Yemen Times:A Success Story [Archives:2003/639/Opinion]

Yasser Mohammed Al-Mayyasi

June of every year brings in a sad memory of the loss that had befallen free press in Yemen represented by the loss of Prof. Abdulaziz Al-Saqqaf. Not only media had lost him but a number of disciplines whether at the university where he was teaching, being one of the most brilliant economics experts in Yemen, whether the political environment lost his lively and active marks, whether the Human Rights field and civil societies whom he was a solid supporter of. Perhaps even the poor lost him because of his endless activities in rehabilitating the unfortunate through schemes and programs, the Women's rehabilitation center that he established in his home town being just an example.
For the last three year whenever this occasion would come up, we'd pay tribute to him through remembering his deeds and recalling his life history. However, this year is different, because this time the Yemen Times is presenting a gift of appreciation in his honor to the world, by producing its issues twice every week.
It was the gigantic efforts which were being made and the many hands behind the scene that were working endlessly that made this project. Lead by Eng. Walid Abdulaziz Al-Saqqaf chief editor of the Yemen Times, who has shouldered the huge responsibility, the whole staff made it once again to another success.
Today, the Yemen Times is a bi-weekly news paper, a step further to realizing the dream of Dr. Al-Saqqaf and many well wishers. To believe that it can happen, and to work for it, this is what the Yemen Times staff is doing and this is the story of the big success of this newspaper.
The Yemen Times has set a leading example of an origination and developing establishment. It has also set an example of survival in the worst conditions and commitment to principals and values. This is not the end of the road, yet perhaps this is a mile stone where we at the paper could mark our success, recalling the story of this organization that is not a mere newspaper but a democratic civil establishment that was able to touch on people's needs and concerns and treat many of the societies issues, something that many funded local and government newspapers could not do.

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