Press Review [Archives:2001/48/Press Review]

In addition to tackling various local and Arab issues, local press has this week put special emphasis on president Ali Abdullah Saleh’s visit to the United States of America highlighting its importance in various fields of relationship between the two friendly countries.
Excerpts from articles published in some local newspapers of this week..
Saut Ash-Shoura weekly, organ of Yemeni People’s Forces Union, 18 Nov.2001
Columnist Dr Mohammed Abdulmalik l-Mutawakil says in his article that during the past years the world witnessed a mad cow phenomenon but this year the world is seeing the phenomenon of mad cowboy. The writer maintains that the difference between the two phenomena is that the first one’s damage and harm were confined to cows only when thousands of them were killed with gunfire. As for the phenomenon of mad cowboy its damage and calamities have hit the human, the trees and the stone and expected to result in catastrophes to humanity the world over.
Paradoxically the world that joined forces to fight the mad cow phenomenon is the same world that is now offering support to the madness of the cowboy.
It is an offense to kill a civilian in New York but it is rather allowable in Afghanistan. The Zionist drives his tank into Gaza and the West Bank to demolish Palestinians’ houses an kill their owners, nevertheless, he is seen by the cowboys as defending himself whereas the stone thrower Palestinian child is according to them leads organized terror.
Palestinian organizations, such as HAMAS, Jihad and the Popular Front fighting for liberating their homeland from Zionist occupation are categorized as terrorist ones. On the other hand the Zionist entity that is occupying the land and using its helicopter gunships and warplanes against defenseless people is considered as defending itself. Doesn’t that indicate that the mad cowboy disease has outmatched mad cow disease?
Al-Wahdawi weekly, organ of the Nasserite People’s Unionist Organization, 20 Nov. 2001
The political editor at the newspaper has this week front-paged an article on results of forming the Supreme Committee for Elections, confirming that the formation has disclosed the Authority’s intentions in the coming elections.
The editor says that the nature of the formation of the Elections Supreme Committee disclosed insistence of the authority and the ruling party on appropriating the electoral process with all means and canceling any margin allowing others’ in the political participation. After elongated discussions and political debate over months between the ruling party and the opposition on amendments of the elections law, the government and the ruling party have brushed aside all that they have previously agreed upon with the political forces. It has been thus proved that the government is no longer taking into account any weight for others or towards any political or moral commitment. Its only objective is to render the narrow margin of democracy into merely a dEcor for a partisan life whose members have no right to dream of any democratic development of the political situations for the better.
Ath-Thawri weekly,organ of the YSP, 22 Nov.2001
Columnist Mansour Haiel says in an article that since the beginning of the September 11 events and declaration of ” the world war” on terrorism and inauguration of the military operations on Afghanistan on October 7 , many strong traditional alliances established since the cold war got shaken and some got disengaged.It has appeared that the U.S. faced the biggest problems with its traditional allies; Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, for instance. Someone has allowed himself to confirm that the ongoing war in Afghanistan is between former allies: the United States and ideological Islam, the two of whom were in the same trench i.e. the enmity to the former Soviet Union.
In this regard a question can be raised on whether the latest Afghan war be an opportunity for liquidation of old alliances inherited from the cold war and to establish new ones.
26 September weekly, organ of Yemen Armed Forces, 22 Nov. 2001
The political editor of the newspaper has written an article discussing and analyzing the visit of President Ali Abdullah Saleh to the U.S. The political editor says the meeting of the two Yemeni and American presidents in these circumstances represent an important turning-point in the two countries’ relations. It emphasizes that Yemen is an important partner for the United States and not as some would prefer to publicize as target of strikes on terror. The meeting would also display America’s desire to explore the Yemeni vision on many regional and international issues as well as combating terrorism because the Yemeni stands are characterized by frankness, sincerity and moderateness. The two presidents’ talks would also give the Yemeni side an opportunity to convey an image of the actual feelings of the Arab and Muslim citizen under such circumstances that are exploited by some to instigate spirit of hatred against the Arabs and Muslims. Yemen can secure and contribute with a vision guaranteeing for the Arabs and Muslims a status they deserve in the world.
President Saleh’s visit to the United States come in n important stage in the world history and it will lay the foundation for stronger ties between Yemen and the U.S It would also enhance economic, investment, security, development and military cooperation in a manner consolidating the two countries interests and would not contradict the national and Islamic constant . Those who feel cautious about the visit should realize that Yemen makes its history by its own will and would not give up sovereignty on its land or right.
As-Sahwa weekly, 22 Nov. 2001
A weekly editorial this week says those pondering reactions of the political arena in our country would notice clearly change of desires of the corruption lobby. As the most important institution possessing the legal and constitutional legitimacy for supervising elections, the elections supreme committee is for the first time dominated by a majority representing the ruling party. The danger of this situation exceeds the party representation to the declaring that the ruling party feels that all political forces together have not the right to be equal to it.The editorial says further that since the parliamentary elections of 1997, the ruling party has practically moved towards getting rid of certain statements whose leaderships were considering as commitments towards democracy.
The editorial also says that whatever that can be said about the opposition, it remains the more democratic. It witnesses practices having nothing to do with democracy but nonetheless it remains committed to democratic pluralist option and peaceful action that would certainly serve the country and support democracy.
Political opposition parties and civil society forces are all in need of reconsidering their performance so that to be more representative of the citizens woes and aspirations.
Annas weekly 19 Nov. 2001
The newspaper’s editorial is devoted to discussing the president’s visit to Washington saying that news and various sources mention about American measures against Yemen going on for more than two months since the events of 11 September.
The government has also warned against an arrest campaign including thousands of Yemenis, expatriates in America. A report issued by immigrants ministry of Yemen disclosed that Washington has prevented remittances operations between Yemen and America. News also reports about American requests of handing the U.S. Government lists including names of mosque preachers in Yemen, a matter suggesting of collapse of improving relations between Yemen and America.
Circulating such news, regardless of being correct or not, forms part of American pressures put on Yemeni government. Such pressures caused postponement of president Saleh’s visit to Washington till this time.
The editorial elaborates that president Saleh’s visit to America is one of his duties as one of the Arab leaders of principle. Nevertheless, the president is requested to move towards Washington, not only for curbing the ill treatment of Yemeni expatriates there or for abolishing any American measure impinging upon Yemeni citizens, but also for playing a national and humanitarian role regarding America’s harassment against Arab and Islamic countries and their civilian institutions.
Al-Jamaheer weekly, organ of the Arab Baath Socialist party 18 Nov. 2001
Mr Mohammed Assayed wrote a front-page article saying the Yemenis have received Ramadhan fasting month under soaring rates of prices that covered major foodstuffs exceeding 30 percent. This has produced a negative effect on the purchasing power of the citizens, especially those of limited incomes.
A number of citizens have in this regard confirmed that the ”doses” imposed already on them have made them miss the joy for the advent of Ramadhan month. They have pointed out that they have been forced to do without many important food meals they used to have on such occasion.
On the other hand many merchants have complained that their sales are very low due to customers reluctance from buying. Economists have on their part affirmed that economic reform program the government has started its implementation the beginning of 1995 is considered among the main causes that led to deterioration of the living condition of the citizens. Their average incomes have dropped to more than 70% . Some studies confirm that the presence of more than 90% of families whose incomes are lower that expenditure value on basic commodities.
Ath-Thawra daily, 24 Nov. 2001
Ath-Thawra daily has devoted its today’s editorial to the Yemeni-American summit in Washington. President Ali Abdullah Saleh visit to Washington has been scheduled before the events of 11 September which have not only shocked the American people and administration but also the entire nations on Earth. That terrorist attack on America represents an attack on humanity as a whole and threatens security and peace.
President Saleh will carry with him to Washington our domestic and national woes and concerns starting from resisting all forms of terror and ending with achieving regional and international cooperation to encircle the forces of terror and uprooting it. Yemen is like the U.S. has become victim of terrorist practices and thus it has become necessary to hold the Yemeni-American summit to come out with a common vision and programmed coordination and cooperation.
The president’s agenda will also include Yemen’s view towards the Palestinian national struggle for achieving independence and establishment of the Palestinian viable state. This is a topic of high importance because what the Arab Israeli arena conflict is witnessing would remain as justifications for some forces o extremism and terror. The president would also carry the image of Yemen’s conditions in fields of economy, development, human rights, combating poverty, stabilization of democracy and people’s participation in political, economic and social life. All these will no doubt be solved with simple development means but need sustainable American and European support to be applied to education, human development and infrastructure.
The United States should understand peculiarities of the Yemeni political system that does not hide its friendship towards America and struggles for enhancing democracy, human rights and adoption of modernity systems in all walks of life.
Saut Al-Mua’aradha weekly,organ of Opposition National Council, 22 Nov. 2001
Advocate Abdulaziz Al-Samawi writes an article confirming that private jails as one of the most dangerous phenomenon our Yemeni society and a defect of the government. He maintains that there is no country in the civilized world having jails owned by persons or companies or institutions. The state all over the world are alone that have the right to run prisons as punishing facilities under supervision of the government.
The economic institution is but one of such parties possessing private jails for imprisoning merchants without any right and without observing rules of the constitution and laws.
Legislators who worked out the valid constitution and laws have not occurred in their mind that an institution or a tribe chief possesses a right to prepare a private jail for detaining and imprisoning his adversaries.
The writer proposes at the end of his article to put this matter to discussion within the framework of the constitution and rules of the law.

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