National Yemen - Issue 10 by National Yemen Newspaper

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Heaven of Grapes in Yemen Sunday, Aug 8, 2010 Volume 01 - Issue 10 Price: YER 30 www.nationalyemen.com

The US and Yemen

How involved is the U.S. military in Yemen, and is the Obama Administration laying the groundwork for a new foreign adventure? According to several news agencies, including Agence France Presse, UPI and the Washington Post, very involved and likely to be more so in the future, “U.S. military teams and in-

telligence agencies are deeply involved in secret joint operations with Yemeni troops,” says Dana Priest, the Post’s ace intelligence and military affairs reporter, including “the U.S. military’s clandestine Joint Special Operations Command, whose main mission is tracking and killing suspected terrorists.”

Yemen Arrests Four al-Qaeda Suspects

Photo AMIRA AL-SHARIF

Conn Hallinan for NY

Yemen is famous for its grapes, honey and coffee. In rural areas the harvest keeps the whole family busy gathering the seasonal fruit. Yemeni farmers, like this one, seem very satisfied with with quality of the grapes this year.

Parliament’s Latest Report Reveals Violations in the Ministry of Agriculture A report released by Parliament’s Agriculture and Fisheries Committee revealed Ministry of Agriculture violations. According to the report the Ministry exploited financial allocations for foreign loan projects. The committee’s report mentioned that the financial state-

SANA’A, Aug. 07 - Security forces have arrested four suspected al-Qaeda members accused of killing three Yemeni soldiers on Thursday in Abyan province. The Interior Ministry made clear that suspected alQaeda gunmen opened fire on a security patrol. The Ministry said the attack was the result of a lack of nec-

essary security precautions. Therefore, Major General Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al-Qawsi said that the commander of the Abyan police has been suspended from work and is subject to investigation for neglecting of his duty. He emphasized that the Ministry of Interior will continue to hold security chiefs responsible for negligence.

Suicide Bombing Suspect Captured

Security services in AlDhale’ governorate arrested a suspect accused of being involved in last Tuesday’s suicide bombing at the AlDhale’ security services headquarters, which injured 9 security men. They said that

the suspect, Ahmed Al-Darwish, is currently under investigation. Darwish is a 27 year-old owner of cell phone shop in Al-Dhale’ and a resident of Al-Kharbah Directorate.

ments from agricultural development projects showed discrepancies between the ministry, the investment program and the final accounts. The discrepancies were discovered by comparing the approved financial allocations and actual expenditures across Continued on ( 7 )

Lawyers Win Right to Aid U.S. Target administration has authorized killing the cleric as a terrorist despite his American citizenship.

WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department on Wednesday granted permission to a group of human rights lawyers who want to file a lawsuit on behalf of a radical Muslim cleric thought to be hiding in Yemen. The Obama

The department approved a license to the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Constitutional Rights to challenge the targeting of the man, Anwar al-Awlaki, who was born in New Mexico and is accused of having ties to Al Qaeda. Last month, Mr. Awlaki’s father retained the two groups to

High Prices a Major Concern in Ramadan Prices of basic foodstuffs shot up an average of 25% just before the holy month of Ramadan. Traders attributed this rise to the high demand for con-

sumer goods. Just before Ramadan every year, prices begin to rise and Continued on ( 10 )

Nexen Inc. Discusses Future with President Saleh

An executive delegation from Calgary based Nexen Inc, headed by President and CEO Marvin Romanow, paid a five day visit to Yemen. The official visit began last Wednesday with a visit to facilities in al Masila and the power plant in Mukalla. On Saturday Mr. Romanow met with President Saleh to discuss future business opportunities in Yemen. The discussion included the extension of the Nexen contract and new joint ventures in the oil and gas fields. The delegation also met with

the Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Mujuar , Minister of Oil and Minerals, Ameer Al Aidarous and Shura Council Chairman, AbdulAziz Abdul Ghani and other governmental officials. Nexen has been operating in the Yemen since 1987 and is the country’s largest producer and exporter of oil and it operate blocks 14 and 51. Nexen is looking forward to future cooperation with Yemen and they hope to reach a new agreement with the Government.

Seven Die in Traffic Accidents Seven people were killed and 79 others injured in 36 different traffic accidents on various roads of the governorates yesterday. According to the reports the traffic accidents were as follows: ten accidents involving pedestrians, resulting 10 injuries; nine overturned vehicle accidents, resulting in four

deaths and 31 injuries; seventeen car crashes resulting in the death of 3 people and the injury of 38. Traffic services attributed the causes of these accidents to speeding, inappropriate passing, negligence and being distracted by such things as chewing Qat and using a cell phone while driving.

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The Crazy Dollar a weak domestic economy, a shortage of natural resources, limited investment, and a lack of government intervention. It is even easy to blame this crazy dollar on the revenge of business people against the government or a Houthi plan to damage the economy and make people angry with the government.

Fakhri al-Arashi Publisher & Chief Editor

In 1984 I learned the exchange rate between the YR and the US Dollar for the first time. Back then, one dollar was worth 3.2 Yemeni riyal but now the exchange rate has climbed to over 250 YR/USD. At that time, I had no idea that an appreciation of the dollar could affect the economy of Yemen so negatively. The US Dollar has witnessed a rapid growth against the YR since the first gulf war, when over 2.5 million Yemeni workers returned from gulf countries. The civil war in the summer of 1994 pushed the exchange rate even higher, to 140 YR/USD. Before the new sales tax law was announced, the riyal was stabile (at 220 YR/USD) for nearly 9 months, but since then the rate has gradually increased to peak of 255 YR/USD. The history of the exchange rate indicates that the economy suffers when the government fails to respond an economic threat. . Economic analysts expect the exchange rate to reach 300 YR/ USD and believe that the increase is due to factors such as

My opinion is that the problem is a result of a multiparty political battle, where excuses such as the global economic recovery, terrorism, local disputes, al-Qaeda and others are used to explain the deteriorating situation. But where are the experts who should be preparing better solutions? Why does everyone stand by and watch as if the matter does not concern them? I agree with President Saleh’s, who stated to Al-Arabia that “hidden hands” are behind the currency fluctuations. Many Yemenis are facing rising food prices, simply because no serious action is being taken against these economic players. All attempts by the central bank to inject foreign currency into the market have failed to strengthen the riyal. The solution now may be for the government to find the hidden economic players and investigate them for interfering with the national economy and the livelihoods of the citizens. Such a policy may be hard to implement in the short term, but will be very affective in the long run.

Sunday, Aug 8, 2010 Issue 10 www.nationalyemen.com

The French government announces its decision to allocate $150,000 for the French non-governmental organization Doctors of the World for its work in northern Yemen. The French government decided to allocate $150,000 in aid for the French non-governmental organization Doctors of the World. This money will go toward a program for

people affected by the humanitarian crisis in the governorates of Sa’ada and Hajjah. The aim of this aid is to support mobile clinics that will improve access to primary health care for

citizens in six districts (three in both Sa’da and Hajjah). The new humanitarian and food aid granted to Yemen reaches a total of US$158,7500.

OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF YEMEN MICROFINANCE NETWORK The first microfinance network in Yemen was launched on Sunday, August 1st at the Movenpick Hotel in Sana’a. The Conference was chaired by the Managing Director of the Social Fund for Development (SFD), the Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs and the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Abdul Karim Al- Arhabi, who gave a speech in support of the Government sustaining the microfinance project. Other participants at the official inauguration included high profile dignitaries, businessmen, NGOs, and foreign donors. The National Microfinance Network, which officially registered as an NGO in 2009, was initially conceived by the UNDP and the SFD. The Gov-

ernment has shown a willingness to contribute to the development of YMN by improving its transportation and communication infrastructure. Currently, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mohammed Al Lae’e, supervises this non-profit, member-based association consisting of banks and microfinance institutions. The objective of YMN is to alleviate poverty by providing the entrepreneurial poor with the ability to carry out their projects. Small and medium sized businesses are given an opportunity to develop and contribute to the financial growth of the nation. The Executive Director of YMN Sharar Mahyub said that the Network has been growing steadily,

with a 35% increase in the number of active clients between January 2009 and July 2010. The YMN offers various services (including loans and saving accounts), and will follow a variety of different strategies to overcome the difficulties of starting a microfinance sector in Yemen. For example, women are especially encouraged and supported, and currently make up 70% of the customer base. During the Conference the YMN team also honored members with Achievement Acknowledgment Awards. The recipients were the SFD Managing Director Al Arhabi, UNDP representative Ratiba Mahta and Sanabel Executive Director Raniya Abdulbaqee.

Safer Company Recognizes Retiring Employees

Lawyers Win Right to Aid U.S. Target

bring a lawsuit seeking to stop the government from trying to kill his son without a trial. But on July 16, the Treasury Department labeled Mr. Awlaki a “specially designated global terrorist.” That made it illegal for lawyers to work on his behalf without a license. The groups applied for a license on July 23, and on Tuesday they filed a lawsuit arguing that the licensing regulation was unconstitutional. In a statement, the groups said they appreciated the “quick response to our lawsuit” but would press forward with seeking to have the licensing requirement system struck down.

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and plumbing. This program is aimed at increasing the capacity of young Somalis so that they can provide for their families and rebuild their country when they return home.

CORRECTION

National Yemen would like to sincerely apologize to the Mr. Abbas Ahmed al-Basha and those affected by an editing error that occurred in the 9th issue of National Yemen. The interview with Mr. AlBasha reflected the progress towards establishing a stock market in Yemen. The title of the article did not accurately reflect its content, and should have instead read “the process of drafting the Yemen Securities Law is underway and gaining rapid momentum.”.

Fakhri Hassan Al-Arashi Publisher & Chief Editor

On August 4th Safer Exploration and Production Operation Company recognized its retiring employees at the Movenpick hotel. The group consisted of 31 employees from different management levels who reached retirement age. Last year, the company retired 41 employees

just in accordance with Yemeni law. Mr. Mohammed Husein alHaj, Executive Manager of SEPOC, Deputy Executive Manager Abdul Rahman al-Akwa’a and company staff attended the ceremony.

SEPOC is the first national company to produce oil and gas from Marib block 18. The company was founded on March 23rd, 1997 and assumed oil field operations on the 14th of November, 2005, with one hundred percent Yemeni management.

Yemen Trains 500 Soldiers for Gulf Cup According to a senior official, the Yemeni Interior Ministry has recruited 500 high-school graduates from southern provinces to secure the Arab regional football championship that Yemen is scheduled to host in November. The security official said that the 500 new soldiers were recruited from Abyan and Aden

Mohammed Al-Asaadi Editorial Consultant

Mansoor Al-Rdaei News Editor

provinces, where the championship is due to take place. “The 500 news soldiers are being well prepared and are now undergoing a high-level security and anti-terrorism training program,” the official added. Despite political and security instability in the southern provinces, where armed separatist rebels and resurgent al-Qaida

Fuad Al-Qadhi Business Editor

militants are highly active, Yemen was recently confirmed as the host of the twentieth Gulf Cup football championship. As scheduled, the tournament will be held from November 22nd to December 4th. Participating nations include six Arab Gulf states as well as Iraq and the host, Yemen.

Dr. Ahmed Al-Qoyadhi Education Editor

Khaled Al-Sofi SeniorTranslator

Following press speculation and rumors of an attack against the British Embassy on the evening of 26 July, we can confirm that an incident took place opposite the British Embassy at about 21:30 on the evening of Monday 26 July. The incident appears to have been an altercation between two Yemeni security officials responsible for the protection of the Embassy. A number of shots were fired. This was not an attack against the Embassy. No Embassy staff were involved, nor hurt in the incident. No damage was done to Embassy property. We have taken the matter up with the Yemeni authorities. Further inquiries should be directed to them.

Yemen Oil Revenue Totals US $1.132 billion SANA’A, Aug. 04 – On Wednesday the Central Bank of Yemen said in an official report that Yemen’s oil revenue through May totaled US $1.132 billion, a sharp rise from the $483.24 million earned during the same period last year,

Najeeb Abdulwahed Technical Director

Wardah Al-shawesh Graphic Designer

Collin Stevenson Assistant Copy Editor

The report added that domestic consumption through the end of May was 8.65 million barrels, down 25.4 percent from the 11.59 million barrels consumed in 2009. Oil production is currently at 300,000-350,000 barrels per day from 12 oil fields, down from a peak of more than 420,000 in 2002. Last September, Yemen’s petroleum exploration and production authority said the country was evaluating nine new oil discoveries on seven fields and expected new oil discoveries in 42 other oil sectors between 2010-15. Yemen relies on the oil sector for 70 percent of its general budget and the sector accounts for 92 percent of exports and 30 percent of GDP.

Najla’a Al-Shaibani Social Editor

The Facts As They Are Abdul-Karim Mufadhal Sports Editor

British Embassy in Sana’a

The CBY’s report said the government’s share of Yemen’s exports amounted to 14.46 million barrels, at an average sales price of US$78.28 per barrel. This compared with 10.16 million barrels at an average price of US$47.56 per barrel for the first five months of 2009.

Yemen Retrains of Somali Refugees Yemen recently retrained a group of young Somali refugees in a variety of specialties. The group graduated with certificates of Professional Diploma in electricity, electronics, carpentry, auto mechanics

Ali lah Ajlan IT Editor

e-mail: info@nationalyemen.com website:www.nationalyemen.com address:al-qiada st.

Jihan Anwar Staff Journalist

Hind Al-Eryani P.R & Marketing

SOCIAL

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AUTISM:REMARKABLE PROGRESSES IN HARD SITUATIONS Autism consists of a group of complex brain disorders collectively known as Pervasive Development Disorder (PDD). There is no medical test that recognizes a patient as autistic, but specially designed psychological tests as well as observed behavior are used in making a diagnosis.

Mohammed is 7 years old, and until the age of two he resembled any other infant: he smiled, cried in order to get his mother attention and displayed a level of curiosity and communication typical of his peers. But when he reached the age of three everything unexpectedly started to change. He smiled less, called for his parents less and was frequently absorbed with a single toy-car for an entire day.

cooperate in improving the child’s well being.

Even though he was able to talk, Mohammed mostly remained silent. When he did speak, it was usually repetitive and his tone sounded mechanic. Often, he did not acknowledge the presence of his parents, siblings, or even new kids visiting the house. Sometimes his mother would even catch him hitting his head against the wall, apparently oblivious to pain. When she embraced him, he only stared at her, unable to understand the little drops of salty water in her eyes.

PDD is more difficult to recognize than other types of mental illness because there are few physical features or defects that signal a problem. Furthermore, there is no universal autism behavior; although common symptoms include a lack of physical affection, refusal to make eye-contact, poor creative play, and difficulty in sustaining a conversation.

According to recent statistics, autism affects 1 out of every 110 children, but the number is estimated to rise because of both a higher rate of occurrence and an increase in diagnosis the disease usually occurs before the age of three, and boys more are likely to be affected (1 every 70) than girls. The Yemen Center for Autism and Early Intervention, which was founded in 2005, is the only recognized autism organization in the Republic of Yemen. The center deals with the families of patients as a parallel means of treatment. It gives information to parents on how to deal with PDD children so that they can

“When the Center opened we had only one child, not because PDD is absent in Yemen but due to the lack of knowledge parents and people in general have about this disease”, said Sakeena Ali Al Eyrani, a member of the Center. Currently the center is treating 55 cases at its facility, and approximately 100 more from their homes.

“We had the case of a small girl who simply loved listening to the sound of the electrical vacuum cleaner. She could spend hours simply contemplating it, and it seemed to relax her completely and made her unmindful to anything else including eating and drinking. Oppositely, a simple knock could enormously upset her for no apparent reason,” said Khadyhj Al Yessany, an expert in autistic cases recognition at the Center.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Children, all children have the right to a name and nationality. The protection program specialist at Save the Children, Aisha Saeed, emphasized the importance of the birth certificates as a necessary document for the protection children’s rights and future. The campaign aims to raise the awareness of Yemeni and refugee parents about the importance of getting a birth certificate for their children. The campaign aims to convince parents to go to the Civil Registration Center, which is funded by Save the Children and

The center offers various programs and activities to help autistic children integrate into society. Autistic children are very sensitive to changes and are therefore given a detailed schedule that will provide a comfortable routine without excluding them from normal life experiences. Patients are involved in classes that help them develop their motor skills and speaking ability.

Even today the causes for this brain disorder are unknown. “We were taught nothing about Autism in the University,” says Al Yessany sorrowfully waving her head,” at best a couple of lines mentioned it in our books.” One previously accepted theory is called the “Cold Mother

Save the Children Launches Campaign to Ensure Free Birth Certificates for Every Child Sana’a, 31 July 2010 – On Tuesday Save the Children, in partnership with UNHCR, will launch a campaign to help children in two districts of Sana’a receive free birth certificates. The campaign will have the slogan “getting a free birth certificate is the right of every child.”

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UNHCR, to get a birth certificate. This campaign is part of the “birth registration project” that was started in January by Save the Children. The campaign targets both Yemenis and nonYemenis and aims to raise awareness about the law statement of the Council of Ministers No. 120 (2006) which ensures that birth certificates are free for everyone. In another step to protect children, Save the Children conducted a July 21st workshop on reducing violence in schools. The workshop trained 28 teachers, parents, and local leaders on alternatives to violence. Another training was also organized (in coordination with HCMC) on July 20th to promote the reporting of child protection issues. Overall, Save the Children fights for children’s rights, influences public opinion and aims to create a world in which all children’s’ rights are respected.

hypothesis” because it points to the negligence of mother as the principal cause. However, this was discredited when PDD was shown to affect children regardless of family conditions. The current medical opinion is that various factors - biological or genetic- contribute to the onset of autism. A taboo exists in Yemeni Society that has resulted in many people hiding the fact that there is a case of mental illness in their family. In regards to Autism, some even refuse to accept a positive diagnose. Even if parents do turn to the Autism Organization, they usually know very little about the implications of a PDD. Al-Yessany emphasized that when “Parents ask: ‘Is he going to be all-right if he takes this pill or this medicine?’ it is hard to explain to them that autism usually ac-

companies an individual for their entire life.” The center offers various programs and activities to help autistic children integrate into society. Autistic children are very sensitive to changes and are therefore given a detailed schedule that will provide a comfortable routine without excluding them from normal life experiences. Patients are involved in classes that help them develop their motor skills and speaking ability. A father of two children, who has been diagnosed as autistic, confessed when he was a child his parents thought he suffered from mental retardation. Today he leads a normal life with a family, an enviable job, and even the ability to fluently speak four languages.

This year the Minister of Health has cut the funding for the Center even though autism (according to AustismSpeaks. org) is more common than childhood cancer, juvenile diabetes and pediatric AIDS combined. The center is in urgent need of support for even basic functions such as transportation: there is only one bus to pick up and return all the staff and kids. Other needs include trained staff, volunteers, and most of all medicine, which is extremely costly. Several individual donors give what they can to the Center, and the Autism Organization sent a proposal for an information campaign to the UNICEF, but as Al-Arashi describes, “the facility is [currently] too small to host all patients, and yet we are struggling to pay the rent.”

Amnesty: Yemen – complicity in tribal extrajudicial execution Amnesty International has urged the Yemeni authorities to launch an immediate independent investigation into the extrajudicial execution of a man accused of murdering a tribal sheikh. ‘Ali ‘Abdullah Muhsin al-Rajhi had been accused of murdering the sheikh, but instead of being arrested and brought to trial by the authorities, he was handed over to the victim’s family and summarily killed. He is reported to have been shot dead by a relative of the murdered sheikh on 18 July 2010 in front of a crowd outside a mosque in the village of alHajfa, south-east of the capital Sana’a. Amnesty International understands that the authorities, including the police, were aware of what was happening but did nothing to intervene and have taken no action against the perpetrators. “This killing was nothing less than “lynch law”, carried out apparently by agreement between the families of the sheikh and his alleged murderer and with the complicity of the po-

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The killing reportedly took place in front of a large crowd of villagers. ‘Ali ‘Abdullah Muhsin al-Rajhi was shot three times in the back and then further bullets were fired into his chest. His body was then removed by his family and buried. lice and local authorities,” said Malcolm Smart, Director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Program. “It must not be allowed to pass

unpunished. The Yemeni authorities must ensure that those who carried out this unlawful killing are promptly brought to justice.” According to reports, ‘Ali ‘Abdullah Muhsin al-Rajhi was not handed over to the authorities because his family and relatives of the murdered sheikh decided that the process would take too long and prove costly for them. Instead, ‘Ali ‘Abdullah Muhsin al-Rajhi was made to sit facing the wall of the mosque in al-Haifa village, and then shot in the back at close range by a member of the murder victim’s family. The killing reportedly took place in front of a large crowd of villagers. ‘Ali ‘Abdullah Muhsin al-Rajhi was shot three times in the back and then further bullets were fired into his chest. His body was then removed by his family and buried. “Those accused of crimes must be treated in accordance with the law and their human rights must be respected, whatever they are alleged to have

done,” said Malcolm Smart. “They must be arrested, charged and given a fair trial by the Yemeni judiciary and if convicted should have a right of appeal and should not be liable to the death penalty.” Following the murder of the sheikh, ‘Ali ‘Abdullah Muhsin al-Rajhi is said to have sought refuge in the nearby Hawlan region but to have been handed back by tribal leaders there to his family and tribal leaders from his village. There were then negotiations between his family and that of the sheikh, who are related, about a possible pardon and reconciliation but the sheikh’s relatives are said to have demanded that he be executed immediately. “This case is all the more shocking because of the alleged complicity of the police and other local authorities,” said Malcolm Smart. “Their role too must be investigated and they too must be held to account if they are found to have been allowed, and effectively condoned, this crime.”

National Yemen

YemenIS Abroad

Sunday, Aug 8, 2010 Issue 10 www.nationalyemen.com

YEMEN IN TOKOYO

The Mocha coffee event during the arab-day bazar. The people were waiting for about 30 min to drink Yemeni coffee

The people were waiting for about 30 min to drink Yemeni coffee

HE Marwan Noman the ambassador to Japan and Mr. Nambu the COE of the PASONA human resources company, top of the human resources companies in Japan.

First assembly of all Yemenis in Japan. Organized and sponsored by the Yemen embassy in Tokyo. In the center of the photo, HE Marwan Noman the ambassador, far right, the Consul Tariq Motahar.

The head of the Yemen-Japanese friend association, HE Fukoda, the former Japanese prime minister during the arab-day.

The workshop organized by the Yemen friendship association for updating its members with the current situation in Yemen and possible ways to enhance the Yemen-Japanese relations via NPO activities. In the workshop, Dr. Marwan Dhamrin give a 30 min talk about the recent situation in Yemen and the need for NPO activities for the after war scenario.

Pepsi

has launched a major media campaign this year that consists of events in various entertainment and business centers. The goal of the media campaign and promotional activities are to give back to the community.

Sunday, Aug 8, 2010 Issue 10 www.nationalyemen.com

Tourism

National Yemen

The race to save Yemen’s ancient wonders In Yemen, there is a race against time to save the historic Old City of Sana’a from the forces of modernization. Re-port on - CNN The sprawling metropolis that is modern Sana’a is the bustling capital of Yemen. But it occupies a site that has been inhabited for more than 2,000 years, and it boasts a historic quarter as beautiful as any in the world. The Old City is made up of some 8,000 buildings, including its distinctive multi-storey tower houses. Built of earth, they are adorned with painted white “filigree” motifs that look like icing sugar on fairytale gingerbread houses. Most buildings are between 200 and 500 years old, but some are much older, such as the Great Mosque, said to have been constructed in the seventh century, while the Prophet Muhammad was still alive. Declared a World Heritage Site in 1986, the Old City is now threatened by urban growth, modernization and the unavoidable realities of ageing. Dr. Abdullah Zaid Ayssa is president of Yemen’s General Organization for the Preservation of Historic Cities, and he is tasked with restoring Sana’a’s fading beauty. “The Old City is really unique, with unique architecture and buildings,” he told CNN. “It is an old city, but it is alive, and we are planning to keep it alive without harming its architectural fabric and value.

It’s very difficult -- it’s a living city, it’s not a monument. Dr. Abdullah Zaid Ayssa , Yemen “You have growing families, you have to think about expansion and how you deal with that. It’s very difficult -- it’s a living city, it’s not a monument.” It’s that need to preserve the Old City without turning it into a museum piece that provides Ayssa with his most difficult challenge. UNESCO reports that new homes and public buildings have been constructed in gardens and green spaces, increasing the building density in the area. Fountains and wells have been abandoned and demolished, and incongruous water tanks and satellite dishes have begun to appear on traditional homes. It also noted a widespread “soukization” of residential quarters, with the introduction of new retail areas at street level “The ground floor [of homes] used to be used as a stable or for animals but some people are opening the ground floor as a shopping area,” said Ayssa. “And we are trying to control that and organize that.” Efforts to preserve the Old

City include increasing awareness of its fragility among the estimated 80,000 people who live there. That includes encouraging locals to use traditional materials when making alterations to their homes. Many houses have collapsed after their shallow foundations were weakened by water seepage from pipes installed in recent decades. “People understand and are very proud of their heritage but we have to convince them that the protection of the city is important,” said Ayssa. “If they don’t realize that concept they won’t care about it when it comes to the reality and economics of daily life. “It costs money to preserve the Old City. It is very expensive but the challenge is how to create an income from it. We need to create internal income for preservation of the city, not just rely on outside support.” One way preservation and economics can go hand in hand is by encouraging tourism to the region. But ongoing concerns over security mean Sana’a has yet to attract visitors in the numbers its beauty merits. The Yemeni government is working to improve the country’s reputation abroad, hiring foreign PR companies to help

In Yemen, spirituality is in the air Muslim women in media and popular culture, and she holds conferences around the world to promote dialogue between different religions and cultures. El-Katatney graduated from the American University in Cairo (AUC) with a bachelors degree in business administration and a minor in Arab and Islamic civilization. Currently, she is pursuing both an MBA and an MA in TV and digital journalism, also at AUC.

In her book Forty Days and Forty Nights in Yemen: A Journey to Tarim, the City of Light,Ethar el-Katatney beautifully describes her experience in south Yemen, where she attended a course in traditional Islamic sciences. With its indepth discussion of Islam, stunning photographs, personal ruminations, and daily anecdotes, Forty Days and Forty Nights in Yemencaptures a momentous time in the 23-year-old’s life, and is a meditative, thoughtprovoking experience for the reader. A writer for Egypt Today and Business Today,last year elKatatney received CNN’s MultiChoice African Journalist award for a piece called “The Business of Islam,” as well as the prize in the print category of the Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Journalist Award for her article “Identity Crisis 101.” She contributes to Muslimah Media Watch, a blog that analyzes the representation of

Tarim is a holy town in Islam, considered to have the highest concentration of descendants of the Prophet Mohamed in the world. “Spirituality is in the air,” el-Katatney says. The young author spent six weeks in Tarim, hoping to deepen her knowledge of herself and her religion. She was with 30 other women, half of them from the UK and half from the US, some recent converts to Islam. The sheikh Habib Ali Zain elAbdeen el-Jifri wrote the foreword to the book, which is printed on glossy paper and includes dozens of color photographs. It describes the people el-Katatney met, the historic places she visited, and the scholars she spent time with. “I love dedicating my summers to learning more about my religion,” El-Katatney explained to Al-Masry Al-Youm. Tarim wasn’t her first such experience, though it was the first she decided to chronicle. In 2006, el-Katatney traveled to the UK for a three-week “summer training program” with re-

ligious lectures and outings, and a year later she attended the Rihla program in Saudi Arabia. But her experience in Yemen was so profound that el-Katatney decided to blog the details. “When I wrote the blog, I was aiming more at non-Arabs and non-Muslims, to show them what is behind the niqab and the beards, what these people are really like. In a land commonly associated with terrorism and Al-Qaeda, I wanted to show its humanity. I wanted to show that living life as a Muslim and as a modern citizen of the world are not mutually exclusive.” But the book also addresses the Arab and Muslim public. “I aimed to show Muslims that there is more to life than prayer and the hijab. There are levels of faith, and we shouldn’t only focus on the rules and rights which make up less than one percent of the Quran. The rest deals with values and behaviors, which is what Tarim was about. Spiritual discipline, and not physical discipline.” Writing about Yemen was “as easy as breathing,” and elKatatney enjoys both writing about personal experiences and journalism, though for different reasons. “As a journalist, I write not to inform, but to provoke thought and debate, and to raise awareness of important issues. As a writer, I write foremost for myself. As the writer Anais Nin said: ‘We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospection.’

and recently launching a series of tourism projects to worth $1 billion to be rolled out over the

next five years. But if it can retain its historic

splendor, the Old City could still be charming visitors for centuries to come

National Yemen

POLITICS

Sunday, Aug 8, 2010 Issue 10 www.nationalyemen.com

The US and Yemen Conn Hallinan for NY How involved is the U.S. military in Yemen, and is the Obama Administration laying the groundwork for a new foreign adventure? According to several news agencies, including Agence France Presse, UPI and the Washington Post, very involved and likely to be more so in the future, “U.S. military teams and intelligence agencies are deeply involved in secret joint operations with Yemeni troops,” says Dana Priest, the Post’s ace intelligence and military affairs reporter, including “the U.S. military’s clandestine Joint Special Operations Command, whose main mission is tracking and killing suspected terrorists.” The quarry of these assassination teams are supposed leaders of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), but the deepening U.S. alliance with the authoritarian government of Yemen may soon entangle it in two complex civil wars—a rising by disenfranchised Shiites in the north, and an increasingly powerful succession movement in the country’s south. According to UPI, the White House is quietly expanding “the footprint” of “elite forces inside Yemen.” One military official told the news agency, “The

numbers are definitely going to grow.” The Obama administration increased “security” funds for Yemen from $67 million to $150 million. Navy Seals, Delta Force troops, and intelligence units are working closely with the government of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, providing weapons, training and intelligence. And sometimes more. On Dec. 17, 2009, a U.S. BGM-109D Tomahawk cruise missile attacked the village of al-Maajala in south Yemen, killing 55 people, the bulk of them women and children. The Tomahawk—launched from a U.S. surface ship or submarine— was armed with a cluster warhead that spread a storm of razor sharp steel and incendiary material over 500 square feet. Amnesty International’s Mike Lewis said his organization was “gravely concerned by evidence that cluster munitions appear to have been used in Yemen,” because “cluster munitions have indiscriminate effects and unexploded bomblets threaten lives and livelihoods for years afterwards.” The target was a supposed alQaeda training camp, but the Saleh government draws no distinction between AQAP and the

Southern Movement (SM), a group advocating an independent south Yemen. The SM has a long list of grievances reflecting problems going back to 1990 when North Yemen and the southern Democratic People’s Republic of Yemen were unified. That merger between the conservative north and the better educated and socialist south was never a comfortable one and led to a particularly nasty civil war in 1994. The north won that war by using jihadists freshly returned from fighting the Russians in Afghanistan. Since the end of that four-month war, the SM charges that the north siphons off the south’s oil without adequate compensation, discriminates against southerners on access to jobs, and has cornered the country’s vanishing water supplies. Southern protests are met with tear gas and guns, and, according to SM leaders, some1500 “secessionists” have been imprisoned and more than a hundred killed. According to UPI, “The [Saleh] regime’s heavy-handed response to the southerners has only fueled the demand for independence and encouraged the disparate southern groups to come together.”

Saleh claims the SM is closely tied to AQAP, which immediately gets Washington’s attention, and has allowed his government to tap into the resources of the American “war on terrorism.” Southern independence leaders, like Tariq al-Fadhli, deny any ties to AQAP and say the Southern Movement is nonviolent. Whether it will remain so under the Saleh government’s continued assaults is an open question. The December cruise missile strike is not likely to encourage pacifism. The fighting in the north between the Saleh government based in the capital, Sanaa, and the Shiite Houthi, who inhabit the north’s forbidding terrain, is long-standing. While Saleh and his supporters in Saudi Arabia say Iran is stirring up the trouble, there is no evidence for ties between Iran and the Houthi. The tensions between the Saleh government and the Houthi are local and generally have to do with access to political power. But by bringing Iran into the picture, Saleh can claim he is fighting terrorism, thus making his regime eligible for arms, intelligence, and training. The U.S. is ratcheting up the use of Special Operations Forces (SOF) worldwide. The ad-

Say ‘No!’ to the Flagrant Violation of the Right to Peaceful Assembly Under the slogan ‘No to the Flagrant Violation of Right to Peaceful Assembly and Freedom of the Civil Society Organizations and Association to Establish and Practise Activities’, a number of lawyers, journalists and human rights activists protested in support of the Yemeni Organization for Human Rights and Freedoms (Sawasya). The protest took place in front of the Taiz branch of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor (MSAL) after the Ministry refused to grant Sawasya a license because it is classified as a suspended human rights organization. A statement issued by the head of the organization, Rafiqa Al-Kohali, clarified the reasons for the protest. “Today we are holding this protest against the Ministry’s violation of one of the most important civic and political rights, which is the right to peaceful assembly and to form and establish organizations and institutions, which aim at developing the community politically, judicially, legally, culturally, socially and economically. We have come to condemn the policy that seeks to take away rights, suppress freedom, gag the press and cripple change. The Ministry has committed many illegal violations, while supposedly being the legal supervisor of civil society organizations. It is supposed to enforce the law, not violate it.” The statement than detailed the violations committed by the

ministration has increased the number of countries in which SOFs are deployed from 60 to 75, and upped the SOF budget 5.7% to $6.3 billion for 2011. The White House also added an additional $3.5 billion for SOFs to its 2010 budget. One military official told the Washington Post that the Obama administration had given the military “more access” than former President George W. Bush. “They [the Obama administration] are talking publically much less but that are acting more. They are willing to get aggressive much more quickly.” In a recent talk that sounded very much like the Bush administration’s doctrine of pre-emptive war, the White House’s counterterrorism expert John Q. Brennan said that U.S. strategy was not to just “respond after the fact to terrorism,” but to “take the fight to al-Qaeda and its extremist affiliates, whether they plot and train in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, and beyond.” If the U.S. does increase its military footprint in Yemen, it will be expending hundreds of millions of dollars in the poorest country in the region, a country where 40 percent of its 22 million residents are jobless and

The report said that overall actual expenditures were 17,730,655,000 riyals, while the approved financial allocations amounted to 27,029,166,000 riyals; a 34% discrepancy. The committee concluded that these failures resulted from the inability of the ministry’s economic department to properly adminis-

We, at the Sawasya Organization for Human Rights and Freedoms, strongly condemn the MSAL in Sana’a and its office in Taiz for the abuse and violation of the citizens’ right to assemble peaceful and establish social development organizations. We denounce the practice of granting permits on the condition that the organization remains loyal to the ruling regime. The organization condemns the Ministry’s violation of the Constitution (Article 58), which states that citizens have the right to organize themselves politically, professionally and in unions. The article affirms that the state shall protect this right and ensure the freedom of political, cultural, scientific and social institutions and organizations. We also condemn the ministry’s grave breaches of law no. 1 for 2001. In particular the breaching of Article 3, which states that the ministry has to

facilitate the founding of institutions and allow them to function properly, and Articles 8, 9, 10 and 11, which relate to registration, publicity. The ministry and its office in Taiz also violated the International Conventions on Civil and Political Rights, particularly Articles 21 and 22, which state that everyone has the right to peaceful assembly and that the state cannot restrict this right except to maintain national security and public order or to protect the rights and freedoms of others. None of these exceptions apply to our organization because it is a human rights organization seeking to strengthen, consolidate and defend rights and freedoms. It is seeking to create a society in which the law is based on equal citizenship and where the community participates in development and decision-making. Unfortunately, the ministry and its office in Taiz still impeded the Sawasya Organization, beginning with rejecting the organization’s name. They also rejected the organization’s human rights objectives and requested deletion of the words

‘rights’ and ‘freedoms’ from organization’s statute. They even requested that we delete the phrase ‘We are seeking equal citizenship and efficient community partnership’. We have been rejected and all we were told is that the Ministry, under the direction of senior officials, suspends human rights and political organizations when there is apprehension and fear about the their quality. We at the Sawasya Organization for Human Rights and Freedoms deplore the official stance and herein declare that we are practicing our constitutional, international and legal right to publicize ourselves as a civil society organization. We are in full support of the Awn Society for Human Rights in Taiz province, which also suffered the fate of rejection and has therefore been closed for over a year. We would like to call upon all political parties, civil society organizations (domestic and abroad), the media, and political and social figures to support us so that justice will prevail and all people can enjoy the rights and freedoms guaranteed by both the Sharia and the law.

“In Yemen the U.S. will be intervening on one side in a country which is always in danger of sliding into a civil war,” says reporter Patrick Cockburn. “This has happened before. In Iraq the U.S. was the supporter of the Shia Arabs and Kurds against the Sunni Arabs. In Afghanistan it is the ally of the Tajiks, Uzbeks and Hazara against the Pushtun community. Whatever the intentions of Washington, its participation in these civil conflicts destabilizes the country because one side becomes labeled as the quisling supporter of a foreign invader. Communal and nationalist antipathies combine to create a lethal blend.”

Parliament’s Latest Report Reveals Violations in the Ministry of Agriculture

a number of projects.

ministry: “When we were trying to found an organization for human rights and freedoms, we encountered endless obstacles and lame excuses that were not legally relevant.”

where water is becoming a scare commodity. The U.S. shares much of the blame for the current economic crisis in Yemen. When Yemen refused to support the 1991 Gulf War against Saddam Hussein, Saudi Arabia expelled 850,000 Yemeni workers, and the U.S. cute $70 million in foreign aid. The effect of both actions was catastrophic, and Yemen never recovered from the one-two blow. U.S. support for the Saleh regime will inevitably draw it into the conflicts in the north and the south, with disastrous results for all parties.

ter foreign loans. The report underscored the importance of conducting investigations and holding those responsible for the failure accountable. The report also stressed that Parliament should be notified of the results of investigations within three months of approving the report.

Yemen Gets $370 Million IMF Loan to Help Reduce Budget Gap, Combat Poverty The International Monetary Fund approved a $370 million loan for Yemen to support a three-year plan aimed at cutting the budget deficit and reducing poverty. The Washington-based lender made an initial disbursement of $53 million available immediately, according to a statement posted on its website yesterday. Yemen’s government aims to rein in the fiscal deficit to 3.5 percent of gross domestic product while generating annual economic growth of 5 percent, the IMF said. The government is set to introduce a general sales tax and abolish exemptions on tax and customs duties to boost revenue. However, tax evasion in Yemen is estimated at 80 percent. “Yemen is confronted with a range of difficult economic challenges related to its heavy dependence on declining oil revenues, widespread poverty, and water shortages,” Naoyuki Shinohara, the fund’s deputy managing director, said in the statement. “The global financial crisis has aggravated these challenges through a reduction in world oil prices, resulting in mounting macroeconomic imbalances.”

Growth may accelerate to 8 percent this year from 3.9 percent last year, with non-oil output increasing 4.4 percent, according to IMF forecasts. The inflation rate may also rise to 9.8 percent, the IMF said. This support comes at a time when the central bank has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to support the Yemeni Riyal, which this week fell to a record low of 239.5 per dollar according to Bloomberg data. Oil Running Out Yemen, which relies on oil revenue for 70 percent of its budget, expects reserves to run out over the next decade. Crude production may drop to 260,000 barrels a day in 2010 from 440,000 barrels a day in 2001, according to U.S. Energy Department data. The country has turned to liquefied natural gas as a potential alternative export to oil. Attacks by a branch of al-Qaeda based in Yemen, including an attempt to blow up a U.S. airliner in Detroit on Dec. 25, prompted Western countries to organize an aid conference hosted by the U.K. in January, at which donors promised to increase economic assistance.

Sunday, Aug 8, 2010 Issue 10 www.nationalyemen.com

EU provides euro 18.3 million to support Yemen safety net 26 July 2010 – An EU-funded project of euro 18.3 million to support Yemen’s safety net was launched today at the Movenpick Hotel in Sana’a. The project is implemented by the World Bank and designed to address poverty in the most affected communities and contribute to creating temporary job opportunities for thousands of households through more than 100 community projects. “The EU funding for this important intervention came as part of an EU sustained support to the social safety net given the importance of this scheme in mitigating the suffering of the poorest people in the country,” said EU Head of Delegation Ambassador Michele Cervone d’Urso “The project includes two components: community projects through the SFD and cash flow to the hands of the poor through SWF. More than 100 projects will be implemented by SFD to create temporary jobs to at least 12,000 households for communities most affected by food crisis, drought and floods. These basic infrastructure projects will cover soil protection, maintenance and improvement of feeder roads, and other types of labour-intensive interventions. The SWF will seek to ensure direct cash transfers to 41,000 poorest households in flood affected areas (Hadramout and Mahara), conflict affected areas (Saada and Amran), and areas with high prevalence of child trafficking (Hajja, Al-Mahweet and Hodeidah), covering 58 districts in 7 Governorates. The launching ceremony of this project was held on 26th of July 2010 with attendance of Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Minister of Social Affairs, European Union’ Ambassador to Yemen Michele Cervone D’Urso and the World Bank Country Manager.

National Yemen

BUSINESS

Per Capita Income in Yemen Rises to $1,260 and Per Capita Income in Qatar exceeds $38,000 a Year The average per capita income in Yemen has increased to $1260 at the end of last year. A recent report issued by the Central Bureau of Statistics said the average income rose from $582 in 2000, to $863 in 2005, to $1200 at the end of 2009. A government source said the rise was part of an economic reform program adopted by Yemen aimed at improving the income per capita in Yemen to level it with the income per capital of other Gulf States in an attempt at joining the GCC countries.

However, the difference between the incomes per capita of Yemen and the other GCC nations remains stark. Recent statistics indicate that there has been an increase in the average per capita income in the GCC over the past two years. This is largely attributed to large revenue streams resulting from high oil prices . The average per capita income in Qatar is $38,290. It stands at around $20,660 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and about $18,460 in Kuwait annually. Qatar ranks first in this regard, the UAE second, and Kuwait

ranks third in the Gulf. These are followed by Bahrain $13,650, $9,490 in Saudi Arabia, and $8,080 in the Sultanate of Oman.

The average income is calculated out of the GDP. Statistics indicate that Yemen’s gross domestic product last year increased to 5.7 trillion riyals

from 2.4 trillion riyals in 2005. A source in the Ministry of Finance expects the total GDP to increase to 6.3 trillion riyals.

U.K ALLOCATES 50 MILLION POUNDS FOR YEMEN The British International Department announced an annual budget of 50 million pounds ($80 million) for Yemen, making the U.K. the largest donor to Yemen. The announcement coincided with the visit of the British Minister of International Development, Alan Duncan, to Yemen. The minister held a press conference at which high ranking diplomats were present; including the British Ambassador to Yemen, Tim Torlon, the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, H.E. Abdulkarim Al-Arhabi. Duncan also met with the Prime Minister Ali Mujawar, the Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister AbdulKarim Al Gharabi and spoke with President Saleh for the fifth time. In the prolonged meeting, the two men frankly discussed critical issues concerning both countries, including security, politi-

The Ministry of Civil Service provides 18,000 posts a year

cal stability and the economy. The main focus was the ‘Friends of Yemen’ organization, which intends to strengthen the state by fighting poverty and combating terrorism. The program will promote the development of the security forces, the police department and the judicial system. The first Ministerial level ‘Friends of Yemen’ meeting (to be chaired jointly by Yemen and the U.K.) is scheduled to take place in New York on September 24th 2010. The goal of the meeting will be the review of the country’s progress and set concrete objectives for what ‘Friends of Yemen’ can achieve in the future. The agreement is the first of its kind to be signed between Yemen and one of its traditional donor countries. Under the auspices of the government, this may pave the way for similar agreements with other coun-

tries. Duncan explained that ‘many GCC countries pledged money but they need to find programs on which they are happy to spend that money on.’ He added that it was crucial for donors to see their support con-

tributing directly to the strength of the nation.

The Ministry of Civil Service (MCS) provides 18,000 posts a year, but the number of employment applications reached 160,000 in 2009. A report said that females filed 54,330 of these applications and with males accounting for the rest.

bered 56,080 from the Faculty of Education, 15,522 from the Faculty of Commerce and Economy, 7,964 from the Faculty of Arts, 2,254 from the Faculty of Science, 212 from the Faculty of Oil, 640 from the Faculty of Legal Sciences, and 4,107 from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Applicants who have a two-

year diploma numbered 11,116 from technical specializations, health sciences and computer. The number of applicants who have a secondary school diploma numbered 26,614 from education, 4,738 from health sciences, 13,665 from management and development and 1,622 from computer and other specializations.

The report said applicants with a bachelors degree num-

The Minister of State suggested that resources should be directed toward preventing adolescents from falling prey to

radical organizations. However, if the government is incapable of reestablishing order, and alleviating turmoil, tension and dissatisfaction, then no external support will be sufficient.

It is evident from the report that the MCS does not have a clear policy regarding employment. This can be seen in the fact that the country is lacking specialized medical personal. Most rural hospitals complain of a lack of doctors and nurses despite the having over 6,000 applicants.

Yemen’s Foreign Exchange Reserve Falls to 5.918 Billion Dollars, Government Share of Crude Oil Rises to 1.131 billion dollars from January to May 2010 The foreign assets of the Central Bank of Yemen have fallen dramatically in May to 5.918 billion riyals, covering 7.9 months of imports, compared with 6.134 billion dollars from last month, covering 8.2 months of imports. This significant decline in foreign assets is largely seen as due to the Central Bank’s interventions in the market. Data suggests that the Central Bank has pumped more than 900 million U.S. dollars into the market this year to increase liquidity in meeting the needs of banks and foreign currency exchanges Economic

experts

have

warned that continued interventions of the Central Bank will lead to a huge decline in reserves, which affects the Yemeni economy as a whole. The decline in reserves was associated with a decrease in the total budget of the Central Bank in May by 4.8 billion riyals. A recent report issued by the Central Bank indicated that the government share of crude oil during last May had reached 226 million dollars compared with 239.7 million dollars in April this year. Thus, the government’s share of total oil exports from January through May of 2010 reached 14.46 million barrels at a value of 131

million dollars (average price per barrel USD 78). The government’s share during January to May in 2009 reached 10.16 million barrels worth 483 million dollars (average price per barrel 47 dollars). The statistics indicate that the domestic consumption from January to May this year reached 8.65 million barrels, compared with a larger domestic consumption in 2009 which reached 11.59 million barrels. The decline in the domestic amount of oil is due to recent rationalization policies adopted by the government, as reduction in the oil share, and the choice among some citizens to use

public transportation instead of private transportation due to increased fuel prices. These prices have risen do to the gradual lifting of oil subsidies in the beginning of this year. The report pointed to the 34 billion riyals rise in consolidated balance sheets of commercial and Islamic banks at the end of May this year, from 1.9% up to 1.807 trillion riyals. This is compared to an increase of 16.5 billion riyals from the previous month. The total consolidated balance sheet of commercial and Islamic banks was 1.573 trillion riyals at the end of 2009.

National Yemen Yemen Trains 500 Soldiers for Gulf Cup According to a senior official, the Yemeni Interior Ministry has recruited 500 high-school graduates from southern provinces to secure the Arab regional football championship that Yemen is scheduled to host in November. The security official said that the 500 new soldiers were recruited from Abyan and Aden provinces, where the championship is due to take place. “The 500 news soldiers are being well prepared and are now undergoing a high-level secu-

rity and anti-terrorism training program,” the official added. Despite political and security instability in the southern provinces, where armed separatist rebels and resurgent al-Qaida militants are highly active, Yemen was recently confirmed as the host of the twentieth Gulf Cup football championship. As scheduled, the tournament will be held from November 22nd to December 4th. Participating nations include six Arab Gulf states as well as Iraq and the host, Yemen.

Yemen Hosts the Asian Basketball Qualifying for the World Junior Championships National Yemen/ Exclusive From Sep. 22nd to Oct. 1st Sana’a will host the Asia Cup qualifiers for the World Junior Basketball Championship. Sixteen teams from five regions will be qualifying for three places in the championships. Parliamentarian Al-Khadher Al-Azzani, Chairman of the Yemeni Basketball Federation, said that the federation is working hard to complete all preparations for hosting Yemen’s first continental basketball championship. He pointed out that Yemen is facing problems with the courts on which tournaments will be held. The official matches will be held on the International 22 May Court and the Bilqis Club Court, while the rest of the courts in Sana’a will be used for training. As per the instructions of Hackob Khageran, Assistant Secretary General of the Asia Federation, the courts’ tartan floorboards must be replaced

with wood ones as per international standards. The Minister of Communication and Information Technology has agreed to this in return for placing advertisements for Yemen Mobile Company. Due to Steroids, the World Weightlifting Federation (WWF) Freezes Yemen’s Membership The WWF banned the members of the Yemeni Weightlifting Federation from participating in international tournaments, froze Yemen’s membership for 2 years, and also imposed a fine of US $100,000. These penalties came after the some of the national team players tested positive for steroids in examinations conducted by the World Committee for Anti-Steroids. This ban is particularly noteworthy because Yemen won more than 50 medals at the last Arab championship.

SPORT

The retired Yemeni football referee Mohammed Noman said the refereeing situation in Yemen is on the verge of collapse with catastrophic implications should the Football Association fail to intervene with appropriate solutions. He said, “We lack qualified new referees. We only rely on experienced referees like the international referee Ahmed Qa’ed, Hussein Shaqran, Mukhtar Al-Yarimi, Fouad Alsaid, Qais, and others who are becoming older and are on the verge of retirement”. He predicts, “Local football tournaments will be in a precarious spot if there is a gap created by the lack of new hires. Then we will not find efficient referees to manage these tournaments”. Noman suggests, “In order to avoid this situation, I would like

He continues, “many good referees are located in Sana’a and Aden, but they have been denied workshops, international badges, and management of matches critical to their development. There needs to also be a focus on continued follow-up assessments and creating a better mechanism for sorting matches. Opportunities to man-

Last Thursday Al-Shuhada’a Stadium in Taiz hosted a ceremony honoring the Al-Saqr Club’s champions in football, volleyball and table tennis. The Director of the ceremony, Mr. Zaid Al-Nihari, played a key role in making it successful. During the ceremony an operetta titled ‘Al-Saqr operetta’ was performed, and documentary film on the club’s achievements was screened. The Minister of Youth and Sports, the Governor of Taiz and leaders of the Football Association were also recognized. The champions were honored at the end of the ceremony. Overall, the ceremony was legendary and unique. Abdul Kadir (General Director of the Office of Youth and Sports in Taiz), Abdel Nasser Al-Akhali (Al-Saqr Club board member) and Dr. Homaid

from July 25 to the 28th. In the beginners’ competitions, Salam Ma’bar runners earned 5 gold medals and Al-Tilal took second place with 4 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze medals. Fath Dhamar came in third with 2 gold, 4 silver and 4 bronze medals. In the youth competi-

Shaibani (Secretary General of the Football Association)

opened the Abu Walad Stadium for the Al-Saqr Club. The stadi-

um was built by the Abu Walad Biscuit Company.

Launch of Republic’s Tournament for Elite Cyclists Eighty-Six cyclists representing the republic’s governorates will compete in the Republic cycling race in Taiz next Wednesday. It will last for 4 days and will consist of 3 stages: the first is 25 kilometers, the second is 80 km and the third is 60 km. Each team will consist of 4 cyclists competing for the title in the various distances. Based on the results, the first Yemeni Cycling Team will be selected to participate in the Arab Championship in Tunisia next October. An extended meeting of the board of directors of the Yemeni Cycling Association and the heads of branches in the governorates will also be held to dis-

cuss several issues related to the sport. Among the issues that

will be discussed is the organizing of future tournaments in the

form of a regular tour instead of individual stages.

Capital Secretariat Wins 16th Annual Republic Swimming Championship The Capital Secretariat team won the ten team annual swimming championship organized by the Yemen Federation for Swimming at the Officers Club of the Armed Forces. The Secretariat team placed first in all

four 100m competitions (free breast - back - butterfly). Sana’a Governorate’s team finished as a runner-up and the Aden team came in third. Medals and trophies were presented to the champions by the undersecre-

tary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports (Mu’ammar Al-Iryani), the assistant undersecretary for the sports sector (Abdul-Hamid Al-Sa’eed), and the Chairman of the Federation for Swimming (Ahmed al-Hada).

Board of Trusties of the Gulf Federations Settle on Gulf 20 in Yemen age important matches must be given to young referees as per their merit, not per their province. I also hope the board of the Yemeni Football Association rapidly restructures the Referees Board, not according to provinces, but according to prudent decisions made on the basis of members’ competence.”

Salam Ma’bar wins the Republic Field and Track Tournament Salam Ma’bar won the title of the Republic Tournament for both the beginner and youth categories. The tournament was organized by the Yemeni Federation of Field and Track, and took place on the track of the late Ahmed Alru’aeini in AlThowrah Sports City in Sana’a

Al-Saqr Club Organizes a Ceremony for Champs

The Yemeni Football Referee Mohamed Noman to express hope, through your highly-regarded newspaper, that the Yemeni Referees Board focus its attention on rapidly raising the professionalism and capabilities of young Yemeni referees through intensified referee workshops. The priority for these workshops should be for match management and competence. The ministry should lose the strategy of seeking balanced representation from various provinces (in hopes to avoid favoritism), as it’s come at the expense of skill and competence”.

Sunday, Aug 8, 2010 Issue 10 www.nationalyemen.com

tions, Salam Ma’bar runners won 4 gold, 4 silver and 2 bronze medals, while Shabab Al-Jeel took second place with 4 golds and 1 silver. Al-Tilal came in third with 3 gold, 3 silver and 3 bronzes.

The Yemeni government defended its right to host the Gulf 20 after spending one billion U.S. dollars to build courts and accommodations. Many ministers welcomed the Gulf Football Federation’s decision that the country is ready to host the competition. Minister Abbad said that the Gulf delegation’s

recent visit has resolved the issue whether Yemen or Bahrain should host Gulf 20. He also said that the Board of Trustees have voted to choose Aden instead of Kuwait for the Gulf event, after being convinced of Yemen’s preparations. He called on all to support this event, particularly the various

Yemeni sports media outlets. He praised the role played by National Yemen newspaper in support of Yemen’s bid to host the tournament. Abbad called on other sports media outlets to follow the example set by National Yemen.

Due to Steroids, the World Weightlifting Federation (WWF) Freezes Yemen’s Membership The WWF banned the members of the Yemeni Weightlifting Federation from participating in international tournaments, froze Yemen’s membership for 2 years,

and also imposed a fine of US $100,000. These penalties came after the some of the national team players tested positive for steroids in examinations conduct-

ed by the World Committee for Anti-Steroids. This ban is particularly noteworthy because Yemen won more than 50 medals at the last Arab championship.

REPORT

Sunday, Aug 8, 2010 Issue 10 www.nationalyemen.com

National Yemen

Heaven of Grapes in Yemen “ Bani Hushaish is a directorate of Sana’a, located about 25 kilometers to the east of Sana’a Province, with a population of about 200,000”. It includes regions like Sarf, Sawan and Al-Hataresh, which are famous for growing grapes. Abdul Al-Hameed Al-Hgaze According to official statistics, between 20.4 and 80.9 thousand hectares in Yemen are cultivated for fruit. Of this, between 11.7 and 21.2 thousand hectares are used for grape production. Grape cultivation is growing relative to other fruits, with an estimated increase of 26.2% since 1997. However, an official report by the Central Statistical Organization showed a decline in overall Yemeni grape production from 130.7 to 83.1 thousand tons between 2001 and 2005. Also, the cultivated area shrunk to 9.6 thousand hectares (compared to18.4 in 2001) because Qat, which provides a greater return to farmers, is replacing grapes. This decline can also be seen in Saudi Arabian grape imports, which declined from 2000 tons in 2004 to 1376 tons in 2004. Grapes are Sana’a’s primary fruit crop, making up an annual average of about 80.3% of all fruit planted. Sana’a is the leader in terms of both area cultivated and production of grapes in the republic. The region accounted for 131, 000 of 159, 953 tons of grapes produced in Yemen last year; an increase of 20% since 2004. Bani Hushaish is one of the most fertile grape-growing regions in Yemen, followed by Sa’ada region. It has the most

variety in Sana’a province, including grapes such as Al-Asimi, Alraziki, Aswad (Black), Hatimi, Irqi and Bayadh (white). Harvest Season The grape season in Yemen begins in mid-June and ends in November, but the harvest time of the approximately different 40 types of Yemeni grapes varies. Early kinds of grapes, such as Al-Bayadh (white) and AlJabri, appear in the market beginning mid-June and last until almost the end of August. Production of Al-Raziki grape begins by the end of July until August The Al-Aswad and Aasimi varieties are available between mid-August until November. Grape farmers make raisins out of seedless grapes like Al-Raziki and Al-Aswad. Marketing Few services exist to market the wide variety of grapes, and a recent study has examined possible solutions to this dilemma. The study says that there is a complex relationship between marketing strategies and the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Supply and Trade, Ministry of Planning and Development, Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, Ministry of Industry, Chamber of Commerce, agricultural cooperatives, Yemen Economic Corporation (YECO), exporters, importers

Cairo: The First TV Appearance for Journalist Mona Safwan Journalist Mona Safwan is preparing for her first appearance on a TV talk show, which she will prepare and present from Cairo. The show will be broadcast on the Yemeni channel “Al-Aqiq” (onyx). The weekly show, “From Cairo with Mona”, is intended for Yemeni and Arab audiences and aims to be a link between the Yemeni viewer at home, and Arab stars. The program will host a number of movie and media stars who will be appearing on Yemeni television for the first time. These icons are likely to include the filmmaker Khaled Youssef, broadcaster Mahmoud S’ad, journalist Ibrahim Issa, the Iraqi Lute-player Naser Shamma, and a number of other prominent Arabs. In addition to discussing

these stars’ relationship with Yemen, a number of cultural and political issues will be addressed. In particular, the show will attempt to break through the informational isolation that Yemeni culture experiences. The new Yemeni channel AlAqiq produces the program, and the first episode is due to air during Ramadhan. Al-Aqiq initiated its test broadcast at the end of May, and currently broadcasts a variety of programs on NileSat with frequency 11 219 horizontal.

Seventh Al-Baldah Tourist Festival Finishes in Khor al-Mukalla The Seventh Al-Baldah Tourist Festival concluded in Khor al-Mukalla last Sunday evening. According to various media reports the 2010 Al-Baldah Festival was the best since the former governor of Hadramout, Abdul-Qader Hilal, launched it in 2004. The reports indicated that festival was remarkable in terms of artistic, cultural, religious and sporting events. The festival was honored by the presence of HE President

of the Republic. Attending the closing ceremony were Dr. Ahmed Salem Al-Qadhi (Deputy Minister of Culture), Sheikh Al Abdullah, Ahmad Buqshan and a number of other governorate officials and social figures. At the ceremony Ahmed Bin Dwois delivered a speech in which he reviewed the major events of the festival. He said that the Al-Baldah Festival is an event that exemplifies Hadramout’s cultural tourism and heritage.

and distributers. The study showed that only 6% of farmers sell their product to YECO with a fixed contract because of the complicated procedures. The study also proved that farmers are burdened with all marketing, packing and shipping costs. The process of sorting and grading is also disregarded and packing is conducted primitively in wooden or plastic boxes that do not specify weight or expiration date. These problems are exacerbated because transportation is done using cars that are not intended for this purpose. Furthermore, there is a lack of records that track the quantity of grapes sold in the market. Despite these issues, Yemeni grapes still enjoy a good reputation and great marketability. Yemeni grapes have a wonderful and unique taste, and receive praise from consumers in both Arab and foreign markets. The Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation (MAI) in Sana’a places a great importance on making grapes its number one economic crop. The office provides guidance to farmers and shows them scientific methods to improve quality and productivity. In addition, it assists them in the marketing process (especially in foreign markets). Engineer Yahya Shuja’a Al-Din, Director of

Photo AMIRA AL-SHARIF

Vast Cultivated Areas

the Agriculture and Irrigation Office in Sana’a says, “We have good cooperation with agricultural cooperatives in Sana’a regarding production and marketing. We are greatly concerned with applying modern methods in exporting grapes according to international specifications in terms of packing, cooling and transport.” He says that no chemical pesticides are used; instead, farmers put dust or dirt on grape trees, which makes grapes rich, nutritional and de-

sirable for consumers. The office is trying to expand this method and bring it to the rest of farms in governorate. The office also seeks to expand grape cultivation, promote investment in the industry and avoid chemical treatments. The end goal is to become a grape exporter. The MAI calls on the farmers not to harvest grapes before they are ripe, and also warns against indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides. Al-

Din says that, “agricultural associations must do their part in supporting the official efforts in improving production to keep pace with international standards regarding aspects of export.” He expects grape production to increase 25% this season, indicating that modern methods and cooperation have begun to help preserve this vital crop.

High Prices a Major Concern in Ramadan

some foodstuffs begin to disappear due to lack of real control by the state and also due to rise of the dollar against the local currency, which lost nearly 15% in recent days. The value of the riyal against the dollar is now nearly 240 riyals. Another cause is that, unfortunately, traders who do not fear Allah practice all kinds of forgery like renewing expiration dates on food products. The Central Bank had attributed the strong dollar to the high import bill during Ramadan, which economists consider a pretext for the failure of fiscal policies pursued by the bank. National Yemen newspaper visited a number of shops and investigated the citizen’s opinions. Many described the situation as catastrophic. “It is disastrous, especially with the arrival of Ramadan,” says Mohammed Hamoud, an employee. “My salary, for example, has lost more than 10%. It used to be equal to $200, but with the collapse of our currency, it is worth no more than $170. Similarly, all employees with limited income like me suffer the same predicament.” Khalid Al-Matari, who we ran into at Shumaila Harry, said that shopping in supermarkets is much better than in small shops due to price reductions and the ability to find many goods under one roof. However, the strength of the dollar, volatile prices and people’s rush to buy more than necessary has caused prices to surge. Yet because the holy month of

Ramadan still remains a month of generosity, Al-Matari does “not believe that anyone will suffer from hunger during Ramadan.” Mohammed al-Hassani, a shop-owner, said prices have risen remarkably in comparison with previous months. “When we ask wholesalers why, they say it is due to the current rise of the dollar, although they have abundant quantities of these stuffs from previous months but, unfortunately, the greed of some of them fuels just before Ramadan.” Al-Hababi said, “unfortunately, the rise of foodstuff prices coincided with the government’s gradual lifting of subsidies on oil derivatives, whose prices rose in one year by around 100%. Yet, there has been no raise in Yemeni employee’s wages for a year, let alone the 50% deduction of bonuses and incentives last year and this year due to serious budget deficit.” All of this coincides with the government’s in-

tention to begin implementing a general sales tax. The Date Market There are more than 500 types of dates, most of which come from Saudi Arabia, but only approximately 293 are popular. Some types, like Assaree’ Assofri, Assuccari, and Al-Ikhlas, come into Yemen in large quantities. These types of dates are in high demand because they are grown in areas near Yemen. High prices An importer of dates said that the rise of date prices in Saudi Arabia was due to the drought in some date-cultivated areas. In Yemen, however, the rise was due to lack of diesel, high transport costs and the deterioration of the riyal against foreign currency. As for the prices of dates this season, he said, “they are as follows: Assoccari weighing 4 kg is 2700 riyals, Assaree’ 4 kg 2500 riyals (approximately 675 riyals a kilo). However, if the dates are from last year’s

crop, they are sold at a discount and their prices vary. If they are wholesaled, the price ranges from 50 to 100 riyals a package below retail. He also said that this year the Yemen Standardization, Metrology and Quality Control Organization (YSMO) developed a number of measures to bring dates to Yemen. Only large factories in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia can meet the new standards and specifications, which has prompted traders to import a good selection of high-quality dates. The packages, which vary in size, type and quality, have expiration dates engraved on the package as a guaranteed specification. Overall, a low turnout of people in comparison to previous years is expected due to fluctuating prices, and a deterioration of the local currency, which affects the purchasing power of the consumer.

National Yemen

CONGRATULATIONS

Sunday, Aug 8, 2010 Issue 10 www.nationalyemen.com

Sunday, Aug 8 , 2010 Issue10 www.nationalyemen.com

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