RAY: Sanaa weekly, 24-3-98. [Archives:1998/13/Press Review]

archive
March 30 1998

(League of the Sons of Yemen – RAY)

Main Headline:
1- RAY exiled leader, Abdulrahman Al-Jifri lays down the bases for the return of exiled Yemenis to start a real process of reform.
2- Defense lawyer in secessionists case: “We’ll appeal against the execution and prison sentences, while, the acquitted men can return home whenever they wish.”
3- 100 billionaires and 20,000 millionaires in Yemen, while, the majority of the people live in abject poverty.
Article Summary:
Stealing with Honor
Accompanying the government’s reform program, new means and methods of embezzlements and misappropriation of funds have been devised. One of these methods is to hold meetings, seminars, and symposiums for whatever reason. Funds allocated for such events do not always end up where they are supposed to.
The recent 31st round of the Arab parliaments conference is a good example. The volume of “re-directed” funds varied according to the official status of the people involved.
It is quite certain that the recommendations, proposed solutions, and other conclusions that such meetings come up with never see the light of day.
Article Summary:
Bank Robber Arrested
Police in Hodeida arrested a man who single-handedly robbed $18,000. 31,000 Saudi riyals, and YR358,000 from the Hodeida branch of the Yemeni Commercial Bank. Brandishing an automatic rifle, the robber locked up the bank staff in the bathroom, took the money, and escaped on a motorcycle. He was arrested 4 hours later in his apartment. People in the bank recognized him because his face was uncovered. It later transpired that bank robber is actually a 25-year-old university student of Islamic Sharia.

——
[archive-e:13-v:1998-y:1998-d:1998-03-30-p:./1998/iss13/press.htm]