Press Review [Archives:2002/47/Press Review]

Al-Wahda weekly, 13 Nov 2002.
Main Headlines:
-Government decisions on tackling situations in Aden and Jawf
-Expatriates undersecretary: we seek to preserve cultural identity of our communities abroad
-Opposition consider Mareb incident “aggression” on Yemen’s sovereignty
-Targeting the U.S. interests continues
Columnist Ahmed Muhidin says the U.S. and Britain managed to pass their resolution on Iraq through the UN Security Council after eight weeks of pursuing a policy of the stick and carrot at the council. The resolution passed by the UN Security Council was not in the form proposed by the U.S. and British administrations. It was very clear for all political observers and world public opinion that the Bush’s administration has dictated its will on international community and practical utmost pressures on the world to have the Security Council issue that resolution. But despite that the U.S. officials came out to declare that the resolution represented the will of the international community. Although the formula of the UN resolution dismisses the automatic use of force against Iraq, the U.S. officials and president Bush insists that it authorizes them to use force. Such a behavior by U.S officials is evident that they do not care a straw about of the heads of the state they have discussed with during the 8 weeks that preceded issuance of the resolution. Most of the political analysts think that president Bush’s insistence on using force against Iraq and changing its ruling regime is pursuing a dangerous and unprecedented policy in international relations. They believe that such policy would inflict damage on the U.S allies and friends and their interests and would consequently be detrimental to the U.S. itself.
Al-Wahdawi weekly, organ of Nasserite People’s Unionist Organization, 12 Nov.2002.
Main Headlines:
-Angry international reactions to American attack in Mareb
-Joint Meeting Parties condemns American terror, holds government responsible for sovereignty violation
-Nationwide resentment on Bajamal’s statement on Bab al-Mandab
-YR 158 million-worth education corruption in Taiz
-Large solidarity with “al-Wahdawi”
Columnist Mohammed Yahya al-Sabri describes the Mareb attack as the American military piracy, saying that fearful and worrying reactions and stands followed the American missile attack on Yemeni nationals in Mareb on November 3,2002. All reactions and attitudes disclose that the event was not an ordinary but a hostile military terrorist operation carried out by the American administration on territories of a sovereign country. It is obvious that the incident does not come under the so-called Yemeni-U.S. security cooperation. The incident could indicate that Yemeni territories may become a test field for a new phase of an American campaign against what it describes as terror. These developments render the U.S. military operation in Mareb a dividing point, not only regarding the government relations with the U.S. administration, but maybe also so for the history of the region and the Yemeni’s relationship with their government.
ATTARIQ weekly, 12 Nov.2002.
Main Headlines:
-Adenis describe distribution of education jobs as unjust
-Judiciary wanted members of Aden-Abyan army, killed
-U.S. troops chase a Yemeni baker
-Military campaign in quest of al-Ahdal in Mareb and Jawf
-Amnesty International questions Washington on its role in attack in Yemen.
-Yemen receives 14 gunboats from the U.S.
-Yemeni students in Poland appeal to higher education minister
-Military experts believe a guidance device fitted on al-Harithi car
Columnist Wathiq Shathili says imprisonment sentences have occurred repeatedly nowadays against journalists, although all of them are stay of execution. This postponement does not make us joyful, not because it is temporary, for it could suddenly executed, as is the case with the recent imprisonment order against Mr. Khalid Salman, the Chief editor of “al-Thawri” newspaper, who has been sentenced to 3 months imprisonment. He had earlier been sentenced to 5 months imprisonment with stay of execution. The recent sentence necessitates the execution of the previous one.
What is required is cancelled of the text on imprisonment of journalists because of exercising their profession. This situation has become against all meanings of freedom and democracy instead of being in protection of them.
I’m not talking about immoral publication which we refuse outrightly. But regarding the reporting of events and opinion, especially when supported with information. A judgement of imprisonment is usually issued as punishment for a crime. The question is now whether publication has become a punishable crime in the era of freedom, democracy and counter-opinion.
Al-Shoura weekly, organ of Yemen’s Peoples’ Forces Union, 10 Nov.2002.
Main Headlines:
-Consideration of the lawsuits against Supreme Commission of Elections
-Joint Meeting Parties studies situation versus the U.S. violation of Yemen’s sovereignty
-Finance undersecretary’s car seized
-Press prosecution postpones listening to “al-Wahdawi” reply
-As a result of Limburg attack, Yemen loses US $ 3.8 million a month.
-Families of Cole victims criticize the American attack
Columnist Mohammed Sadeq al-Udaini says more than 15 sentences have been issued against journalists of oppositions press during the past ten months of this year. During the first months of this year, national press has seen a serious of violations, attacks and arrests targeting journalists because of their performing their duties towards the homeland and issues of their society. While the journalists syndicate in Yemen kept silent versus pressures and violations of journalists rights and freedoms many international observers and organizations have announced their concerns about the situation of the freedom of press and expressed direct and harsh criticism towards the Yemeni government.
The freedom of press, as major cornerstone of human rights and guarantee of other liberties, is an essential task of the 22 May unity of 1990. Defending the press freedom is a collective humane and national responsibility of all political and intellectual parties and organizations. It is also the responsibility of civil society organizations, professional and mass unions as well as social and legal personalities.
Annas weekly, Nov.2002.

Main Headlines:
-Funeral procession for al-Harithi politicians discuss future of al-Qaeda organization after his demise.
-Due to harassments, an investor announces intention of closing down industrial company
-Artist arrested in Taiz for a play criticizing the government performance
Columnist Sadeq Nasher says the U.S. has not hidden its ecstasy on success of the operation that led to killing six Yemeni citizens believed to have links to al-Qaeda organization. It has declared that it was behind carrying out the operation by using a drone aircraft and missiles. The CIA itself has announced that. The European Union criticized this American arrogance boasted by Washington. The EU considered facilities offered by Yemen to the U.S. to hurt down al-Qaeda elements on its territories as admission of its failure of protecting its territories. The question is why the Europeans have been more truthful than us when they have criticized the American joy over the incident at a time we have buried our heads in the sand. We on the other hand are aware of the difficult situation the Yemen faces as the presence of such a number of the al-Qaeda elements is because of us, not of others. For many years we kept denying any change on harboring “terror” but nowadays many of our official press mention about several operations implemented by “extremist” and “terrorists” at many places in Sana’a, Aden, Hadhramout, Mareb and other areas. Now we are asking the help of others to help us put an end to terrorism and extremism that inflicted damage on the country’s economy.
RAY weekly, organ of the Sons of Yemen League Party, 12 Nov.2002.
Main Headlines:
-U.S. forces hurt for a Yemeni baker
-February 21, preliminary date for a strike on Iraq
-For fear of repatriation to Yemen, a Yemeni prisoner asks for political asylum in America
-The government discusses damage of Limburg attack
Columnist Dr. Ali al-Fakiek discusses negative impact that led to weakening investment incentives. He says there are many factors impeding incentives of investment and have been tackled on many occasions. But the most important one are those opinions facing the private sector with regard to estimation of value of imported goods in an illegal way. Also there is the continued and multi measures required for customs clearance process, added to them problems related to fires reaching to 50% of customs duties. These problems form hindrances facing many issues, particularly investment. It is now imperative to consider the customs system. Exporters face a number of hindrances which form a group of frustration for exporting investors as a result of many duties levied on exports. Removal of these blocks would give a good push to encourage investment and exportation.

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