Press Review [Archives:2002/34/Press Review]

Al-Thawri weekly, organ of YSP, 15 Aug. 2002.
Main Headlines:
-Explosion in Sanaa aborts preparation for a big operations
-Detection of 14 boxes containing (C4) explosive material, rockets, large quantities of TNT
-Military training plane crash over Hodeida
-Joint Meeting Parties stick to the criteria
-A citizen hanged on a wood post in Ibb
On the concept of democracy and its reality in the developing countries, Dr. Nasser Mohammed Nasser says in an article that from the opposition parties viewpoint, democracy becomes synonym to a concept stressing interests. It means continuing of party leaders and elites at the top of those political parties, even if the price were the abortion of the meaning of opposition, through holding alliance with the ruling regime for a material interests. As evidence on that is some of those leaderships have gotten very old while are still at their high positions where the process of change could not reach them. Some of these parties depend for their continuation on the financing of the ruling regime. Their continuation is a necessary for acting as a façade of a dictatorial regime. A confirmation on this is that the majority of such political parties do lack in democracy within their ranks. For there are no regular democratic elections have been held to choose their leadership. Even if such elections were held, they usually would not result in transfer of power among their ranks and leaders. They would not conduct this process despite of their slogans and calls demanding the transfer of power through transparency.
Opposition democracy should come ahead of the authority democracy.
26 September weekly, organ of Yemen Armed Forces, 15 Aug. 2002.
Main Headlines:
-39 countries, 16 organization and financing fund, to attend the International Conference for the Support of Yemen
-German experts team in Sanaa on Saturday
-Interior minister: comprehensive plan to establish security zone throughout the republic
-Yemen to take part in World Summit on sustainable development
-Modern systems for rural areas communications
Columnist Ahmed Al-Azazi discusses in his article the question of upcoming elections. The writer says there is enough period to of time to go before going to elections battles. This space of time provides opportunity to tackle mistakes and negativity that associated previous elections, as were seen in election of some persons who had not enjoyed the criteria of efficiency, honesty and specialty in representing the people public interests in developing living standards and public services programs. This period of time before holding the elections provides opportunity to think deeply about and to study scientifically factors precluding repetition of former mistakes, on the one hand, and the emergence of new features for flourishment of democracy. It is of special significance that the constitution has guaranteed for the people the freedom of organization and choosing those whom they see they have the ability to offer the required service to the country, stemming from the faith in the individuals freedom on the way for realizing the goals of the group.
The political parties and national forces are required to understand their responsibility honestly, away from the tug-of-war game.
Al-Jamaheer weekly, organ of the Arab Baath Socialist party, 11 Aug. 2002.
Main Headlines:
-The Zionist enemy prepares to take in war on Iraq
-A number of judges, prosecution members to be brought to trial
-Tribal clashes between al-Haima and Bani Matar
-America determined to isolate the Palestinian president
-dangerous complications in Sanaa explosion on August 9
On the coming electoral round in Yemen, editor in chief of the newspaper expressed his regret versus orientations and intentions aimed at repeating experiment of the current round of elections of the upcoming one. He describes results of this round as consolidating a tragedy befalling the political, economic and social aspects of democracy. He added that international and local reports confirmed the present result of the electoral round its failure to find solutions for the issue of development in Yemen. The author maintains that the attempt to individually utilize the elections results to achieve an absolute majority, is an act detrimental to the national democratic experiment. There must be providing opportunity for the honest democratic competition to go ahead. The state should grant the political parties an opportunity to equal chances and balanced competition. Such orientation could certainly create a state of diversity at the parliament, make available the atmosphere of multi-ideas on national issues. It would help a good choice of suitable decision, curb mistaken conduct and consolidate the democratic experiment.
 

Al-Balagh weekly, 13 Aug. 2002.
Main Headlines:
-New American scheme to invade Saudi Arabia, attack Iran
-Elements from Islah party break through security police station in Saafan district, free detainees
-Yemen to hand over a number of al-Qaeda-linked suspects to Saudi Arabia
-Religious leaders, personalities in Aden refuse the governors measures towards Baihani Institute
-Opposition parties lash out at General Peoples Congress party
In his editorial Abdulla Ibrahim al-Wazeer confirms that America continues in its attempts for subjecting and humiliating the entire Arab and Islamic region.
It is every now and then stepping up threats of invading Iraq and what has happened in Afghanistan, an could occur in Iraq. America wants to be the only commander and decision-maker in this region. It wants to have the right to change the regime or their president would be rebellious, in the eyes of America, if that ruler was a satellite of America. Such people are hostile to world freedom and justice and pose danger to international community. Any people in good terms with their regime that is not in accord with the United States, they are considered a regime has to be changed and the peoples Islamic religion must re-formulated.
These US repeated attempts to change our Arab and Islamic regimes and even choose for us the concept of Islam it wants, seems intended to install Bush the Mufti of Islam. All these matters are categorically refused. Al Arab regimes and peoples must refuse and resist them. Presently, the US wants to change the Iraqi regime, and the Israeli enemy wants to change Yasser Arafat. Accusations are directed to Saudi Arabia and Egypt, and Yemen is under the watch. All Arab and Muslim regimes must be aware of this American plot in order to stand on a solid ground.
Al-Sahwa weekly, 15 Aug. 2002.
Main Headlines:
-Joint Meeting parties expose cheating of Elections Supreme Committee
-Parties and Election Committee at undecided conflict
Editorial in Chief says in his editorial that the authority in our country proves to be annoyed by dialogue held by others. It has always considered the state of no-dialogue among the opposition parties as an indication of their failure. But now, at the first political change by opposition parties towards coordination, dialogue and alliance within the framework of election. The aim is to find a state of non-confidence among these parties. Whenever the opposition parties demonstrated cohesion in defense of joint options, the authority would assail those parties, accusing with the worst accusation.
The opposition realizes that changes would be attained only by sacrifices. The first thing to be sacrificed is the recent past inheritance.
Al-Wahdawi weekly, organ of the Nasserite Peoples Unionist Organization, 13 Aug. 2002.
Main headline:
-Suspicions on al-Qaeda sympathizers involvement in Sanaa explosion
-Commander of the US Navy 5th Fleet visited Aden port
-Joint meeting parties foil Supreme Committees attempts to dismantle their organization
-US supplies at Udaid military base in Qatar to be used in attacking Iraq
-Abortive attempt to blast a building in Taiz
Columnist Mohammed Saleh al-Hadhiri says dealing a strike to Iraq might have become as certain unless he would offer real concession related to the core of Arab-Israeli conflict, which represents in the major point. Iraq has employed its capabilities to develop strategic weapons creating an equation with Israels. Moreover, Baghdads disobedience has produced a psychological reaction for Washington, making it draw up plans for canceling the Iraqi example.
The Iraqi example does not recognize the change that made Washington lad the world according to a new world order after the 1991. Iraq, in contrast, does not proceed from this background, but rather from its vision of the Arab scheme, similar to that of Nassers project of 1967.
RAY weekly, organ of Sons of Yemen League party, 13 Aug. 2002.
Main Headlines:
-Yemen repatriated to Saudi Arabia a number of al-Qaeda suspects
-General prosecution interrogates judges accused of murder, embezzlement crimes
-Sultan al-Samii to declare formation of a new political party
-International Monetary Fund urges Yemen for more economic reforms
Columnist Ali al-Kuthiri says we ought to be optimistic for the announcement on the intention of conducting a new process for registration and opening new electoral records with participation of various political parties and organizations in a manner guaranteeing safety and legality. But regretfully all those hopes have disappeared after the Elections Committee introduced its decision on criteria of forming registration committees. The decision has defined political parties shores in the field elections committee dependent on measures and results of former elections. By its decision, the elections committee has undermined all what can hence credibility and honesty of the process of electoral registration.
Al-Mithaq weekly, organ of General Peoples Congress party, 12 Aug. 2002.
Main Headlines:
-GPCs general committee considers the partys restructure and electoral program
-Prime minister discussed with US Navy Commander American support for Yemeni Coast Guard
-MP al-Yamani: Nabil al-Naqeeb confiscated al-Baihani society
-Technical Committee on Yemeni-Saudi border demarcation to meet with the German company mid of September
The newspapers editorial says the GPC party is keen, in all its steps, to go ahead with the democratic pursuit it has accepted as an irreversible real decision. This is represented by a behavior aware of dimensions of progressive changes, achieved in our country by virtue of respect of others opinions.
The demand by Join meeting parties for distributing shares at electoral committees regardless of each partys size, is a kind breaching rules of democratic game dictating credibility on all and leaving behind all mishaps of the past. The GPC is keen to overstep irresponsible difference and set before us a clear-feature part for the future. Our utmost hope is that the Joint meeting parties are capable of comprehending the constitution and law in this regard.

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