Rai [Archives:2003/682/Press Review]

28 Oct.2003
Main headlines:
– Yemeni scientist refutes why Arab scientists stick to America
– Bloody conflict renewed between Islah and the GPC for controlling mosques
– New Jordanian government for change
– Hezbollah and Israel exchange artillery shelling in Shaba’
Columnist Mahdi Othman al-Masfari writes this week on antiquities in Yemen as ‘’buried wealth’’ saying Yemen is considered among the countries that possess ancient civilization ruins in the Middle East like Egypt, Iraq, Syria and Jordan. After giving a review of the archaeological landmarks and civilization sites in Yemen the writer talks about the present situation of the archaeological wealth in Yemen.
Mr al-Masfari says our antiquities are being plundered secretly and publicly and stored in world museums and some of them aresold for cheap prices. He says a visit to museums in turkey, Britain, France, America, Russia, Germany and India and other countries would discover this fact. The writer says our ancient and Islamic antiquities are a valueless national wealth and if we do well in discovering, maintaining and restoring them, this land (Yemen) a permanent world testimony about our civilization and one of our economic permanent riches.
For reviving the due status of the Yemeni archaeological situation and reality the writer mentions certain points and proposals such as:
-our non-response to the negligence that has almost strangled our ancient ruins,
– the presence of specialized scientists in Islamic archaeology and history,
– seeking assistance of specialized Arab and foreign archaeologists known for their scientific values and decency,
– we should have in our country archaeologists and scientists well-informed in the Islamic religious history, they are existing and care has not been rendered to them,
– distribution of archaeologists among the governorates to carry out researches and discoveries and present their result to the council of ministers,
– there should be a museum for keeping antiquities to be scientifically built in the capital,
– there must be a follow-up of he lost antiquities inside and following up antiquities outside and working for restoring them,
– a sincere information on the Yemeni antiquities and manuscripts,
– the formation of a police force well-educated in protecting antiquities,
– establishment of a state of security in every district and governorate as a major factor for attracting tourists.
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[archive-e:682-v:13-y:2003-d:2003-10-30-p:press]