YIDD Meets EU at Dutch Embassy [Archives:1997/39/Local News]

Upon an invitation by Mr. Peter Dorst, the counselor at the Dutch embassy in Sana’a, a meeting took place with members of the Yemeni Institute for the Development of Democracy (YIDD). Holland being the current representative of the EU in Yemen, the purpose of the meeting was to acquaint the EU representative with the new YIDD board of trustees. The meeting took place on Tuesday 23th September at the Dutch embassy in Sana’a. Mr. Dorst has promised that the EU will support the YIDD’s activities within the general democratization process. The delegates explained that the recent problems that had befallen the YIDD have now been satisfactorily resolved. The new board of trustees is now in the process of restructuring and revitalizing the YIDD and amending its status charter. Also, the YIDD ahs announced moving its head office to a new location near Hadda street. Judges Referred to Prosecutor The Supreme Judicial Council ahs recently lifted immunity off a number judges, and referred them to the Public Funds court in Sana’a. It is alleged that the judges are accused of negligence and a number of other violations. This is the first incidence of its kind in Yemen. Judges are usually highly venerated by society. It is hoped that this will be a first step towards combatting corruption among the judiciary and other official organs. Some Colleges are More Popular In addition to the annual quota of 300 students, 160 more have been admitted into the College of Medicine at Sana’a University. The extra students were accepted by the university’s management, not by the College of Medicine itself. It was alleged that academic criteria and achievement had nothing to do with the admittance of the extra number of students. The College of Agriculture, on the other hand, had admitted all of the 70 students who had applied. The College of Arts has taken students with an average mark of 65% and lower. This made very large numbers of students apply. Financial reasons also have a lot to do for some colleges being more popular than others. Many students prefer an “easy” college with a small number of years of study so they can graduate quicker and join the labor force. SEC Gets Computer Network The European Union has funded the purchase of a comprehensive computer network for the Supreme Elections Committee. The EU will also finance the maintenance of the equipment as well as training the Yemeni staff that will operate them. The SEC will provide $8,000 of the network’s cost of $39,000. This network will be very useful for the SEC in preparing electorate rosters and the necessary information on candidates. Volunteering After Secondary School Secondary-school graduates, of both the scientific and literary sections are are trying to volunteer to teach at secondary schools. The boys aim to gain one year of voluntary teaching service so that they would be exempted from compulsory military service. Thus, the boys can pursue university studies. The girls, on the other hand , try to spend the free time they have after leaving school. Seminar on September Revolution

The great Yemeni revolution of 26 September, 1962, will be the subject of a seminar to be held for two days, starting on Monday 29th September at the Yemeni Cultural Center in Sana’a. The seminar will revolve round 3 main axes: the historical background, the goals of the revolution, and the future of the revolution. The seminar is expected to attract a large number of university professors, Yemeni revolutionary leaders, political figures, representatives of the media and the general public.
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