.
Ash-Shumou weekly 18 August 2001
A front page editorial mentions that the incident of kidnapping the German trade attaché has almost entered its fourth week while much uncertainty is still engulfing the issues which the most complicated one since the emergence of kidnapping foreigners in this country.
It is evident that after the recent incident the issue of kidnapping has taken another turn unlike the familiar one. It has been familiar that groups of tribesmen carry out the kidnapping of foreigners with the aim of forcing the government respond to their demands pertaining to having projects implemented in their regions or to obtain certain amounts of money. Now the matter has gone beyond being merely tribal incidents. The matter seems to be organized and planned from abroad. And here lies the danger. During the past year Yemen has been an arena for world intelligence conflict especially after the arrival of successive teams from US intelligence and the FBI. There is also a feverish US-European competition in the region embodied in particular in the American-French-British competition and recently German with the aim of securing their interests, as this region entertains a strategic importance.
26 September weekly, organ of Yemen Armed Forces, 16 August 2001
The political editor of the weekly affirms in an article that the successive official visits to Yemen by Arab and friendly delegations prove the big status and importance of Yemen at Arab, regional and international levels based on its balanced foreign relations strategy.
Successes and achievements and political, democratic and economic changes realized by our country have given it more respect and consideration at the international community.
Within this context comes the visit to Yemen by the Malaysian prime minister Mahatir Mohammed accompanied by a number of ministers, members of parliament and businessmen. In the same context also comes the visit of the Japanese Parliamentary secretary for foreign affairs at the ministry of foreign affairs Ms Maruya Kaori. The visit represents a quantitative transfer in our country’s relationship with Japan, politically, economically and culturally. Moreover, the visit of the US military delegation headed by General Tommy Frank, commander of the US forces in the Gulf can also be categorized under the increasing importance entertained by Yemen among its sisterly and friendly countries.
Ath-Thawri weekly,organ of the YSP 16 August 2001
Mr Taha Al-A’ameri says in an article that in its political and information address the American Administration describes whoever differs with it and refuses its hegemony as ” terrorist” or an ally of terrorists. In this country there are those who follow this same logic and embody this sadistic culture. They would not only detest transparency but also deal with its advocates in an amount of ridicule and rancor, granting them titles such as traitors or belittling their patriotism and suspecting their affiliation. If for instance you express your views and convictions publicly and they happen to be contradictory to those of decision-makers you are going to be classified among enemies of the homeland and the people and the revolution. If you venture to describe the regime as tribal and backward you are to be deemed as rancorous and mercenary.
The writer mentions several instances about the regime’s responses to critical remarks made by citizens accompanied with adjectives given to them. He then concludes that the revolution has lost all its republican aims and values and after that unity, democracy and partisan life. The citizen in turn has lost his stability in a country changed into a country estate for big thieves and vampires.
Sawt Al-Mua’radha weekly 16 August 2001.
Mr Mohammed Al-Uzaizi has written an article titled ” Establishment of Normalization Culture at the Time of Intifadha”, confirming that Arab and Islamic boycott of commodities produced and marketed by companies and firms supporting the zionist enemy is the minimum degree of backing up the Arab and Islamic peoples can offer to the Palestinian uprising inside the occupied territories. Unfortunately we have not yet used this nationalistic and religious weapon. Zionist goods and commodities and those of world firms backing the enemy are still flooding Yemeni markets. Strangely enough is that those companies, in collaboration with some Yemeni mass media and some official parties, are carrying out sinister acts aimed at influencing the Yemeni people lest they should boycott products of those companies.
The writer demands from al mass media in the country and both official and popular sides to be aware of this phenomena and acts so that our hearts be with Palestine and our swords drawn in the face of the enemy. We hope that the media and official sides would not promote activities of such companies or publish advertisements promoting their products in the media.
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