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Yemen officials: rebel peace deal resolved in Qatar Yemen’s government and northern rebels have agreed to strengthen a fragile truce and start a proper political dialogue designed to end a civil war that has raged on and off since 2004. The deal was signed in Qatar, where Yemeni officials and rebels have been in talks since Tuesday, members of both delegations said on Friday. Successful implementation of the deal would be a huge relief to the government, which is struggling to curb a rising southern separatist movement and a resurgent al Qaeda wing that has increasingly targeted the state in recent months, a rebel source said. The agreement was signed in Doha, Mohamed Abdel Salam told AFP, without providing details. AFP quoted the Qatar News Agency as saying that
the agreement was signed by a general, Ali bin Ali al-Qaysi, on behalf of the Yemeni government, and by Yusef Abdullah Hussein al-Faishi for the rebels. Meanwhile, HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani telephoned Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh. They reviewed bilateral ties and a number of issues of mutual interests. A Yemeni diplomatic source told AFP on Tuesday that the talks were “not to reach a new agreement but to put in place mechanisms to apply previous agreements.” Abdel Salam said earlier in the week that the rebels’ main demand was “the liberation of prisoners,” with an estimate of around 1,000 rebel support Continued on ( 3 )
Al Qaeda Under Heavy Attack in Lewdar, Abayn August 27, 2010: For the last week, soldiers and police have been searching for many al Qaeda operatives known to be living in and around the southern town of Loudar in the governorate of Shabwa. At least 18 al Qaeda personnel were killed, but many escaped, sources say. The police say they are in hot pursuit. Loudar is in Abyan province,
550 km southeast of Sana’a, surrounded and shrouded by mountains and unruly tribes. While the fleeing al Qaeda have hideouts, the majority of those previously based in Lewdar are now out there, in unfamiliar surroundings, and easier to spot, track and target. It is expected that many of these Continued on ( 3 )
2010 First Half Oil Report More than 100 million barrels of Yemeni oil production lasts year; Al-Masilah ranks first in oil production; Jannah Hunt ranks fourth and the State support of oil derivatives does not exceed YR 397 billion The government’s share of the total oil exports during the period January - June 2010 amounted to 15 million barrels at a value of a $1.205 Bn US dollars (average price of a barrel $78) compared with 13 million barrels, worth $665 million (average price of a barrel $90.51) during the same period last year. A government report, of which National Yemen got a copy, said that domestic oil consumption amounted to about 11 million
barrels during the period Jan. to June 2010 compared with the domestic consumption of about 14 million barrels for the same period of 2009. The government’s share of oil exports in June this year stood at 73 million barrels. The report noted that net production in 2009 sharable between the State and partners, after deduction of that the amount used in the production processes, tax and cost oil, amounted to 67.034 million barrels. Al-Masilah had the highest production 27.561 million barrels at 28%. East Shabwah Sector ranked second by 18.633 million at 18%; Marib / AlContinued on ( 8 )
Qat – The root of a potential Yemeni economic depression is found in a leaf chewed for its happiness. See our report on the World Bank led initiative, Integrated Qat Reduction Agenda, by Jihan Anwar. Photo by WB. Continued on ( 6 )
US dollar continues to drop, recording YR 215 SANA’A, Aug.27 - The national currency continued to improve against foreign currencies, primarily the US dollar, which continued to drop recording YR 215 to the dollar, the State-run 26sep.net reported on Friday. This came after the strict economic measures taken by the government during the last few days, following a fall in the value of Yemeni riyal (YR) to a record level. There was a buzz of great satisfaction in the Yemeni streets
2 Killed, 3 Injured from Republican Guard in Lahej A Republican Guard were attacked yesterday (Friday 27th August) while patrolling in the area of Al-‘Ar, which lies in the Yafi’a district, Lahej governorate, the Mar’ib Press reported. The area borders the governorate of Al-Baydha’. The patrol was ambushed by an armed group in the area, and (the patrol) suffered losses of two dead and three injured. An eye witness confirmed that ambulances arrived to escort the casualties to hospitals in Al-Baydha. Further details remain unknown.
when it was announced that, after beginning this month at YR 260, the strength of the riyal had risen to YR 215, and the other foreign currencies also continued to fall against the riyal, including the UK Pound, Euro, Saudi Riyal and other currencies. President Ali Abdullah Saleh, chairing the weekly meeting of the Council of Ministers on Continued on ( 3 )
Abyan: 2 Foreigners Kidnapped by Al-Bakazim Tribe Yemeni armed tribesmen kidnapped two foreign workers on Friday in the southern troubled province of Abyan to press for the release of one of their fellows detained on charges of having ties with al-Qaida, Xinhua News Agency reported. The kidnapped pair, a Turk and a Syrian, who worked with a foreign investment company, were abducted late on Friday by the powerful Al-Bakazim tribe in Ahwar district of Abyan, the official told Xinhua, under condition of anonymity. “The abducted foreigners were taken by the kidnappers to a nearby region in al-Mahfad district in Abyan,” the official said. “A tribal and security mediation has been launched to seek the release of the abducted,” he added. Abyan province is thought to be a stronghold of al-Qaida in the Ara-
Saa’da: Deputy Director of the Political Security Kidnapped
Sources in Saa’da city confirmed that Colonel Ali Al Husam, the Deputy Director of Political Security in the Governorate, was kidnapped on Thursday night from the front of his house in the Officers’ Neighborhood. No organization has yet claimed responsibility for the kidnapping. Sources say that the kidnappers might have taken him to Wa’elah Saa’da: Deputy Director Continued on ( 3 )
Ramadan Traffic Accidents: 117 Dead, 696 Injured Adnan Al-Madh 117 were killed and 696 others injured from 526 different traffic accidents in the first half of Ramadan alone (1st – 15th). According to Ministry of Interior traffic reports the accidents were broken down as follows:
bian Peninsula after it has witnessed a series of deadly attacks allegedly carried out by the regional terrorist wing since earlier this year, leaving dozens of security personnel dead or injured. Whilst the recently assaulted town of Lewdar, Abyan (the focus of last week’s counter terrorist operations) lies at the other end of the governorate from the Al-Ahwar and Al-Mahfad areas, the tribe purportedly concerned in the kidnapping, Al-Bakazim, were specifically mentioned in an AQAP statement which was issued following the US supported airstrikes of December 17th 2009, which were reported in the New York Times. The AQAP statement offered condolences to the families of fifty Muslims who died in the attack, the greatest number of casualties coming from the Al-Bakazim tribe.
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The Inconsistencies of Exchange Rates
Fakhri al-Arashi Publisher & Chief Editor
People seem predictably happy with the sudden drop of the US Dollar against the Yemeni Riyal. But this is in spite of the general apathy towards currency exchange rate beforehand. This is just one oddity and inconsistency surrounding the debacle of the strength of the riyal. There are others. By the first week of Ramadan the US dollar climbed to over 250 Riyals and now, seemingly by chance, it has dropped to 215. When all this happened officials from the Central Bank stated that this economic windfall was singlehandedly due to their financial strategies. They claimed that their economic legislation is powerful enough for them to be able to control the market. Economic experts, however, say that sudden changes in investor confidence, money laundering and the black markets are behind the currency fluctuations. President Saleh in his speech two weeks ago about the economy, ordered the government to rescue the ailing Riyal. By that time he stated he would be satisfied with an exchange of YR 239 to the USD. The question arises here of who, exactly, is responsible for the growing strength of the Ye-
meni riyal? One might say that the exchange rate is simply resuming its natural equilibrium, and so the strength of the riyal is nothing important – a mere blip in the currency exchange tracker graphs. However, the dollar is now of even lower value, compared to the riyal, than it was three months prior. My prognosis is that there are three different major factors that explain the story of the dollar, two of which are covered well in this issue of NY. The first are the indicators of a nascent, but growing, stability, in Yemen’s security picture; both the Doha peace agreement between the government and Houthi rebels, and the sound prosecution of AQAP elements in Abyan, are evidence of a notable improvement in the country’s stability. The second, partially related to the first, is the approval of the Gulf 20 to take place in Aden later this year. The third, and last part, is the increased commerce and personal expenditure we usually witness in the holy month of Ramadan, where people stock up on foodstuffs, and gifts, and clothes, and are generally purchasing in Yemeni riyals, and not foreign currencies. Whilst I am undeniably and unashamedly grateful for this national economic windfall, one niggling thought remains; Yemen, its people more than the country, depend on foreign aid and development projects, to help those Yemeni communities worst hit by events. This new exchange rate trend will serve to reduce and blunt the impact of relief and aid projects in Yemen, as those projects are largely funded in USD. So will this new exchange rate be as much a blessing as it is a curse?
Continued from ( 1 ) Yemen officials: rebel peace deal resolved in Qatar ers remaining in government custody. “Our other demands include the development and reconstruction of the marginalised provinces of north Yemen, where services, water, roads and schools are lacking, as are the respect of our political and religious rights,” he added. The rebels draw their support from among followers of the Zaidi strand of Shiite Islam, who are in the minority in mainly Sunni Yemen but form the majority community in the north. There have been six rounds of fighting between the rebels and government troops since the uprising first erupted in 2004. The conflict has killed thousands of people and left hundreds of thousands homeless and displaced. The last round of fighting began with a government offensive in last August and saw border clashes between the rebels and Saudi troops. It ended with a six-point peace plan in February, including a ceasefire that has largely held Qatar helped broker the first peace agreement between the rebels and the government in June 2007.
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US dollar continues to drop, recording YR 215 August 3, directed the government to focus its efforts to stabilize the price of the national currency, as well as prices of basic foodstuffs. In the same regard, a senior official at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said that the gains have been achieved by the Yemeni currency recently are incipient signs that the strict economic reforms began to bear fruit in Yemen. Head of the IMF’s mission to Yemen, Hassan al-Atrash, told Reuters that the Yemeni government did not intervene in the market last month to support the currency, which indicates that the situation is stabilizing. “I think that the currency exceeded the acceptable levels in the recent decline and so the recent rise will be welcomed”, al-Atrash added. He pointed out that the economic measures taken by the government eventually have contributed to the exchange rate stability and the protection of foreign exchange reserves, affirming that adequate reserves are available to the Yemeni government for about five months.
Fakhri Hassan Al-Arashi Publisher & Chief Editor
Sunday, Aug 29, 2010 Issue 13 www.nationalyemen.com
Yemeni Teachers Protest for Promised Ramadan Bonus
Thousand Facebook Users Send Unified Message to President
The Yemeni Teachers Syndicate (YTS) calls on the rest of the unions to support it for the Ramadan Bonus and the Law of Wages
Mosa Al Nimrani
The YTS called the rest of unions to support it in claiming their due Ramadan bonus. The Law of Wages and Salaries includes a Ramadan bonus to all state employees, which the Government has already committed itself to fully implement it, but has only achieved 20% of it. In a letter to the professional unions of doctors, pharmacists, lawyers, engineers and journalists, as well as civil society organizations, the YTS called for support in its planned ‘sitin’ protest for its legitimate claims, which will be carried
out in the next few days should the government failed to honor the Law of Wages. According to an official source at the YTS, the Supreme Administrative Board will hold an emergency meeting on Friday to assess the results of the sitin, which was carried out last Tuesday in cooperation with the General Union for Teaching Education Professionals GUTEP, and accordingly assess decisions on whether to escalate the protest for Ramadan bonus. The source added that the YTS will be prepared to escalate the legal claims to the highest levels possible should it see fit, pointing out that next week will witness various protest events for similar claims.
Protests for Detained Activists Forcibly Broken by Security A solidarity protest for journalist Haidar and painter Sharaf is harassed and forcibly dispersed by uniformed and non-uniformed security personnel. Police attempts to confiscate the Al-Hurrah Channel camera was physically blocked by female protesters. Police chief apologizes privately. It has been more than ten days since the journalist Abdul Elah Haidar and the painter Kamal Sharaf were arrested and put at the National Security Agency. Dozens of journalists, professors, lawyers, and human rights activists in Yemen protested last Thursday evening in support for Haidar and Sharaf’s right to freedom. The protestors criticized the fact that the country had been transformed into a fearful mess of abductors and abductees. The HOOD organization, the Committee of Protection of Freedom of Opinion and Expression, and Sajeen Organization had called for a solidarity sit-in and Iftar session in front of the Office of the Attorney General. They expressed their rejection of the policy of intimidation and confiscation of legal rights, which are the safeguards of the citizens lives in the country. In addition, they expressed their support against the harsh conditions experienced by the detainees Abdul Elah Haidar and Kamal Sharaf who were denied the right to communicate with the outside world, the right to know the charge against them and the right to choose a lawyer. The protesters demanded that the Yemeni authorities immediately release the journalists and put them under the protection of the law. Hood has called on the Attorney General to investigate with the directors of the Political Security Organization (PSO) Major General Ghalib Al-Qamish and the National Security, Major General Ali Muhammad Ansi, regarding the crimes of unlawful detention and enforced disappearances committed in the agencies they are running. In the protest, lawyer AbdulRahman Barman, an activist in the HOOD organization, said, “Security Services have become the main engine for the judicial authorities and not vice versa. Activist Balqis Al-Lahabi called both the chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council and the Attor-
Mohammed Al-Asaadi Editorial Consultant
Mansoor Al-Rdaei News Editor
ney General to resign from their posts as long as they were unable to make their security agencies follow the judiciary and not vice versa.” Professor of Criminal Law at Sana’a University, Dr. Hassan Mujalli, stressed the need to reinforce the Constitution and law after the authorities having suspended them until further notice. He pointed to the rights contained in Article 48 of the Constitution, which seems to warrant no attention from the State. The head of the Department of Political Science at Sana’a University, Dr. Mohamed Al-Dhahiri, talked about the crisis of the absence of the state, in its truest sense, stressing that the practices of the ruling authority in Yemen turned it from a safe state into a police state. The human rights activist Balqis Al-Lahabi called for boycotting all events and media coverage organized by the civil institutions of the military or arms dealers. She mentioned by name the Forum of Advancement and Progress, the National Awareness Foundation, Al-Saleh Foundation, and the recently created institution called National Peace Conference adopted by the well-known arms dealer Fares Manna’, in addition to the National Solidarity Council. “These institutions belong to people who are not civilians,” she said. Meanwhile, a police patrol, along with elements dressed as civilians prevented the photographer of AlHurrah Channel from photographing and attempted to take his camera. The resultant chaos, which happened after he refused to hand over his camera, did not end with any legal prosecution from either party. The female protestors present succeeded in dealing with the police and prevented the confiscation of the camera. The patrol police escorted Mr. Marwan Dammaj, Secretary-General of the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate, with them to a police station and released him a few minutes later, after an apology by the officer in charge. Journalist Ahmed Al-Zorqah was threatened by police elements dressed in civilian clothes, and other military outfits tried to assault him. They also hurled verbal abuse at him and the protestors.
Fuad Al-Qadhi Business Editor
of the Political Security Kidnapped
Tribe region, north-west of the province. Al Qaeda may be involved in this operation, they added. Saa’da witnessed a botched kidnapping attempt last year, in which foreign medical staff were targeted, including the children of the families with them. Likewise, no group publicly claimed responsibility for the kidnapping. Whilst the children were released earlier this year, the fate of some of the others remains unknown.
operatives will either desert the AQ organization, or go back to their families in Yemen, if they can, and try to avoid the police. The foreign elements of al Qaeda are always more visible, and vulnerable. The total number of deaths in the battle for Lewdar has reached 33 so far (including eleven security forces personnel, and three civilians). Large quantities of weapons were captured, along with documents and other equipment. The police urged people to flee Lewdar before the raids began, and many al Qaeda were able to get out by pretending to be fleeing displaced persons. The government believes that it has done a lot of damage to
Khaled Al-Sofi SeniorTranslator
Najeeb Abdulwahed Technical Director
Wardah Al-shawesh Graphic Designer
Will Carter Copy Editor
I request of you the following: 1) the immediate release of Abdul Elah Haidar and Kamal Sharaf; 2) Ensuring their legal rights, whether their immediate release, or referring them to trial, bearing in mind the 39 UN protocols on the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment adopted by United Nations Resolution 43/173 of December 9, 1988.
On the 31st August 2010 the Malaysian community will commemorate its independence from British colonial rule. Hari Merdeka (Independence Day) first celebrated this event in 1957, and this year will be their 53rd national day.
al Qaeda. The terrorist organization has lost hundreds of members to combat deaths, arrests and desertions. Yemen believes this has crippled local Islamist terrorist operations. The U.S. and Yemen disagree on this point, with America pointing out that key al Qaeda figures, like radical cleric Anwar al Awlaki, are still at large and operating in Yemen, but via the Internet. But their Yemeni counterparts are focusing on dismantling the organisation’s presence through killing or capturing excessive numbers of pro-al Qaeda militia that threaten the government and control distant towns and rural areas.
Najla’a Al-Shaibani Social Editor
The Facts As They Are Abdul-Karim Mufadhal Sports Editor
that prisoners must be referred to public prosecution within 24 hours from their arrest. I believe that the detention of Abdul Elah Haidar and Kamal Sharaf was because they were practicing their legitimate right to freedom of expression. I think that the continuation of their imprisonment means a continued regression of public freedoms and freedom of opinion and expression in Yemen. The continuation of their imprisonment in isolation from the outside world is contrary to our law and international human rights, which stipulates the right of any prisoner to visits, a fair trial and preservation of personal dignity. You may well know that the circumstances of enforced disappearance may involve torture. Enforced disappearances are a crime punishable under the international law.
Continued from ( 1 ) Al Qaeda Under Heavy Attack in Lewdar, Abayn
Dr. Ahmed Al-Qoyadhi Education Editor
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Only a few days since the campaign for the release of the two journalists Kamal Sharaf and Abdul Elah Haidar (on Facebook), more than a thousand members joined. The members use the slogan ‘Together, for the release of journalists Kamal Sharaf andAbdul Elah Haidar’. The site creators have specifically targeted access a thousand members, while the numbers almost immediately exceeded that figure. Kamal Sharaf and Abdul Elah Haidar, who were subject to extra-judicial detainment, are being held within the prison confines of the National Security Agency in Sana’a, without legal representation. Their constitutional and legal rights have been violated, protesters say. The members’ message states, “Your Excellency Ali Abdullah, President of the Yemeni Republic, I would like to express my deep concern for the health and safety and lives of the Yemeni Journalists Abdul Elah Haidar Sha’ye and Kamal Sharaf who were detained by elements claiming to be from the National Security Agency on Monday evening 8th August 2010. They have, up to now, been missing and beyond communication, which is contrary to the law of your country that states that no one may be detained more than twentyfour hours in this fashion, and
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Sunday, Aug 29, 2010 Issue 13 www.nationalyemen.com
SOCIAL
National Yemen
Where are those whose souls are thirsty? Many believers who hold pure faith to Allah strive to know the health benefits of fasting for humans as they believe that this divine command is the reason for fasting. These interpretations should not lead us away from exploring the views behind them, however well-intentioned. Narrow-mindedly some want us to view that those religious truths are there merely for worldly advantages for human beings, while there are great meanings attached to these religious truths as they govern man’s relationship with his Creator and his relationship with society. Moreover, these profound explanations are rooted in the depths of the believers’ souls, psychologically and spiritually. They broaden the believer’s vision to ascend to a religious purpose that refuses to be limited to the logic of utilitarianism. This logic obscures the divine purpose that Allah (our Lord) wants for believers in order to cleanse their souls completely. No one can deny the benefits of religious obligations that are greater than physical, or even the limited and temporary spiritual ones, which might justify egotism and selfishness. They obliterate all the meanings of devotion and love in the divine religions. We cannot imagine what the obligation of prayer would mean if Allah limited it
to only its physical benefits, as if it were a sport for the body performed five times a day. What would this logic say about the obligation of martyrdom for the homeland, nation and religion? Allah said in the Holy Koran, “Warfare is ordained for you, though it is hateful unto you; but it may happen that ye hate a thing which is good for you, and it may happen that ye love a thing which is bad for you. Allah knoweth, ye know not.” The spiritual advantages desired by the believer from performing his religion duties is the feeling that he had fulfilled the meaning of a humanity that Allah created, embodying divine love by loving His creatures and sacrificing himself for them. Allah said, “Lo, those who believe, and those who emigrate (to escape the persecution) and strive in the way of Allah, these have hope of Allah’s mercy. Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.” In this vast concept of religious obligation you can search for the great meanings of the obligation of fasting. Fasting has special characteristics, unlike the other acts of worship; it has great merit and reward. It is the only act of worship that is performed by abstaining. Other acts are typically performed through positive action. It is through this fundamental difference we recognize the merit of
fasting; a secret is placed in the performance, between a person and his Lord. The truth whether a person is fasting shows only to the Lord. Therefore, it is only performed by those who have great faith that there is only one God, the Creator, and that His orders and prohibitions must be obeyed in love of satisfying Him and asking for His reward. The other acts of worship can be performed out of hypocrisy, fear or submission, even if a person does not believe in the existence of God and His Oneness. So, when you are fasting, you abstain from human desires. If a person must abstain from eating, drinking and sex during the day, it will be publicly, in front of people, but in secret they would not force themselves to fast. Only those who believe in fasting for God would fulfill this obligation. Otherwise what else, except pure faith of Allah, would compel them to undertake the suffering of abstaining, away from people’s eyes, from satisfying their human desires? It is this pure faith that makes a person undertake the hardship of fasting and weakening of the body by not responding to the seemingly necessary human urges. Therefore, Allah singled out fasting by adding it to Himself, unlike the other acts of worship. Our Prophet (Blessings and Prayers be Upon Him) said that
Allah the Almighty said, “All the works of a human being are for him, except fasting; for it to Me and I shall reward for it,” As fasting is tough on souls, when Allah prescribed it for the believers by saying, “O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you,” He followed this verse by “even as it was prescribed for those before you, that ye may ward off evil”, telling them that this obligation was not limited to them; it had included former nations and peoples as well, and so they should not be impatient with fasting or feel prejudiced by having it prescribed on them. Here Allah instructs those who believe in Him to ward off evil if they want to be rewarded on the Last Day. The second verse is meant to alleviate the hardship of this obligation for the believers. The work of warding off evil would not consume all their time or most of it; it is just “certain days” as in the verse. When the believers read this verse, it becomes easier for them to fast. Their hardship would not last forever. Allah the Almighty continues to lighten the hardship of this obligation for the believers saying, “and (for) him who is sick among you, or on a journey, (the same) number of other days; and for those who can afford it there is a ransom: the feeding of a man in need. But who so doeth
good of his own accord, it is better for him; and that ye fast is better for you if ye did but know.” This verse shows that Allah has taken into account those who can’t fast due to an illness or on a journey. He made it lawful for them to break their fast and fast other days when they recover from their illness or settle down from their travel. Those who can’t fast due to old age or permanent disease can pay an amount, something which is tantamount to feeding a needy person. Both these clear and softly stated verses build on the fact that fasting is good for the believers without too much hardship and that God lightens and facilitates it. As it is hard to fast, the verses prepare the believers before it is prescribed for them. The next verse in the Quran says, “And whosoever of you is present, let him fast the month.” When the believers get used to fasting, they become content and completely satisfied to fast again when Ramadan arrives. The hardship connected with fasting and the secret relationship it establishes between the believer and his God made this religious obligation rewarded enormously by Allah. Many Hadiths (Prophet Sayings) place a great importance to the merit of fasting. It was related by Caliph Ali (May Allah please him) saying that the prophet said, “A
that there are gangs actively dealing in human organs, gangs involved in child trafficking to neighboring countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, and gangs dealing in prostitution and exploitation of girls, namely minors (an average age of 14), for forced sex. Al-Ja’li said that children are mostly trafficked to Saudi Arabia by criminal gangs that also smuggle Qat, drugs and weapons. “The gangs use poverty, unemployment, deteriorating economic conditions, wars, political conflicts, and lawlessness.” These conditions are a hotbed for gangs, facilitating their operation in the country. The Yemeni researcher pointed that girls are exploited for commercial sex in hotels and casinos in Sana’a, Aden and Taiz. He said that at least one hotel was closed down in Sana’a for prostitution. He also stressed that in Aden there are hotels and places where girls are exploited sexually, and all of those acts happen with the knowledge of the security and government bodies under the slogan “Tourism Promotion.” He pointed out
that some girls are being abducted and trafficked to provinces other than theirs and are often forced into immoral acts. Al-Ja’li said “a 12-year-old girl was abducted in front of her school in Hodeida, west Yemen. She has been absent for four months and nobody knows anything about her. Although her poor family reported her abduction, the security forces did not disclose any information about her fate, he said. Influence and Cover-up Al-Ja’li said that some security authorities have contacted him and expressed willingness to coordinate and work with him in the fight against human trafficking and the sex trade crimes. He believes that the government agencies’ initiatives are positive, pointing out that the foundation has plans and programs to contribute to combating this social and legal problem. He attributed the involvement of external elements in human trafficking gangs to a lack of laws against human trafficking in Yemen. He also said that a security officer provided him with names of domestic
Mohamed Abdel-Salam Mansour
fasting person gets happy twice; once when he breaks his fast (at nightfall) and once more when he meets his God; and on the Day of Judgment Allah calls: Where are those whose souls are thirsty? By My Might and Greatness today I will quench their thirst.” It is stated in the Hadith that the gates of heaven open at the first night of Ramadan and never close until the last night of it. This tells us of the merit of Ramadan. It is a sign of Allah’s acceptance of our deeds during this month and that He answered our prayers. It is a sign to do more good deeds and acts of worship. We have to return to Allah, repent our sins, pray, recite the Holy Quran and listen to religious lectures during this month in which the Quran was revealed upon our Prophet Mohammed (Blessings and Prayers be Upon Him).
Human Trafficking in Yemen on the Rise Abdu Ayesh A Yemeni researcher said that the crimes of human trafficking have been rising. He claims that there are criminal gangs with
bated problem in Yemeni society, and not simply a limited phenomenon. He elaborated saying that human trafficking
poverty), and then abandon them after they tire of them to an unknown fate. The problem also turns up in
foreign links outside, who are involved in the sex trade, in the illicit sale of human organs, child trafficking, and the immoral exploitation of victims. According to chairman of the National Foundation to Combat Human Trafficking (NFCH), Ali Nasser Al-Ja’li, the crimes of human trafficking have become an increasingly exacer-
was multiply manifest in child smuggling, sexual exploitation, and “tourist marriage” – a name given to the phenomenon of men in their senior years, often from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states, visit Yemen solely to marry girls (paying an impressive dowry that the poor families of beautiful Yemeni girls find difficult to refuse given the
the trade of selling human organs and kidnapping young girls. In an interview with AlJazeera Net, Al-Ja’li said that the security forces revealed that 500 cases of human trafficking in Yemen were recorded during the last period, and 150 detainees of the human trafficking gangs included Syrians, Egyptians and Jordanians. He said
personalities having links with these gangs. It seems that these characters hold considerable influence and are protected from some quarters within the state itself, he said. He added that one of the largest manifestations of human trafficking in Yemen is that influence and power are exercised in largely by private sector firms. The economic, social, political and military powers are used to force workers to labor for lower wages that do not provide them with the simplest requirements of life. The Yemeni researcher demanded issuing the state law against human trafficking and establishing or assigning prosecutors and courts for these crimes. He demanded to criminalize and punish traffickers with maximum penalties, and the security and government bodies to implement measures of control and protection against these crimes. Al-Jazeera Net
Amnesty International: Yemen Abandons Respect for Human Rights, Buckles to U.S. Pressure to Counter Terrorism Under pressure from the United States and others to confront threats from al-Qaeda, along with Zaidi Shi’a rebels in the North and growing demands for secession in the South, the Yemeni government is using national security as a pretext to stifle criticism and reject human rights in a campaign of unlawful killings, torture, arbitrary arrests and unfair trials, Amnesty International charged in a new report today. The human rights organization said the downward spiral in respect for human rights docu-
mented in the report, “Yemen: Cracking Down Under Pressure”, includes unlawful killings of those accused of links to al-Qaeda and Southern Movement activists, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, torture and unfair trials. Aliya Ibrahim al-Wazir described how she and six other female relatives of detainees organized a sit-down protest near al-Saleh Mosque in Sana’a in September 2009. “I was beaten by police women. I held a photo of my husband and they tried to take the photo from me. When I
refused they hit me in the face and on my mouth, blood came out of my mouth.”
accountable security agencies that report directly to Yemen’s President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
Yemenis accused of supporting the Houthis, the armed Zaidi Shi’a rebels in the northern Sa’dah region, or the Southern Movement, have also been targeted for arbitrary detention, unfair trials in special courts and beatings. Journalists, dissenters, human rights defenders, and critics of the government are subject to the same abuses. Some have been subjected to enforced disappearance for weeks or months by largely un-
“An extremely worrying trend has developed where the Yemeni authorities, under pressure from the United States and others to fight al-Qa’ida, and Saudi Arabia to deal with the Huthis, have been citing national security as a pretext to deal with opposition and stifle all criticism,” said Malcolm Smart, Amnesty International’s director for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Program. “All measures taken in the name of coun-
tering terrorism or other security challenges in Yemen must have at its heart the protection of human rights.” The security forces have killed at least 113 people since 2009 in operations the government says target “terrorists.” Attacks have become more frequent since December 2009 with security forces in some cases making no attempt to detain suspects before killing them.
Malcolm Smart
National Yemen
photo SA
Sunday, Aug 29, 2010 Issue 13 www.nationalyemen.com
All Aboard! Yemenis on the World Youth Ship The “Ship for the World Youth” (SWY) is an international program that aims to broaden the international perspective of the Japanese youth, promoting mutual transcultural understanding and friendship. Yemen has participated for four years in this project and has given as much as it has received in this enriching intercultural program. Yemen participated in the very first year of launch, 1996, and then again to participate in the international program of SWY in its 19th year in 2007, followed by Yemen third participation in year 2009 in SWY21. A group of Yemeni youths were also on board the vessel earlier this year in 2010, and welcomed the unique opportunity to visit different countries, whilst both studying and discussing common issues from a global perspective and participate in other various activities that involve multi-cultural and multi-national exchange. The courses also included a series of United Nations style discussion, where the participants discuss a global issue by international aspects. In 2009, a Yemeni participant’s research recommendations were delivered to the General Secretariat of the United Nations, Mr Ban Ki-Moon.
The courses vary each year to discuss essential cases that arouse mutual concerns among the international society as a base for the on-Board activities. The youth participating in the program discuss issues like: Education, Cross-cultural Understanding, Sustainable Global Community, information and media, Youth development and United Nations. The Yemeni participants, whose number reached over 40 participants, have decided to establish an alumni association as other participated countries in this program. The alumni members subsequently met with H.E. Mitsunori Namba, The Ambassador of Japan on May 26th. The meeting with the Ambassador aimed to enhance the role of the participant youth in the program of SWY in advocating for their experience in Japan.
A group photo for the participant youth in 2007
SWY is a program under the auspices of the Cabinet Office, Government of Japan, and the program involves youths from Japan and various countries around the world. After boarding the Ship for World Youth, they live aboard and taste abroad – an opportunity unique and relished universally by Yemeni youths.
DEPARTING YOKOHAMA PIER 187
The World Food Program Office in Yokohama-Japan, where parti
Crossing the equator in the middle of the sea
A Yemeni delegate member Showing Pride of the Yemeni Flag
Yemeni expatriate and ex-participant in the program, visit Y
A Tempura restaurant in the middle of Tokyo, where the Yemen
Captain M. Shirakawa, the Captain of Nippon Maru and a Yemen
In the reception party organized and attended by the Ministe
Walking proud of their traditional costumes
Conclusion of the United Nation Security Council Simulation
An Arabic event where the Arab Participants shared their tra
Within the schedule, the participants are allowed to visit m
On the board of the ship, the participants studied cases and
Preparation and studying what the Yemeni delegates are going
Orientation session where the Japanese Administration explai
Venezuelan participant trying the Shawl and admired the Yeme
At the United Nations Youth Association of New Zealand
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National Yemen
REPORT
Sunday, Aug 29, 2010 Issue 13 www.nationalyemen.com
World Bank Devizes Qat Combat Strategy Jihan anwar
A rational and sustainable use of water, a highly productive and competitive Yemeni labor force, a stronger and healthier population emerging starting from the children, a skilled and talented youth unleashing their potential - what may currently appear as a fantasy is what the Integrated Qat Reduction Agenda (IQRA) plans to achieve by a gradual implementation strategy. Josephine Masanque, Julie G. Viloria and Samra Shaibani are part of the World Bank team in charge of the initiative that supports the Yemeni government in a sustainable agenda for reducing qat demand and consumption. It is being financed by a Japanese government trust fund, amounting to the tune of $ 2.7 million. Over 10% of the National GDP has its source from qat revenues, and 35% of the agricultural workers alone are exclusively absorbed by the qat industry. Since Yemeni qat is considered of greater quality, its exportation and home trading holds profitable job posts in its transportation and handling processes. Being a stimulant, the green leaves of this plant are said to increase one’s communicative skill and keep the mind alert. The first effects of the drug can be experienced after 15 minutes but the peak of euphoria is usu-
mance of an employee, poor concentration in a student and reduced attention whilst driving. In the last 30 years qat chewing became a symbolic and ritualised social gathering not only among the elite or high income classes, but also for middle and very low income populations – an ulterior reasons often causing and maintaining poverty among within the latter.
Josephine Masanque
Julie G. Viloria ally reached in the third hour of chewing. Some parents admitted to purposely provide qat to their son to prevent them to go out and engage in socially undesirable behavior. In fact, an average qat chewer spends from 4 to 6 hours in this unproductive habit, and this period may be prolonged in case of unemployed or youth. Furthermore due to the insomnia inducing property of the leaves, it prevents one from receiving a proper night’s sleep and negatively affects the following morning hours perfor-
As a Qat Consumption Survey conducted by the World Bank revealed, generally people acknowledge several side effects of the habit: 53% and 61% of men and women, respectively, suggested that qat consumption should be regulated legislatively. The survey also highlighted the recognition of 48% males and 68% females of the financial insecurity conducible to regular chewing. Yemen has also one of the lowest saving rates which many economists relate directly to qat addiction, especially in low-income households.
‘ “Qat is a national tragedy and everyone admits that now. No attempt has been really made to address the issue because up to 3-5 years ago talking about qat was considered taboo,” elucidates, frankly and casually, Dr. Julie Viloria, Task Team leader in Yemen on the Qat Dialogue Program. “Due to the sensitivity of the issue and the opposition of those who profit from qat production, according to various stakeholders, only few of the taxations and laws drafted in the first National Qat Conference on 2002 were really enforced”, she explained.
The government, and other organizations which hold the country’s best interests, tacitly support and intend to implement qat regulation agreements as suggested in their request of the World Bank to supervise and lead the efforts. “The plan may take an entire generation to dilute the qat demand” Josephine Masanque, Portfolio Management Specialist, observed. Yet, the project’s focus on mothers, youth and children suggests a high chance of success, despite a sensibly slow approach. “As a friend of mine said, if you teach a mother, you teach a generation”, she emphasized. With this notion in mind, the Japanese Government offered financial support to a program titled ‘Strengthening The Powerless Groups through Family / Community Lead Programs’ the Trust Fund for a three year program, in awards to local authorities, communities and national NGOs, such as the Yemeni Women’s Union which has a wide-ranging social network and have been very active in the implementation of the Agenda through raising awareness toward qat consumption consequences partnership in the project. The aim of the IQRA is to encourage the participation of every demographic element of the nation, “It’s a question of planning, aiming towards a well complemented set of activities that will have a common goal,” Dr. Viloria stressed. The World Bank team recognizes that a comprehensive multi-sectored based approach is needed in order to achieve concrete results. “The closeness of civil society organizations to communities will influence, and is likely to change, people’s behaviour towards chewing Qat,” underlined
Samra Shaibani, Co- Task leader and World Bank Sr. Communi-
cation Officer. “Through raising their awareness and imparting information on Qat and how it affects the Yemeni family, such civic engagement becomes instrumental in changing how Yemeni citizens, collectively, will minimize the long term impact in future generations,” Ms. Shaibani pointed out. “We are also trying to convince the private sector in joining the cause by building playgrounds to offer alternative leisure opportunities to the youth by encouraging them to play sports and other competitive activities.” Masanque added that “the qat issue is to be introduced into school curricula and suggestions of letting religious leaders hold seminars throughout the
country to preach about it have been discussed”.
A follow up meeting of the 2002National Qat Conference is currently being considered to be held at the end of the calendar year, in response to a request from the Minister of Planning in concert with other organizations.
National Yemen
OP-ED
Sunday, Aug 29, 2010 Issue 13 www.nationalyemen.com
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The Turning of an Arms Dealer Fares Manna’ used to be merely a soft tenor in Saa’da’s tumultuous and funereal song. However, soon he fell out of sync, disrupting the song with his own heady overtone, a complex and beguiling tune
Mohammed Al-Ala’ee The Saa’da war embodies myriads of secrets, ambiguities and paradoxes. I am therefore inclined to look at this man of 40, and a dealer of intercontinental ballistic arms, as a microcosm of all those secrets, ambiguities and paradoxes involved in the Saa’da wars. Fares Manna’ assiduously exercised his illicit trade, almost completely out of sight from the media. His name was narrowly mentioned whenever there was talk about the arms trade and its sources. If anything could hurt him and provoke an aggressive reaction, it would be a newspaper discussing his commercial activities and his simple political alliances. He has a passion for moving in the shadows, like any sharpminded arms dealer. With the spread of the war, the spotlight was cast on influential figures in the whole of Saa’da. However, no one was able to talk about Fares Manna’ in isolation from being an arms dealer with dubious and mysterious commercial relations. Politically, Fares Manna’ is a leading figure in the GPC in Saa’da. During the rounds of the last war, his tribe fought fiercely and heroically in the ranks of the government forces, and hundreds of men from his tribe were killed. However, accusations were leveled against him and people started asking an obvious question “Who provides the Houthis with all their arms?” Rightly so, they pose this question eagerly and persistently. Personally, I have never understood why a phrase such as “merchants of war” is associated in my mind with the name of Fares Manna’ in particular, but it was. I knew that he is a great arms dealer, and I thought that war is an irreplaceable season for “lords” of arms like him. However, I am not confident in how fair and precise my view of the man was; ultimately, it is very blurred and based on a combination of illusions, rumors and side talks. This is as true of Fares Manna’ as it is of the Saa’da war. It had not occurred to anyone that someday Fares Manna’ would play the role of mediator in the dispute between the two sides, which were greedy consumers of the precious commodity brought by the eminent lord of arms and graduate of Commerce and Economics at the University of Sana’a in 1994. He took special courses in Business Administration in London. He is a relatively eloquent speaker in English. And after the Qatari attempts had failed and Abdul Qadr Hilal resigned, Fares Manna’ was appointed as Chairman of the Mediation Committee with the Houthis. Observers considered this procedure as one of the Saa’da war paradoxes and maneuvers that are difficult to ex-
plain. This decision has since become laughing stock, and even influential figures in government circles criticized it. Since then Fares Manna has been receiving unprecedented attention. Earlier this week he
‘ He was confused by a question about the paradox of being a popular arms dealer who simply turned into a peace activist.
objected to his being described as a “Mediator”; he said he was “a messenger of the President of the Republic, and nothing more”. By the sixth round of the war, Fares Manna’ was at the height of his political presence but in the form of a man of peace. His arms business activity remained confidential and a matter of controversy and suspicion. However, the sixth war had uncovered one of the most secret and dangerous commercial activities. All of a sudden in the midst of the war the authorities put Fares Manna’ in the National Security prison for reasons not disclosed officially. Most probably, it involved a weapon deal, which is said to be financed by Al-Gaddafi and Manna’ took responsibility of delivering the weapons to the Houthis. Last Sunday, in response to a question in this regard, Manna’ responded briefly, “This is not true; this is malicious gossip.” In the meantime, less important arms dealers like Mohammed Jaber Alrazihi and Daghsan Al-Sabri were arrested, not to mention the list published by the authorities at the time in AlThowra Newspaper, which included, beside Fares Manna’, Abdullah bin Mu’iali, Jarman Mohammed Jarman, Ahmed Awadh Abu Miskah, Hussein Ahmed Al-Huthaili, Abdullah Mubarak Al-Sagheer and Ali Dhaif-Allah Al-Sawadi. In mid-June, the authorities released Fares Manna’, the arms dealer who has become famous. Perhaps the moment he left pris-
on was the moment of his birth as a politician. Manna’ held a national peace conference in the first week of August. It was the first time he faced the press and lights and improvised responses to questions. He seemed self-confident, calm and very modern. He was wearing an expensive gray suit and a blue tie, I think, with short curly hair like a Sheikh who took off his “hat” to sit in front of the camera. The event took place at the Movenpick Hotel, where security screening is accurate and rigorous. His young escorts stood near the podium, unarmed and staring with amazement at the man. I wondered, “Where did he learn to negate, answer in so few words and sidestep sensitive questions, and smile in a friendly manner to the reporters?” He seemed to act naturally. He was angry with both the government and the Houthis alike. He was making his way in that vacuum separating the Houthis from the state. He was projecting a drastically different image of himself than had previously been drawn up in the minds of many. He was confused by a question about the paradox of being a popular arms dealer who simply turned into a peace activist. He said, “We are peace dealers; not war dealers.” On the way home, I was teasing my colleagues that Nobel invented dynamite and reaped huge profits from it, and when he saw the terrible consequences of using it in wars he wanted to atone for his mistake by allocating part of his fortune to annual prizes for peace and other scientific areas. Of course, it was just a joke, but I tend to believe that
‘ my view of the man was, ultimately, very blurred and based on a combination of illusions, rumors and side talks. This is as true of Fares Manna’ as it is of the Saa’da war.
Fares Manna’ Fares Manna’s move cannot be disapproved or strange. He is one of the most influential men in Saa’da, and it seems that now he stands at an equal distance from both sides of the conflict. Plus, he has a large fortune to qualify him to play and bankroll this role. The man is firmly defending his arms business activity. He did not mind admitting that he is one of the top three figures in the arms business in the region. He says to Illaaf, “Yes, we facilitate transactions between countries and companies that manufacture weapons. We took part in the facilitating and signing of many contracts between the manufacturing states and companies. There are always disagreements over prices, conditions, and other things, and we make agreements between them, this is our role , nothing more.” He said that he was the middleman in countless arms deals. “There are so many (arms deals), including deals between Yemen and Russia, Yemen and Ukraine, Yemen and Eastern European countries as well as transactions between many African States, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, the Czech Republic, and others; they are countless, especially between Africa and Yemen, and other countries,” he says. He refused to disclose information on transactions he made for Arab states. “This is a personal affair.” He stressed that he has offices in all the countries dealing with him. While denying being an agent for the “MiG” company,” he admitted he was a consultant to several companies. “I bring them deals, and I’ll carry on such works as per the international and domestic law and no one can take away any of my rights”, he said. The man has demonstrated that he is a “lord” of weapons of a high caliber. Thanks to the few months that he had spent behind bars, these interesting facts came out. In the leaflet, which was distributed in the press conference, we read how the idea of the conference comes in response to popular pressure from the local community in Saa’da. He pointed out that the past peace initiatives have failed because they ignored the local community and focused on the parties in conflict. Something like this came in my article two weeks ago, which was entitled “What Looks Like a Guide to Getting out of the Saa’da Quagmire .” I hope you do not mind me quoting some pertinent excerpts from it:
“Currently, no one can monopolize the right to represent Saa’da; neither the Houthis nor the Yemeni government. The first are lawless rebels and the legitimacy of their existence is based on fear, oppression and arms. An insecure environment is essential for them to con-
‘ While denying being an agent ... he admitted he was a consultant ... “I bring them deals, and I’ll carry on such works as per the international and domestic law and no one can take away any of my rights” tinue politically and economically. The second (the government) has not established the structures and institutions in the Saa’da area as they should have. It helped to create favorable conditions for the acceleration of the fall of the province into the hands of the Houthis. What I mean is that, there, in the region between the Houthis and the army, thousands of people who want to live safely away from the influence of political winning over, hate and grudge; people who were caught up in the cross fire without a choice.” “One of the factors that renewed the war is that the central government has given itself the right to negotiate and decide to ceasefire without listening to the local allies’ views, and the parties which kept silence and neutral. These are the people who are supposed to sit down with the Houthis at the dialogue table, not the central government. The required settlement should now be between the Houthis and the local community which is wounded and full of hate, fears and doubts. The basic idea
is this: comprehensive local reconciliation committees should be formed, taking the small details into account, and working on re-shaping issues, domestic disputes and killings to their original nature before the war. In other words, the political features should be taken away from the violent acts which were brought to them due to war winning-overs and alliances.” “Why not let Othman Mugally, Fayez Al-Aujar, Saghir Aziz, Hasan Manna’ and Mohamed Al-Imad who negotiate, instead of Al-Iryani and Ali Mohsen AlQaisi?” “Bilateral dialogues must be complex as the complexity of the scene, at the level of tribes, villages, neighborhoods and even families. This kind of broad and sustained effort will bring views together, establish rules for coexistence and the values of tolerance, pluralism and participation, taking into account the individual’s political choices, ideals and their own beliefs.” The previous four paragraphs constitute the essence of my approach. I’ll assume that Fares Manna’ had not seen it, which is almost certainly true. But what is important to me is that his efforts culminate with success. I’ll overlook Fares Manna’ as an arms dealer surrounded by suspicions and his passion for arms, and I’ll take that his recent attitude towards peace as well-intentioned. If we disregard the assumption that Muammar Al-Gaddafi had financed that deal in response to a parallel activity funded by Saudi Arabia through Hussein Al-Ahmar, then this is a good job that cannot be underestimated. At the press conference, Manna’ pointed out that he is trying to persuade senior figures to return to Saa’da and that he was forming a broad coalition including sheikhs, scholars and intellectuals of the affected province. He stressed that they were preparing a plan of action, mechanisms and connections.
Is it time for a new version of Fares Manna’ to see the light? Maybe. Who knows.
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Sunday, Aug 29, 2010 Issue 13 www.nationalyemen.com
BUSINESS
Aden, one of the best working environments for the private sector reports GTZ survey
National Yemen Strict Measures of Central Bank Bolsters Local Currency Exchange Rate
A survey of the Local Business Environment (LBE) in six governorates published by the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) ranked Aden at the top. The survey comes within a framework of developing the private sector and facilitating an amicable business environment in Yemen, determined to initiate economic reforms.
In the GTZ’s report Aden province scored highly in the indices of proactivity, service delivery, infrastructure, utilities, business services, labor, level of central policy implementation , and the determination of local initiatives for developing the private sector and working within regulatory frameworks. The province has also been able to maintain a high level of indices of: utilities provided by the local authority to meet the private sector activities in terms of the necessary infrastructure; business promotion services; skilled labor, and; labor regulations. The local authority also makes unremitting efforts to promote vocational training, skill development for local industries, and assists in the recruitment of local employment. Dhamar ranked second in terms of preference of LBE in Yemen. Interestingly the province had stronger indices than other provinces but ranked second due a number of sub-indices that had weakened its ranking at a general level. It was followed by Hodeidah. Sana’a ranked the lowest among six provinces covered by the survey: Aden, Sana’a, Taiz, Hodeidah, Dhamar and Hadramout Al-Mukalla. The survey samples of the index of business environment covered 1130 regular trade establishments of varying sizes in
urban areas of cities in order to compare local economic management with best practices that already exist. The survey results showed that about 56% of the establishments within the scope of the survey work in retail or wholesale and the utilities sector ranked second in terms of specialization and a rate of 33%, followed by the industrial sector by 10%. The survey results show that the majority of establishments are individual and less than 13% of them take the other classifications. The survey unsurprisingly revealed that men, more than women, in the establishments surveyed who are most likely to own and operate the businesses; it is almost a prevalent situation. The report showed that 64% of the samples that have been studied work hard to improve the national local economy. It also pointed out that the local authorities work hard to improve their local economies and that the business impressions in Aden, Dhamar and Hodeidah in the performance of private sector organizations and local authorities are better than in the rest of the provinces. The survey recommendations stressed that the provinces with high scores in the sub-indices to focus on improving the weaknesses and enhance strengths and that the provinces with
low performances should benefit from the experience of the provinces with high-performance through the adoption of policies, procedures and tools followed by these provinces, which have proven to be the reason of their high performance. It stressed the need for the provinces to focus on implementing possible practices for improving the local business opportunities in the short term, based on the survey results that showed that the registration and regulatory compliance, for example, are just a few opportunities for development. The results pointed out that the LBE index is an important tool
to carry out diagnostic activities focusing on managing local economies of some provinces and that the local authority has to focus on changes that have a noticeable impact on the results of the index. It is possible to use the index results to determine priorities of LBE development. They can be used as a basis to follow-up and assess the progress of future reform initiatives that should target bolstering and facilitating the work of the private sector locally and the leaders of local authorities must use the index results as a model to identify the strengths and improvement opportunities.
Explosive Growth of Electronic Banking Systems in Yemen The number of ATMs goes up to 365 machines and the electronic cards used to withdraw money now number more than 589,000. The ATM machines in Yemen increased to 365 at the end of last year 2009, an increase of 300 machines from 2008, and it is expected that the number will rise to 512 by the year’s end. A report issued by the Central Bank of Yemen (CBY) outlined that ATM operations conducted last year were estimated at about 7.6 million, exceeding the year before by 36%. Also, the total value of operations reached YR 83.8 billion in 2008 to YR 12.3 billion in 2009, and that the average value per transaction amounted to YR 14.736. The report added that the average value of checks that pass through clearing is more than YR 2 million.
nessed only an increase of 3% in 2009, compared to 2008, when they went up from 2086 to 2148 machines, the report said. The number of sales posts will increase to 2900 machines by the end of 2010, the report estimated. The number of transactions by the POS increased from 790.815 in 2008 to 846.032 in 2009, an increase of 7%, and the total value of operations increased from YR 17.1 billion in 2008 to YR 24.06 billion during the past year. The average value of transaction amounted to YR 31.252 per each transaction, noting that this amount is commensurate with retail transactions and household consumption.
The report said the ATMs are used for the purposes of retail and personal consumption other than the checks which are used for trade transactions and businessmen, companies and government operations. Thenumber of cards used to withdraw from the ATMs and POS rose last year from 414.448 to 589.858 cards, an increase of 42% from the previous year.
The report confirmed that all private sector banks and the Islamic and foreign banks and one of the public sector banks have sophisticated and modern accounting system (core banking). So, they are online with their branches, which made clients no longer bound by one specific branch, but now they can withdraw from their accounts and receive all banking services from any branch of the bank.
With regard to sale posts, the report indicated that they wit-
The recent instructions of HE President Ali Abdullah Saleh, President of the Republic, during the meeting of the Council of Ministers came to positively and efficiently meet the current requirements to facilitate and build upon the economic innovations happening within the country. He emphasized on strictly cutting back public spending on luxury and unnecessary goods in all of the state institutions. These included purchasing cars, building of unnecessary new buildings and publishing of courtesy advertisements in the media and all that costs the state treasury billions of riyals. The money must rather be redirected to economic development that serves the urgent and necessary needs of peoples’ lives and overcome the difficulties and hardships of the current economic situation. Such an approach represents a contemporary economic vision to dedicate the state’s resources for economic development, and reflects the political leadership’s strong vision of building and developing the country.
in cutting back public spending as well as the CBY’s financing documentary credits for basic food items, such as wheat, sugar and rice. The bank has forced the other commercial banks to open windows for selling foreign currency to cover the customers’ expenses, for example, in travelling for treatment. In addition, the bank has taken strict control measures on sales of hard currency in banks and exchange firms on a daily basis. The bank has issued a communiqué in which it stressed that it would take punitive measures and charge fines against a number of exchange firms and banks which violate the CBY’s instructions to restrict inconsistencies in the local currency exchange rate against foreign currency exchange rate. The bank indicated that these measures have stabilized the Yemeni Riyal (YR) against hard currencies and stopped the panic and suspicion that citizens had during the second half of July, as the exchange rate had stabilized at safe margins.
The president also emphasized on developing non-oil resources such as agriculture, fisheries, tourism, communications and other resources such as investments,for which integrated and realistic studies must be conducted. He highlighted the necessity to combat and uproot corruption wherever it exists. The president instructed the government to seriously deal with the developments in the financial indices for the first half of 2010.
The bank predicted that the national YR exchange rate will improve against the foreign currency in the coming period through the influx of Yemeni expatriates to visit their relatives on special occasions and holidays. It will also improve through the influx of foreign tourists to Yemen from foreign and Arab Gulf states in the summer. This will also help to improve the CBY’s foreign reserves. Statistics indicate that the volume of reserves, until mid-August current, has greatly improved. All these indicators, in addition to better availability of foreign currency, show improvement in foreign monetary conditions and reserves, which in turn will further stabilize the YR exchange rate against foreign currencies.
A recent report by the CBY pointed to the decline of the dollar exchange rate against the local currency, because of actions taken by the bank. It said that the market is full of hard currency due to the measures taken by the government Continued from ( 1 ) 2010 First Half Oil Report
The report said that some banks have local switches in addition to four banks linked to a Lebanese company. There are five banks that provide banking services by telephone, cell phone and the Internet. The report said the public sector banks have not yet entered the electronic banking era, except one bank that is
competing with private sector banks in this area. Another public sector bank started establishing ATMs in 2008 but they are few compared with the number of its branches. There are only four banks and one company in Yemen that provide the services of sales posts at the present.
Jawf Sector ranked third with 17.561 million by 17%; and Jannah Sector ranked fourth in the amount of production for up to 15.306 million barrels at 15% of the total production volume. The remaining quantity was divided among the rest of the oil production sectors: Hawareem, Sharq Saar, Shaq Al-Hajar, Ayad, Janoob Hawareem, Malek and Al-Aqalah. Ayad Sector ranked last with 34,400 at 0.4%. The report noted that the volume of what has been exported to the benefit of the State from all sectors reached 30.858 million barrels in which the AlMasilah Sector ranked first in terms of quantity and production rate, with the amount of crude oil exported for the benefit of the state reached 15.025
barrels by 49%. The report also included that the amount of crude oil sold to Aden Refinery reached 25.942 million barrels in 2009 at $1.57 billion while the quantities sold to the Marib Refinery reached 3.075 million barrels at the cost of $185.477 million. More than 30.858 million barrels from both refineries were exported abroad to the tune of $1.952 billion, while the total cost of oil sold internally and externally reached $3.708 billion. The State had supported the oil derivatives in 2009 withYR 397.25 billion; diesel received the most support by 251% that is, almost YR 250 billion. The rest of the support was divided among gasoline, kerosene and gas oil.
National Yemen
SPORT
Sunday, Aug 29, 2010 Issue 13 www.nationalyemen.com
9
Yemeni Olympic Committee Election Results Mr. Abdul Rahman Al-Akwa, Minister of State and Secretary of the capita, has won the elections of Olympic Committee with 47 votes, a visible majority. Mr. Al-Akwa was Chairman of the Committee before this overwhelming victory. The place of First Deputy went for Dr. Yahya Al Shu’aibi. Nadhmyah AbdulSalam, Chairperson of the General Association for Women Sport, was selected Second Deputy. The elections, whose
polling closed 3:30pm the day before yesterday, resulted in 24 members winning in the board of directors of the Committee. The winning constituency was declared with the presence of everyone in accordance with the
Gulf 20 Cup Guarded in National Bank of Yemen The Gulf 20 Cup was deposited in the main headquarters of the National Bank of Yemen (NBY) in Aden, for safekeeping until the tournament begins. The tournament will be held in Yemen from Nov. 22nd to Dec. 4th this year.
counting of votes, which came late, however, there was no objection.
procedure was a gracious gesture by Mr. Al Sharif indicating his value of sportsmanship.
The results were as follows: Al-Akwa said, “We are waiting the initiatives of the members of the committee to serve the Yemeni sport and we need AlFaqih’s (Minister of Tourism) experience.”
Nabil al-Faqih, Naseem Al Mulaiki, Hamid Al Matari and Adel Wadi left the former board of directors and four new members formed the only change in the committee: Sheikh Hashed Al Ahmar, Amin Al Muddah’ee, Mukhtar Hamid Saif and Lu’ay Sabri.
Sheikh Hussein Al Sharif was added to the constituencies’ lists as chairman of the General
Association for Fencing. Mohammed Al Wohaishi was also added as chairman of the Association of Gymnastics. These two were excluded due to the tensions between the two associations before they came. This
Al Khadhir Al Azzani, Chair-
man of the General Association of Basketball and Abdul-Salam Al Qamish, Chairman of the association of Archery were absent from the elections The committee of vote-counting
Yemeni Runner Elayah, World’s Sixth in Juniors’ Olympic Games The Yemeni runner, Walid Elayah, Asia champion in 1500 meters and 2000 meters steeplechase, made a new international achievement in Yemeni sports history, at the First International Olympic Games for Juniors held last week in Singapore. Elayah secured sixth place in the finals of the
Al Mahdi Honored in Ramadan Tournament for Tennis and Squash
The YFA had received the Gulf Cup in the ceremony of the tournament pool draw held in Aden last Sunday, from the Omani Football Association, the title holder of Gulf 19 that was held in Masqat early 2009.
Sports Marketing Communications Course Promises
The Gulf Cup is protected and guarded deep within the bank vaults because it is coated with pure platinum, sculpted in the Brittany Factory in Italy, and designed by the Iraqi artist Ahmed Al-Bahrani. It is worth mentioning that the idea of the masterpiece cup dates back to Sheikh Jasim bin Hamad Al Thani, and was first used in Gulf 17, in Qatar.
Events of the training course of integrated marketing communication were wrapped up last week in the conference hall of the Yemen Youth General Union club in Sana’a. The course was organized by the Assembly of Yemeni Supporters, with the participation of 25 young men and women. The Iraqi lecturer Dr. Nahedh al-Obeidi lectured the course. Mr. Ammar El Hadji, the head of the assembly, said that the
Fifty-four voters have cast ballots, while four voting cards were cancelled for their illegality or improper / unclear voting. Mr. Hammoud Oban, Minister of Youth & Sports, Dr. Ahmed
Al Shu’aibi, Minister of the Civil Service & Insurance and Mr. Nabil Al Faqih, Minister of Tourism attended the activities of the ballot.
Governor Honors Boxers of Aden Shamsan Club
2000 meter race steeplechase among the most prominent stars in this race. Elayah broke his own previous record by 5:45 minutes. He had entered a preparation camp in Malaysia for a month at with sponsorship of the Yemeni Olympic Committee.
The cup was submitted in a ceremony held last week in Aden between. Hameed Shaibani, the Secretary General of theYemen Football Association (YFA), and Abdul-Rahman Al-Kohali with the presence of Mohammed Haidan, Head of the YFA branch in Aden, Ahmed HuseinAl-Hasani,Secretary General, and Moqbel Al-Qawsi, Director of the branch of the Central Bank of Yemen (CBY) in Aden attended the ceremony.
Exclusive The branch of the Yemen Federation of Tennis and Squash (YFTS) in the capital secretariat Captain Nabil Al Mahdiin the opening game of Voux Ramadan for children, youth, adults and seniors. The tournament was hosted in the Federation’s
was formed with Mr. Ahmed Al Qa’tabi, chairman of the committee, Abdullah Bahyan, Ali Al Misbahi, Mohammad Al Aidaroos, Isam Al Sunaini, Noman Shaher, Ramzi Al Aghbari and Samirah Al Sanabani.
complex in Sana’a. Since the resignation of Captain Nabil Al Mahdi, Secretary General of the YFTS, the Federation’s activities had stopped. However, this event is the third of its kind, as he had been honored by the Federation’s branches in Taiz and Hadramout.
course is the first of the assembly’s activities, and is especially important as we are about to host the Gulf 20 football championship. Muammar Al-Aryani, the first undersecretary of the Ministry of Youth & Sports, Mr. Mohammed Al-Ahjori, Yemen Olympic Committee Secretary-General, and Mr. Mohammed Rashad al-Alimi, local Member of the Parliament, attended the closing ceremony.
Aden / Abu Shamel Dr. Adnan Al-Jafri, the Governor of Aden, promised to honor the delegation of Shamsan Club participating in the Al-Basel International Boxing Championship held in, Latakia, Syria. The
participants won two medals, silver and bronze, which qualified them to secure sixth place in the championship overall. Al-Jafri was very happy with the progress achieved and said it was “a pride for the people of
Aden governorate and Yemen.” He stressed that the participantswill be honored because they raised the flag of Yemen high in the sky of Syria.
Gulf 20 Fixtures Declared The Technical Committee of the Arab Football Gulf Cup held a meeting and approved the fixtures of the Gulf Cup 20 hosted by Yemen from Nov. 22nd to Dec. 5th in 2010 in the two cities of Aden and Abyan. A slight change in the duration of the tournament has been made. One day of the tournament is to be extended so that kicks off begin on Monday, Nov. 22nd. The final match will be on Sunday evening, December 5th. The national football team will play in the opening matches versus Saudi Arabia on Nov. 22nd. The team will play their
second match versus Qatar on Nov 25 and will play the Kuwait Team in the third match in the preliminary round on SunMon 22nd Nov Tue 23rd Nov Wed 24th Nov Thurs 25th Nov Fri 26th Nov Sat 27th Nov
day 28 Nov. The Full Fixtures are as follows: Yemen Kuwait Oman Iraq Break
Qatar Saudi Arabia Emirates Bahrain
Sun 28th Nov Mon 29th Nov
Saudi Arabia Qatar Bahrain UAE Yemen Kuwait Amman Iraq Break
Yemen Qatar
Kuwait Saudi Arabia
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Sunday, Aug 29, 2010 Issue 13 www.nationalyemen.com
TOURISM
National Yemen
Shabwa: a timeless preserve of lost cultural heritage Yemen is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. You will feel like you have travelled back into some pocket of a past age, where men and women still wear their traditional garb. The houses look like drawings and pictures you may have seen in mythical stories and fairy tales. Shabwa is another must see for people who are looking forward to explore the rich cultural heritage of Yemen. The great history of the governorate is a quite impressive and is a proof of how developed early Yemenite civilizations were. The Shabwa governorate is situated between the governates of Hadramout and Marib, and comprises many historical cities, sites and tourist attractions. The most beautiful of the cities of the Shabwa governate are: Ataq city Al Sa’eed Nasab Olaya City Al Naquob City Al Harjah City Dhe Nasr Village The variety of archaeological and historical sites in the Shabwa Governate of Yemen makes it one of the best Tourist destinations in Yemen. Ataq city is perhaps the most important city of Shabwa, and has an international airport, a museum and a host of excellent tourist attractions. The Dheiban palace is a
Shabwa generally consists of smaller cities, and its beauty is quite diffuse. Thus, when planning a trip to Shabwa, travellers should ample advice and proper information about the place so as not to miss anything tucked away. In particular, I recommend at least considering visits to: Khoura city, Wasit city, Hijar Amdthbiya, and Hajr Yahar. A wide array of accommodation is available in the bigger cities like Al Saeed and Ataq, and cater for a variety of budgets. Of course hotels are only one option. Shabwa is both a desert and coastal governorate, so you might like to consider camping. After all, caravanserais passed through Shabwa all the time; Bir Ali Bay was chosen by arabic merchants to establish the start of a caravan because it is the best natural harbour you can find from Oman to Yemen.
wonderful piece of architecture, built with clay coated Alnoura substance. The palace is pyramidal in shape and is centuries old. Travellers can also visit the capital city of Shabwa, Al Saeed. Located in the picturesque
Yashbam valley, this is one of the best cities in the governorate. The specialty of the city is its five –six storey clay buildings. Tours of Shabwa simply wouldn’t be complete without visiting this city. The grape vines surrounding the city lend a rustic charm to the place.
VACANCIES / OPPORTUNITIES
The National Yemen newspaper is looking to recruit young, dynamic candidates with a strong command of the English language to become journalists with the paper. Candidates must be prepared to visit locations in the field, under the direction of the National Yemen, to cover the latest stories, although suggestions for stories to be covered are welcomed. Both initiative and creativity are required, and our journalists are expected to develop their own ideas. Adequate training will be given in house, on key journalism skills, and refinement of your written skills, as well as elementary photography lessons. Nonetheless, good interpersonal skills are required, as candidates will be expected to interview people and foster a network of their own contacts, within their specialist fields. IT literacy is vital to the job: candidates must be able to word process and to use emails, and must be able to learn how to create and utilise databases. Positions are paid. Applicants must apply by email to info@nationalyemen. com, including their CV, contact details, and two samples of their writing (work must not be proof-read by someone else). Written samples should not exceed 400 words, and can be on any topic of the applicant’s choice, but must be written in a journalistic style. Successful applicants will be notified by email or by telephone and invited for assessment at the National Yemen office. Assessment will include a short sample of writing (200 words) of our choice, a practice interview (where the applicant interviews a member of staff), and a meeting with the selection panel (the editorial board).
The ancient city of Shabwa lies nearby, although has long since been abandoned. Over time villages were rebuilt over the ancient ruins, because of the importance of the adjacent salt mines. The salt mines are east of the city – lick the rocks just to
make sure you’ve got the right place. You can visit the ruins of some of these abandoned Muslim villages, near the ancient ruins. When I visited them, a sand storm enveloped us, further adding to the lost and timeless sense of the place.
Camping on the beach is a unique experience, and there are supporting facilities to help. Impressively, at night, you should try to see the sea turtles crawling ashore to dig their eggs in. Unfortunately I could only see some marks on the beach, but nonetheless a heartening sight. Camping in the desert, on the other hand, is a unique experience; the sound of the wind, the light of sunset, the solitude of the desert..
National Yemen
Sunday, Aug 29, 2010 Issue 13 www.nationalyemen.com
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Sunday, Aug 29 , 2010 Issue 13 www.nationalyemen.com
ADVERTISMENTS
National Yemen