Press Review [Archives:2003/02/Press Review]

As-Sahwa weekly, 9 Jan. 2003.
Main Headlines:
-Islah demands revealing progress on investigations with the assassins to public opinion
-Sheikh al-Ahmar: Assassination of Jarallah, loss for all
-Islah leadership meets the U.S. ambassador, offering condolences on American doors killing
-Jibla detainees released
-YSP demands to be informed on investigation proceeds
-JMP in Taiz condemns Omer assassination
The newspaper’s editorial written by the Secretary-General of Islah party says whatever the motives that urged the killer of the late Jarallah Omer were and whoever the forces that planned for and funded that unsightly crime, they have wanted it to be a sinister sedition, specially at apprehensive local circumstances and critical regional and international circumstances.
The editorial maintains that we are fully aware of expenses of peaceful strife and that we should be patient and persistent despite the hardship. Many hindrances appeared on this road but we have no other choice than dialogue in order to communicate with the others and cooperate with them.
Al-Wahda weekly, 8 Jan. 2003.
Main Headlines:
-The major challenges face the state and society in 2003.
-Team for negotiating with insurance companies head for London
-Fifteen suspects are arrested in the incident of killing Jarallah Omer
-A Khartoum meeting to discuss cooperation in fighting terror
-Interior minister says positive results in investigations into recent crimes
– Discussion of Yemen’s joining the GCC to be held in Riyadh Monday
Foreign archaeological teams work in Yemen normally
Al-Wahda editorial mentions that in the year 2003 there is a number of challenges facing Yemen. The most prominent challenges, however, is the war on terror. Yemen has become inside a hotter spot in this war as the Yemeni arena has become a stage for direct terrorist targets. Last year was one of the most tragic periods in this respect, both in quantity and quality, a matter that urged Yemen to play an essential partner in the universal campaign against terror.
The war against terror has become an inevitable necessity imposed on all parties and spectra of the Yemeni arena after that all have become aware of the damage it has inflicted on economic development and social security and political life in the community.
The second challenge is that of mustering determination, especially by the government to fight all forms of corruption, taking into account that the most significant aspect of the war on terror must be on the front of corruption.
The third challenge is the process of democracy as it has become the conditional association of the national unity, for without that the opposite is the right consequence.
26 September weekly, organ of Yemen Armed Forces, 9 Jan. 2003.
Main Headlines:
-While praising security bodies efforts, the president calls upon all good people to stand nationally abreast for confronting challenges
-New measures for enhancing protection of sea ports and airports
-Defense minister discusses bilateral relations with the American ambassador
The newspaper’s political editor says the fight against terror all forms of violence dictates on us to stand abreast at nationwide level. This effort for combating terror should be raised to a level parallel to dangers and challenges of its present consequences. This trend could not be realized if there is no commitment to the necessity of adhering to national constants, constitution and law by all concerned with democratic climates, pluralism and freedom of expression.
The national constants that call must commit to should not be for cheap partisan purposes and interests or for mere political consumption, but stemming from our comprehension of their significance as a control of the national alignment system and reference for all, authority and opposition.
Al- Wahdawi weekly, organ of the Nasserite Unionist party, 7 Jan, 2003.
Main Headlines:
-Attempt to blast interior ministry building, aborted
-Security refuses to reveal the list of targeted by killing by extremists
-Jibla killer has links with the killer of Hudeida nuns, al- Nashiri Opposition rejects 2003 budget
-Columnist Ahmed al- Fakieh says we need, especially at present, to stop for a while and ponder about what has elapsed of the country’s age.
He calls on all political parties and organizations to stop and review their political performance during the period extending back to their foundation. He calls let’s make Jarallah Omer martyrdom a turning- point in our political history.
Partisanship is a means, not end. The homeland needs us now all to truthfully discuss how to discard difference and rally behind the homeland, protect and preserve it. Now it is the time to look for another language, fall of forgiveness, love and mercy. We have the right to dream of that, and we have the right to have that dream come true.
Responsibility of the homeland security and stability is to be shouldered by all. All we are concerned about is talking and presenting theories on stabilizing justice and values of social justice, providing bread, we talk of strengthening principles of peaceful transfer of power, respecting opinion and other opinion, respecting sovereignty of the law and human rights. All these would remain slogans included in our political program and need to be altered into working programs, in line with reality. This could not be attained but through clear and comprehensive dialogue conducted by all political forces keen on security and stability of the homeland.
Al- Jamaheer weekly, organ of the Arab Baath Socialist party, 5 Jan. 2003.
Main Headlines:
-Following recent events, large- scale changes in security institutions
-Yemen’s youths founding conference to kick off late this month
-Person kills his family member and commits suicide in Utma area
The newspaper’s editorial mention that while all people’s voices rise in the call for opening a national dialogue aimed at cementing the internal front in the face of external challenges, an old draft law comes to surface, a one was refused by the parliament and national forces, i.e. a decision pertaining to demonstrations and marches.
Re- submission of this question to the parliament at this very delicate time in Yemen and the Arab world contradicts orientations of the cohesion of internal front to confront challenges. Such a project seeks to effect a rift whose negative effects are reflected on the homeland and would not allow Yemen play to play a distinguished role in the Arab world.
Any project impinges on the freedom of expression and opinion and confines action of the citizen in expressing his political opposition and to express that by peaceful demonstration, does not only violate the constitution but also seek to gag mouths and the gradual return to the totalitarian regime. It is a dangerous tendency aimed at isolating national issues from their pan- Arab content, and emptying democracy from its popular content.
Al-Balagh Weekly, 7 Jan. 2003.
Main Headlines:
-Ulama (scholars) society calls for closing down al- Iman University
-YSP accuses certain parties of giving military training to Jarallah Omer assassin
-Slafia Jama’ for call and fighting kills 50 Algerian officers
-Cells aimed at killing journalists & seculars, arrested
-America decided to small nuclear bombs against Iraq
-U.S. ambassador to Yemen, fails to recruit some tribal Sheikhs & notables
Al- Balagh editorial written by Mr. Abdulla Ibrahim al- Wazir says American planes on Sunday dropped leaflets on southern Iraq calling Iraqi citizens and soldiers to show cooperation with the American soldiers when the American attack on Iraq begins. This American act comes at a time when the UN weapon inspection teams are still working in Iraq, inspecting Iraqi military installations, factories and universities. This behavior comes to form a clear U.S. declaration on imminence of the American attack on Iraq and announces failure of the UN role in avoiding war in the area.
We think the American action aims to provoke the Iraqi regime against the UN inspectors present in Iraq so that the American administration has an execuse for starting the attack on Iraq. Nevertheless, America is no longer in need of justifications since it has become the only power governing the entire world.
At any rate, whether America has found the justification to attack Iraq, or has not, it would implement its strike, and then would begin the process of re-drawing the region’s map, a goal America is after.
Al- Thawri newspaper, organ of Yemen socialist Party, 6 Jan. 2003.
In his article Dr. Abdullah Awadh bin Jeezil says the course followed by enemies of committing successive crimes. Hence, it can be said that the crime of killing Mr. Jarallah Omer, the assistant secretary- general of the YSP of Yemen has brought back to mind many of the unsightly images of assassination of the party’s leaders and cadres, and other sons of the people of Yemen, as a result of a wrong mobilization. The bullets shot at Jarallah Omer are the same that led to change Yemen’s reputation in the world after targeting many innocent people and creating horror inside Yemen as a whole. This crime sheds light on long absence of the government role in dealing with terror phenomenon which aims at the return to bloodbaths. This terrorist phenomenon has become a threat to prominent national political leaderships, using untrue and flimsy justifications.
So what is required at this stage is that the authority should take a decisive decision against those involved in terror and to disclose their bloody ways. Then the authority must work hard to impose order and law and disarm those individuals and groups who think they can play havoc with security and stability and achieve their goals.

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