National Yemen - Issue 20 by National Yemen Newspaper

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The Facts As They Are

Yemen, Britain and Al-Qaeda

Alarming Hunger Levels in Yemen, Report Says

Terrorism and Tourism

Sunday, Oct 31, 2010 Issue 20 Price: YER 30 www.nationalyemen.com

Football Season Begins: Premier League Match Reports

Navy Seizes Iranian Ship near Socotra By NY Staff Yemen’s Navy seized an Iranian- flagged ship off the Yemeni Island of Socotra in the Arabian Sea on Thursday after the latter illegally entered the country’s territorial waters, the Yemeni Defence Ministry said in a statement. It added the Yemeni navy forces also arrested the ship’s crew members of 21 Iranian sailors. “The ship was observed by the Navy’s patrol boats when it illegally entered into the Yemeni territorial waters off the southern coasts on Thursday’s early morning,” the statement posted on the ministry’s online web site quoted an unidentified naval official as saying. “The ship’s crew had not ap-

plied to the Yemeni authorities for permission when they crossed and fished in Yemen’s waters,” said the official, adding that “the crew tried to turn and flee when the navy forces besieged their ship.” The ship was moved along with its crew to the headquarters of the Yemeni navy in Socotra to take legal actions, the statement added. Yemen, the impoverished country in the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, has stepping up its navy’s patrol boats along the Yemeni coastline, Gulf of Aden and its waters after the Somalia-based alQaida affiliation vowed to support their counterparts in Yemen.

Photo by: Ameen Al-Ghabiri. Aspiring Yemeni photographers were showcased at the National Museum in Sana’a as part of a series of events organized by the French Cultural Centre celebrating 40 years of French - Yemeni relations. The beautiful photos were a refreshing critique of some social issues of the day in Yemen.

Cargo Bomb Plot Originated in Yemen

Trial of Al-Qaeda Cell in Arhab

By NY Staff

The Criminal Court, presided by Judge Mohsen Alwan, Chairman of the court, held a session last Monday for the trial of an alleged Al-Qaeda cell in Arhab, which includes: 1. Yahya Dahhan Ali Radman 2. Faraj Hadi Mas’ood AlGhadra 3. Qasem Ali Saleh Al-Isami 4. Ali Naser Ali Al-Qutaish. The prosecution cited the evidence gathering reports and prosecution investigations with the defendants, which mentioned that the second defendant Faraj Hadi Al-Ghadra joined Al-Qaeda organization in 2008 and was the financial officer of the Arhab cell and that he traveled to Al-Jawf with the cell leader, Mohammed AlHanaq and the military officer of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, Qasem Al-Raimi. The defendant also met with him another time in Arhab and that he was one of those who were assigned to launch an attack on one of the military check points, although the operation was later aborted. The defendant also performed surveillance and reconnaissance operations to find a location for attacking Sana’a Airport and that he won over a number of people to the AlQaeda wing in Arhab. He was also supposedly involved in a shooting exchange with the security forces while the group was launching a retaliatory attack after the arrest

Cargo planes and trucks in several U.S. cities were inspected Friday after investigators found suspicious packages in at least two locations abroad, law enforcement sources said. U.S. officials believe that al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, commonly referred to as AQAP, is behind the plot. One suspicious package, found in the United Kingdom, contained a “manipulated” toner cartridge but tested negative for explosive material, the source said. It led to heightened inspection of arriving cargo

flights in Newark, New Jersey, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and a UPS truck in New York. The package had white powder on it as well as wires and a circuit board; someone shipped it from Sanaa, Yemen, with a final destination of unnamed synagogues in Chicago, Illinois. A similar package has been discovered in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, the source said. The suspicious package from Yemen had wires and a circuit board, a law enforcement source said. A Yemeni diplomat in Washington said his govern-

ment has opened a full-scale investigation into the incident but it was too early to speculate or reach any conclusions. Investigators were looking for a “possible nexus to terrorism,” a U.S. official said. “We are taking this very seriously,” he added. The US Department of Homeland Security said it “had taken a number of steps to enhance security,” including “heightened cargo screening and additional security at airports.” “Passengers should continue

to expect an unpredictable mix of security layers that include explosives trace detection, advanced imaging technology, canine teams and pat downs, among others,” DHS said in a statement. “As always, we remind the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity to local law enforcement.” Some Jewish religious leaders in Chicago were alerted Friday, said Linda Haase, spokeswoman for the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago. Continued on Page ( 4 )

Shabwah: Mobilized Tribal Militias Track Al-Qaeda Saleh Maqlam, NY Shabwa Correspondent Shabwah governorate tightened security measures, particularly in Ataq city, capital of Shabwah, which had witnessed during the last few days many additional security checkpoints and the deployment of hundreds of security forces around the city a day after tribal militias were mustered in the Al-Sa’edd directorate (45 km South of Ataq) to confront elements of Al-Qaeda. Informed sources told the National Yemen newspaper that during the last four days militias were mobilized in order to confront Al-Qaeda in Shabwa.

The militias were largely mustered from 3000 tribesmen from the Al-Awaleq tribe, which resides in Al-Sa’eed directorate. Military sources said that the movement was divided into 10 units, constituting “Al-Sahawat” militias, the local name for the movement. Earlier, every militiaman had been given 100 rounds of live ammunition as an initial quantity, as well as amounts of money for unit leaders (200,000 riyals per leader). The militias have also been provided with food stuffs, bottles of mineral water as well as other necessi-

ties, which had been distributed by 22 Mechanized Brigade, the regular official military unit stationed in Shabwah governorate. Another source confirmed that among the missions given to the Al-Sahawat militias, was that after their deployment in various villages, regions and mountains of Al-Sa’eed, was to perform ‘search’ and ‘intelligence’ operations on Al-Qaeda elements, as well as implanting adhesive beacons which would direct military aircrafts towards suspected targets – an operation often referred to as “painting.” Last Saturday, a number of

Al-Sa’eed areas were combed by Al-Sahawat militias, in cooperation with units from the regular army under the command of the Deputy-Chief of General Staff in the Republic of Yemen , Brigadier Qotn, who belongs to the tribes of Aal Salem Bin Dahah, one of the strongest tribes of Al-Awaleq. Brigadier Qotn is said to be the commander of the military campaign on Al-Sa’eed. At the point of reporting, the results of the militia campaign have yet to be known.

By Mohammed Al-Qiyari of Hizam Mujalli. The third defendant Qasem Ali Saleh Al-Isami was charged with joining the terrorist wing a year ago, meeting with its military officer, Qasem Al-Raimi, in Al-Jawf and Jum’aan Safyan, the Al-Qaeda cell leader in Al-Jawf. Purportedly Qasem Al-Raimi gave them a lecture on the need for jihad against Yemen because “it is loyal to the apostates as well as the need to target western embassies in Yemen and tourists.” The fourth defendant Ali Naser Ali Al-Qutaish was alleged to have been influenced by the ideology of Al-Qaeda organization and joined it through Faraj Hadi Al-Ghadra, who was lecturing them on the jihad and giving them examples of the youth of Arhab who undertook jihad in Afghanistan and Iraq and their heroic roles. Al-Qutraish was assigned by the Arhab cell’s leader to conduct surveillance on the main road in Bait Marran Arhab when the Japanese engineer was abducted last year and report when military convoys passed. However, Al-Qutraish was apprehended during confrontations with the military campaign that was assigned to arrest Hizam Mujalli. The prosecution also cited the previous charges against Continued on Page ( 3 )

Sunday, Oct 31, 2010 Issue 20 www.nationalyemen.com

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National Yemen

LOCAL Piracy Costs Yemen $150 M

Gulf Twenty: Surmounting More Challenges than Intended

Fakhri al-Arashi Publisher & Chief Editor

The Gulf 20 football tournament is coming right on cue. In spite of the a year of quarrels, security scares, endless press statements and ceaseless stadium inspections for the tournament Yemen now approaches the end of its preparations to host the tournament, and the gloomy shadows of aspersions are being cast and dispersed almost rhythmically, like night and day. Last week I went on a business trip to one of the gulf countries during the visits of the Yemeni official sports delegation headed by the Ministry of Sport and the Football Unions of gulf countries. The Yemeni delegation made it in good to cut the doubt on hosting the championship in Aden and Abyan. Invitations handed personally to all the political leaderships and decision makers of the gulf countries has perhaps been the stron-

By NY Staff

gest end to the countless questions about Yemen’s ability to host the tournament. Although thanks is also due to famous Kuwaiti Sheikh Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah who firstly called and supported Yemen to join the gulf football cup tournament. Through that, Yemen has enjoyed a positive presence in the gulf press, and indeed within the countless Yemeni expatriates around the Gulf who will be delighted for this opportunity not only to hold this tournament, but also to gain some impressive sports, tourism and infrastructure facilities. Yemen and Yemenis are renowned for great hospitality and so the Gulf 20, which sees thousands of foreign visitors coming in for the event, will be a true test of character. And rising to this challenge will prove just as fulfilling in itself. No matter if Yemen wins the tournament, it still wins from the tournament. The success of this championship will put Yemen firmly on the map of the international football association, and will bestow a rare gift for Yemen which it badly needs; international credibility. With it, it will have the chance to host future activities. So we should all play our part to seize this opportunity for future success. Such chances rarely come twice.

Yemen has said that piracy attacks and armed robbery against vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden had caused US$150 million losses to the local fish sector in 2009. In a recent report, the government said piracy also caused losses to the safety of navigation in the territorial waters of Yemen as well as losses in other sectors . The report showed that Yemen was deeply affected by piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Aden despite the presence of the international naval task forces in the region, pointing out that piracy attacks have increased twice in 2009, compared with the two previous years. ‘’In 2009 piracy attacks reached 47 while piracy attempts were 181, compared to 42 piracy attacks and 69 attempts in 2008, and 25 attacks and 16 piracy attempts in 2007’’, the government report showed. Yemen has made efforts with the international community and countries in the region in combating piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea during the last year, because of piracy posed a threat to national, regional and international security. In its annual report on the performance, the Yemeni government stressed 48 pirates were detained in 2009, including 30 pirates were handed over to Yemeni authorities by international naval forces in the region. ‘’The total number of pi-

Three dead in north Yemen clashes: tribal chief AFP / SANAA — Clashes between Shiite rebels and a pro-government tribe in the mountains of northern Yemen killed a tribesman and two rebels, the tribe’s leader said on Friday. But the Zaidi Shiite rebels, known as Huthis, denied any involvement, insisting that the clashes late on Thursday were the result of a vendetta between rival tribes. “Armed Huthis attacked our men early yesterday evening in Nuchur, near Saada town, killing one of them and wounding two,” said Fayez al-Awjari, who is also an MP for the area. “We organised an expedition and, in clashes lasting several hours, two Huthis were killed and five wounded,” Awjari said. He said the fighting came just 24 hours after Qatari envoys had visited Saada, a rebel stronghold on the Saudi border, in their latest bid to negotiate the peaceful return of government employees to offices in the province under a February peace deal with the rebels. “Tensions are running very high and clashes could resume at any moment,” Awjari said, adding that he was keeping his tribesmen on a war footing. However, rebel spokesman Mohammad Abdel Salam, contacted on the telephone, said the clashes pitted the Awjaris against a rival tribe and that re-

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ports of any Huthi involvement were “totally false.” Outbreaks of fighting have repeatedly rattled the fragile truce which the government and the rebels agreed in February. The rebels draw their support from among followers of the Zaidi branch 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. The last round began with a government offensive in August 2009 and saw border clashes between the rebels and Saudi troops. It ended with February’s six-point peace plan. The rebels complain that while they have freed government troops they captured during the fighting, hundreds of their own supporters remain in custody. They are also demanding that the government honour pledges to spend more on developing the northern provinces.

Fakhri Hassan Al-Arashi Publisher & Chief Editor

Will Carter Managing Editor

Sunday, Oct 31, 2010 Issue 20 www.nationalyemen.com

rates who have been arrested by the Yemeni Coastguard forces is 12 pirates as well as 6 pirates were arrested recently’’, the report numbered. The international naval task force was established in January 2009 by the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) to counter piracy in the Gulf of Aden. Naval ships and assets from more than 20 nations comprise the US-led Combined Maritime Forces. Last Sunday, a thirteenmember group of suspected Somali pirates stood trial against a Yemeni court in Hadramout province on piracy charges. The prosecution in Hadramout accused the Somali suspects of hijacking two Yemeni ships and using them in piracy attacks against foreign vessels in the Gulf of Aden. The 13 Somalis were arrested by the Yemeni Coastguard forces on May 28, 2010. The prosecution also said that the suspected pirates had damaged Yemen’s economy and endangered navigation safety in the Yemeni territorial and international waters. According to economic experts, the increasing piracy attacks against Yemeni and foreign ships have badly affected navigation activities in the Gulf of Aden. Piracy has been growing in the region because of the deteriorating situations in Somalia that forced over 700,000 Somalis seeking refuge in Yemen.

Yemeni GDP to reach 7.6 % in 2010 Annual Economic Report Draft–2009 predicted on Saturday the Yemeni Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at constant prices will reach nearly 7.6 percent in 2010 due to a full operation of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). The draft report issued by the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation indicated that the economic growth in Yemen will witness a significant improvement in 2010. The statistical forecasts showed that non-oil economic sectors’ contributions to the Real GDP will reach 85.4 percent in 2010 – 2012, while the contributions of the oil and gas sectors will drop 1.7 percent down to 14.6 percent, according to the report. During launching the draft Mohammed Al-Asaadi Editorial Consultant

report, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Planning and International Cooperation AbdulKarim al-Arhabi accented the government’s keenness on improving the quality of the evaluation reports on economic developments in Yemen issued by the ministry. He also pointed to the importance of the effectual reaction of private sector and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) with the ministry’s economic evaluation reports. The 2009 draft report has presented an inclusive and detailed presentation for the future trends for Yemeni economy in the lights of the current and expectant changes to assist in making suitable economic policies, al-Arhabi said.

Fuad Al-Qadhi Business Editor

Tribal Militias Intercept Sa’ada Youth Sports Teams By NY Staff Despite the media black out by security and local authorities in the province of Sa’ada, National Yemen newspaper learned that the sports delegation, which was carrying youth sports teams from Sa’ada sports clubs, that was heading to Sana’a to conduct two matches with Al-Orubah team and the Sports for All Center in the directorate of Al-Wahda on 14th October was intercepted by a group of the Houthi fighters who refused to allow them to go to Sana’a. Sources said that while re-

turning to the Sa’ada governorate the delegation was later robbed by some of the tribesmen. Mr. Mojahed Al-Taiyeb, Chairman of the Sports for All Federation branch in Sa’ada, confirmed to the newspaper that the delegation returned the road from Sa’ada to Sana’a was closed off by unknown tribes. However, he refused to comment on the incident of theft, saying that that the local authority in Sa’ada “required discretion.”

Trial of the Two Journalists Shaye’ and Al-Shami By Mohammed Al-Qiyari Journalist Abdul-Ilah Haidar Shaye’ announced that he had been abducted on the day they launched missiles on Abyan and Shabwah and in Arbaa. “On that day they decided to arrest me and you may have noticed how, in trial, they turned all my journalistic works into charges. My communications with satellite channels have been turned into charges in Yemen where a successful journalist became indicted,” he said. These words were quoted in a session held on Tuesday 26th October 2010, presided by Judge Ridhwan Al-Namer for the trial of Abdul-Ilah Shaye’ and Abdul-Karim Al-Shami, the two journalists of AlJazeera Net. The prosecution had brought the two journalists for trial on the indictment of being involved in an armed gang and their promotion and spreading the news of Al-Qaeda. In court, the prosecution exhibited interviews, communications and news which were conducted between Abdul-Ilah Haidar with Anwar Al-Awlaqi, as well as his communications with international satellite channels. When the court asked whether these accusations recited by the prosecution were true, Abdul-Ilah Haidar said, “Unfortunately, there are a group of people who made fun

of you and of your authority three times. In July 11th they forced me to disappear and stole my laptop. The second time was when forced me to disappear for 35 days and the third time was when they requested the judiciary authority to extend my imprisonment without conducting an investigation into the prior procedures whether they were legitimate and sound or not, and you extended my imprisonment by 30 days,” he said. “This is the fourth time when the term of my imprisonment is over without extension. I demand that you, if at all possible, to bring such people, who breached the authority of this judiciary, to this court and ask them about these violations and breaches. If you bring them, I will go along with this court,” he added. “If not, I reject this trial because this court did not bring those who abducted me and stole my laptop computer and I reject this trial because it did not investigate into what really happened to me,” he went on. Abdul-Karim Al-Shami responded, “I, too, reject this trial for the reasons mentioned by Abdul-Ilah Haidar.” After that, the court decided to enable the prosecution to present evidence against the two defendants in the next session which will be held on 2nd November 2010.

Continued from ( 1 ) Trial of Al-Qaeda Cell in Arhab Faraj Hadi Mas’ood AlGhadra, who was tried in the case of abduction of German tourists in 1996 and was sentenced to 12 years in prison, but was released by presidential pardon, after serving only two. The prosecution has also presented the medical report of the defendant Faraj Al-Ghadra, which provides that he had a gunshot wound in the right arm cutting the nerve and that he

needed a surgical operation soon. The defendant however refused to receive treatment in the Police Hospital. At the close of the hearing session, the court ordered the prosecution to bring the first defendant Yahay Dahhan Ali Radman to the next session for their defence, through evidence gathering reports and their responses to the prosecution’s investigation next Monday.

Shukri Hussein Jihan Anwar Amel Al-Ariqi Aden - Abyan Correspondent Staff Journalist Social Editor

The Facts As They Are

Saleh Maqlem Shabwah Correspondent e-mail: info@nationalyemen.com website:www.nationalyemen.com address:al-qiada st.

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Sunday, Oct 31, 2010 Issue 20 www.nationalyemen.com

REPORT

National Yemen

Yemen, Britain and Al-Qaeda By Ahmed Al-Zurqah, NY Security Correspondent

While the outgoing British Ambassador, Mr. Tim Torlot, was preparing for his ultimate meeting with the President of the Republic, HE Ali Abdullah Salah, his deputy was targeted with a rocket, narrowly missing her. This incident has certainly cast aspersions on the ambassador’s meeting with President Saleh. It was not a desirable farewell message for the British Ambassador at the end of his posting in Yemen, which was full of personal troubles and challenges. The incident occurred less than six months after the ambassador’s car itself was targeted by a suicide bomber who hurled himself towards the armored car of the ambassador, although only succeeding in obliterating himself. The ambassador escaped the assassination attempt because the suicide bomber blew himself a few seconds before the passing of the ambassador’s car. The deputy ambassador was ambushed in a place not all that far from that of the ambassador’s; only a few hundred meters from the only road leading to the British Embassy, where staff use for their daily commute, in the Noqom area, that contains a number of Arab and Western embassies and is close to Sana’a’s top hotels. Al-Qaeda’s targeting of the British diplomats incidentally come after the enhanced relations between the two countries in combatting terror and after the previous British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, vowed at the beginning of January to support the Yemeni government’s efforts in fighting Al-Qaeda and contribute, with the U.S. administration, to financing a special anti-terrorism unit. In addition, the British government is undertaking the task of supervising the fulfillment of the donors’ promises in London Conference 2006 and the Friends of Yemen group. The British government attempts to unify the international donors’ efforts to save Yemen from danger of collapse, despite the British Prime Minister’s description of Yemen as a failed state. Al-Qaeda, as it is evident from the two operations against the British diplomats, used the daily route of the diplomats, from their homes to the British Embassy through Khawlan Street reaching Noqom area. This meant it was an easy surveillance stake-out, and consequently carrying out those operations in the same spot, one of the most crowded areas in the capital where escaping is easy as attackers instantly melt away in the surrounding residential area where extremism is purported to hive. Al-Qaeda’s use of a rocket to carry out the targeting operation against the car of the British deputy chief in mission is considered a development in the AlQaeda operations, which often prefers to use suicide bombers and car bombs. However, this was not the first time when such kind of weapon was used; such small arms were reported to have been used in attacks on the US embassy in Sana’a in the summer of 2008. The British concern in terrorism in Yemen has noticeably increased during the last few years. This concern is evident

from British government’s raising of the economic assistance to Yemen, to the tune of $110 M. After the attack on the British deputy ambassador, the Chief of the US Central Intelligence Agency, Jonathan Evans, said that Al- Qaeda in Yemen has become an increasing threat to Britain. Many suspicious terrorist schemes, which British agencies recently investigated were related to Al-Qaeda activities in Yemen. Perhaps the young Nigerian, Umar Al-Farouk Abdul-Mutallab, who attempted to blow up the US Detroit-bound airliner on Christmas eve, who studied mechanical engineering in the prestigious University College, London between 2005 and 2008, and lived in a home

‘‘ Al-Qaeda’s use of a rocket to carry out the targeting operation against the car of the British deputy chief in mission is considered a development in the AlQaeda operations, which often prefers to use suicide bombers and car bombs. However, this was not the first time when such kind of weapon was used; such small arms were reported to have been used in attacks on the US embassy in Sana’a in the summer of 2008.

owned by his family in the center of the British capital, could be viewed as the catalyst for all this. This was is the third instance of a connection between Al-Qaeda in Yemen and extremists in Britain, after the kidnapping of British tourists in Abyan in 1998. Mutallab had supposedly met with leaders from the Al-Qaeda organization in the Arabian Peninsula and also met with Anwar Al-Awlaqil, a now infamous ideologue. Photos of him were broadcast on one of the US channels while he was forwarding a message from a Sada Al-Malahem production, a media outfit which affiliates to Al-Qaeda, during his presence in one of its training camps in Yemen. Targeting the car of the deputy chief mission prompted the British Foreign Minister, Mr.

William Hague, to say that “the attack will only strengthen Britain’s determination to assist Yemen in the challenges it faces.” The return of the Al-Qaeda organization to carry out operations in Sana’a represents an indication for the organization’s attempt to retaliate against the West after the pre-emptive strikes by aircrafts against its elements in many of Yemen’s governorates, and the arrest of a number of its elements and restriction of the geographical space for its movement and operation. The organization has launched three operations this year in the capital secretariat, despite tightened security, two of which against British diplomats. Two of those operations were carried out in less than a month, where the first one targeted officers and soldiers of the Political Security Office; and the second against the British deputy ambassador. The assailants managed to flee after carrying out both of the last two operations. The return of Al-Qaeda to carry out operations in the heart of the capital might be a response to the government’s claims that it had managed to paralyze Al-Qaeda from moving freely and that it is truly suffering from the military strikes which the government had directed against it in recent years. Yemeni –British relations have not been adversely affected by these two incidents. On the contrary, the British officials’ statements emphasize Britain’s continuation to support Yemen’s efforts in its war against Al-Qaeda– contrary to what happened in 1998 after the killing of four British nationals and when the Yemeni security forces freed 16 British nationals from an kidnapping carried out by the Aden-Abyan army under the leadership of Abu Al-Hasan Al-Mihdhar, who was executed later. Back then, the British government directed severe accusations to the Yemeni government for the mistakes which lead to the death of those victims. Another link, perhaps less advertised or reported is that extremist cleric Abu Hamzah AlMasri, who lives in Britain, dispatched a group of British nationals, who have Asian and Arab origins, to Yemen at the end of 1998, among whom his son, Mohammed, to carry out two sabotage operations against western interests in Aden. In addition, Abu Hamzah had also been in contact with Zain

Al-Aabideen Al-Mihdhar, leader of Aden-Abyan Islamic Army, which carried out the kidnapping. The differences intensified between the two countries after Britain refusal in 2001 to deliver Abu Hamzah in exchange of Yemen’s delivering of five British nationals imprisoned in

‘‘ perhaps less advertised or reported is that extremist cleric Abu Hamzah Al-Masri, who lives in Britain, dispatched a group of British nationals, who have Asian and Arab origins, to Yemen at the end of 1998, among whom his son, Mohammed, to carry out two sabotage operations against western interests in Aden.

Aden after being convicted of planning to carrying out explosions. In August 1999, the Yemeni judiciary sentenced eight British nationals and two Algerians to imprisonment for periods between seven months to seven years after they were found guilty of forming an armed gang for the purpose of carrying out terrorist operations in Aden. Three of the British nationals left Yemen in October 1999 after serving their time. It can be said that the Yemen –British relations have under-

gone many attempts of restoration after that incident. The ceiling of the British assistance to Yemen has been raised. In addition, the Yemeni president and a number of Yemeni officials paid many visits to London, which resulted in Britain’s hosting of the London Conference for Donors 2006 and Friends of Yemen Conference 2010. The British government also called on the international donors to strengthen and intensify their efforts to support economic and political reforms in Yemen, and to prevent the deterioration of the current situation in Yemen. Perhaps British intelligence reports on the possibility that Al-Qaeda elements Somalia and in Yemen might execute terrorist operations in London is one of the major reasons of the increase of British support to Yemen in its war against terrorism. Also, Britain’s growing desire to reclaim stability in the region is a motive for those moves. With joint coordination between Britain and the U.S.A in the war on terror and efforts to check the growing influence of Iran on maritime route chokepoints, which poses a threat on western economic interests and a danger to their allies in the region. It is obvious that Britain and the USA are sharing tasks in supporting Yemen’s security and military capabilities. The first undertakes the training and support of the security agencies and counter terror units in the Central and National Security apparatus; while the latter undertakes the training, boosting and supporting of the capabilities of the Republican Guard, Special Forces and the CounterTerrorism units within these bodies. The Yemeni government gambles on Britain’s ability to urge the international donors, the most important of which are neighboring Gulf states and the European Union, to continue to support Yemen economically and politically in the security challenges it faces and its war on Al-Qaeda; and to assist the Yemeni government in getting out of the political disputes, that is largely to support the efforts of the political dialogue with the Yemeni opposition parties, the southern movement and the Huthi rebellion. However, the British government is reliant upon the role of the Gulf States in economic as-

‘‘ The Yemeni government gambles on Britain’s ability to urge the international donors, the most important of which are neighboring Gulf states and the European Union, to continue to support Yemen economically and politically in the security challenges it faces and its war on Al-Qaeda; and to assist the Yemeni government in getting out of the political disputes, that is largely to support the efforts of the political dialogue with the Yemeni opposition parties, the southern movement and the Huthi rebellion.

sistance for Yemen, which have continued, since the meeting of the Friends of Yemen in London, on giving a major priority to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the rest of the Gulf States’ participation in implementing the process of the economic support and the political reforms in Yemen. Britain is also wagering on evaluating the efforts of the Yemeni government in its response to British and US stipulations, and the major international monetary institutions, which call for enhancing transparency procedures and restricting financial and administrative corruption.

Continued from ( 1 ) Cargo Bomb Plot Originated in Yemen

In the United Kingdom, police were investigating the suspicious package at a freight distribution center at East Midlands Airport, about 100 miles north of London, said airport spokesman Russell Craig. Officials said they were not certain how the package arrived there, whether by air or land. Authorities seemed most focused on inspecting cargo planes. Investigators examined two UPS planes that landed at Philadelphia International Airport and another at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, said Mike Mangeot, a UPS spokesman. Authorities later gave the “all-clear” at the

airport in Newark, U.S. and U.K. officials said. Authorities are focusing on flights coming from Yemen into the United States, according to the source. The US Transportation and Security Administration said authorities acted “out of an abundance of caution.” “The planes were moved to a remote location where they are being met by law enforcement officials and swept,” the administration said in a statement. UPS said it is cooperating with authorities, and its shipment is being removed from the aircraft. In Philadelphia, three people aboard one plane were removed

from the aircraft and scanned with negative results, the Philadelphia Fire Department said. The type of material that may be involved is not known, officials said. In Newark, investigators examined another UPS plane, Mangeot said. Police determined that there was no threat. After having a suspicious package confiscated at its Dubai facility, Memphis-based FedEx released a statement saying that the company is cooperating with the FBI and as an additional safety measure has blocked all shipments coming from Yemen. Peter Neumann, a terrorism analyst with Kings College

New York said, “It is not a bomb bit it’s a sinister device which in my view very strongly seems to indicate that we were dealing with dummy devices.” The National Yemen has since learned that Yemeni security agencies have forcibly closed the UPS and FedEx offices in Yemen. In New York, the bomb squad responded to a report of a suspected explosive device inside a package aboard a UPS truck, said deputy police commissioner Paul Browne. Police later concluded that the truck at the Metro Tech Center facility contained nothing harmful

National Yemen

SOCIAL

Sunday, Oct 31, 2010 Issue 20 www.nationalyemen.com

40 years of French-Yemeni Relations By Jihan Anwar

In order to celebrate the 40 year long friendship between France and Yemen, the last three months of the year will showcase a series of cultural activities and projects, which will help further bring France and Yemen together, and remind people of a great history as well as to inspire younger generations about future cross-cultural friendship. A photographic exhibition, opened on the 19th October at the National Museum was an innovative idea that brought together a unique atmosphere; the majestic antiquity of the museum and the pulsing vibe and colour of innovative art. H.E. Mr. Joseph Silva, the French Ambassador himself opened the event, which was attended by ministers, international officials and diplomats in addition to many art-passionate youths and a few curious tourists. “This event stands as a testimony to the exemplar relation between Yemen and France and the will to strengthen this rapport while trying to remove the obstacles that could endanger it,” stated Mr Khalid Tamim, President of Sana’a University. “Clear examples of the development in the friendship are the entry of TOTAL in the economic sector as well as the visit of President Saleh to France, and the agreements of collaboration in the fields of medicine, economy and agriculture,” he explained. The exhibition was the result of a workshop held by Egyptian photographer Nabil Boutrous and from which talented Yemeni photographers were chosen to illustrate their work of arts at the expo.

Three Participating Photographers Ameen Al Ghabri

A photographer since childhood, Al Ghabri had the fortune of growing up in the house of an already artistically recognized father. Blessed by having “art in the genes”, as he says, he was familiar with cameras since the age of 8. A self educated and determined artist, Ameen opened Al Ghabri Studio with his brother, with the objective to highlight the talent of Yemeni professional photographers. In fact, Ameen Al Ghabri confided that proba-

bly one of the major challenges in his job was the diffuse underevaluation of Yemeni photography, especially by local companies who preferred to hire foreign figures instead of encouraging local ones. “If a picture of mine can bring an emotional reaction to an observer, then I consider a personal achievement in sending a message, in making the image tell a story to who sees it.” One of his themes for the exhibition was the contrast / compromise between tradition and modernity. Ameen encourages everyone to search for his or her own talents and develop it in spite of obstacles and hardships.

Eman Al Awami Al Awami described the curi-

‘‘ If a picture of mine can bring an emotional reaction to an observer, then I consider a personal achievement in sending a message, in making the image tell a story to who sees it.

ous experience of being a female artist in Yemen. She routinely has episode of people questioning her motives for taking pictures. Often she has to erase the shots she took, while others hordes of children assault her – begging her… to take a picture of them! She recalled an episode in which a mother, particularly proud of her son, convinced her to take some photos of her child. After going back with her, AlAwami discovered that the mother’s child was in his 20s. Unfortunately there are less encouraging occasions in which ignorant people often criticize her for her passion; still, Eman does not seem willing to let these situations get her down. “To be a photographer you have to arm yourself with patience and the commitment to fight eventual setbacks.” She aims to really bring forth to the world the other part of Yemen, the one represented by traditional and simple faces, full of beauty and happiness. “I consider inspiration as rizgh(blessings). Simply walking in the street, I find different aspects capturing my attention. It could be a house with a particular structure or in an unusual location; an interesting pose or movement of the body; or a unique expression.” ‘Fatherhood’ was the selection for her picture show.

Waeel Al Anesi His career as a photographer started but recently in 2008 when he bought a FujiFilm camera and began to get deeper in the world of this art. While working as a graphic designer, he felt the need to develop his own pictures. He choose as main subject for his work art the ‘Mother’s Bread’, a nostalgic collection that symbolized the pleasure of childhood, the memories of Friday mornings and the daily happiness of a mother’s love. What is special about the pic-

Mr. Joseph Silva, French Ambassador to Yemen (far left) at the National Museum tures is the technique used to shoot them. “My preferred subject are landscapes, the capture of the wild and nature in general,” explains Al Anesi. “For the exhibition I curiously found that the

‘‘ He choose as main subject for his work art the ‘Mother’s Bread’, a nostalgic collection that symbolized the pleasure of childhood, the memories of Friday mornings and the daily happiness of a mother’s love.

landscape technique suited best to illustrate potential past memories evocated by bread making.” Al Anesi hopes to attend a photography seminar in New York to further his knowledge since the opportunity to professionally study in this field in Yemen is still given scarce importance. Cloe Vaniscotte, organizer of the celebration and chargee of the French Cultural Centre, informed the National Yemen that a series of other cultural events would follow.

“The photographic exhibition will be taken to Taiz and Aden,” Mrs. Vaniscotte announced, whilst explaining the importance of promoting French-Yemeni relations in other governorates as well. In Aden, a ceremony in remembrance of the late poet Rimbaud, who spent part of his life in the city, was planned. The National Museum will also be used as the location for another exhibition on the 2nd November, this time in honor of a French female doctor, Claudie

Fayen, who acquired Yemeni nationality. Also on Wednesday , the 3rd November, a concert entitled “Richa CUDA” would take place at the Yemeni Cultural Center at 19.00. Entrance isfree but seats are limited. A symposium on water was held in Sana’a University, other events included conferences on Archaeology. The photographic exhibition remains on show in the National Museum, Sana’a, till the1st November. Entrance is free.

Dar Al-Salam Organization Holds Islamic Peace Workshop for Tribal Sheikhs By NY Staff The Dar Al-Salam Organization, a Yemeni peace organization with tribal and Sufi roots, held a two day workshop for tribal sheikhs in the Sheraton Hotel, Sana’a, on Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st October, entitled: “Islam: Countering Societal Violence.” At the same time the Dar AlSalam Organization proudly announced the official start of an 18 month project sponsored by the European Commission entitled “Strengthening Social Cohesion in Conflicted Affected Areas in Yemen.” The project will cover the governorates of Abyan, Al-Jawf and Lahej building community resilience to violence through advocacy work with community leaders and research-informed

‘‘ “The road is full of thorns and the path treacherous, but it is a noble cause worthy of hope and commitment,” Sheikh Al-Marwani said.

awareness campaigns with target demographic groups. The “Islam: Countering Societal Violence” workshop is part of a comprehensive program of activities tackling violence and extremism, and was kindly funded by the American Embassy. Sheikh Abdul Rahman AlMarwani, the head of the Dar Al-Salam Organization, inaugurated the conference, speaking of the relative recent phenomena of religious extremism in Yemen, and the necessity to confront it and address the issue – an issue which the organization has sought to counter since its inception. “The road is full of thorns and the path treacherous, but it is a noble cause worthy of hope

‘‘ “We would not say that these efforts will succeed in fully eliminating the complex and protracted problems found along this path, but we are stepping in the right direction. With the help of Allah we will surmount all the challenges through our dedication,” he added.

and commitment,” Sheikh AlMarwani said. “We would not say that these efforts will succeed in fully eliminating the complex and protracted problems found along this path, but we are stepping in the right direction. With the help of Allah we will surmount all the challenges through our dedication,” he added. The workshop brought together sheikhs from five target governorates (Shabwah, Abyan, Al-Jawf, Ma’rib and Sana’a) to engage with messages of peace and tolerance grounded in Islam. It featured a symposium of five papers especially prepared by academics from Sana’a University and Islamic scholars on subjects exploring Islam’s position against violence, and its

recommendations dealing with it legally, socially, intellectually and pedagogically. The basis of the workshop considered religion as perhaps the most powerful means to provide messages of peace that would resonate in Yemeni society, and sought to express this message through a culturally relevant medium; in this case through tribal sheikhs of principally affected governorates were assessed to be the most relevant social platform to raise public consciousness. After the symposium presentations the workshop saw lively discussion from the participating tribal sheikhs, who had clearly engaged with the topics and ideas at hand.

REPORT

Sunday, Oct 31, 2010 Issue 20 www.nationalyemen.com

National Yemen

Alarming Hunger Levels in Yemen, Report Says Recent international reports confirmed the alarming prevalence of food insecurity in Yemen, as one in three Yemenis has difficult access to sufficient nutrition. The Food Policy Research Institute (FPRI), which monitors 122 developing countries including Middle Eastern states, released a report this October mentioning that virtually all of the Middle East was tagged as suffering “low” rates of hunger, with Syria and Morocco cited as having “moderate” rates. Yemen, however, was the only country in the region to be listed as having an “alarming” rate. The Washington-based organization, ranked Yemen in 74th out of 85 developing countries, referring to the severe domestic challenges that affect food security, including a lack of job-creation within the oil-dependent economic structure – a distorted economic model. In addition, rapidly depleting oil and water resources, and the growing production and consumption of Qat (a leafy plant consumed as a stimulant and appetite suppressant, whose production uses 40 percent of all available water resources, were principal challenges. The report also warned that if no action is taken, food security is expected to remain at extremely low levels through 2020 and ‘’Yemen will remain highly vulnerable to external shocks and disasters.” The World Food Program (WFP) in Yemen estimated that

7.2 million out of the 23 million Yemenis (31.5 percent) are face food insecurity. Within this group, 2.5 million people (11.8 percent) were found to face severe food insecurity. The WFP, which carried out a nationwide comprehensive food security survey (CFSS) between September 2009 and January 2010, said that Yemeni rural areas are more affected with double the share of food-insecure people of urban areas. That is , 37.3 percent of the rural population is food insecure compared to 17.7 percent of the urban population. In addition, 62.1 percent of rural children were ‘stunted’ compared to 45.4 percent of urban children. The governorates of Ibb, Taiz, Hajja, Hodeidah and Amran host 61 percent of those deemed food-insecure and 66 percent of severely food-insecure people in the country, said the report. It added that water scarcity and limited rainfall over the past few years has critically affected farming and livestock rearing, the main livelihoods for most rural people, which contributed to create this gap in food security between urban and rural areas. In additions, rural areas were characterized with far higher fertility rates compounded with a limited access to education and low household incomes. “Total fertility is higher in rural areas, where women on average have more than two more children than their urban coun-

Photo Amira Al-Sharif

By Amel Ariqi

terparts; the average rural Yemeni woman will bear almost seven children (6.7), whereas the total fertility rate in urban areas is 4.5,” the report said. However, the report highlighted that these recent circumstances have substantially exacerbated the situation and increased the proportion of ‘hungry’ Yemenis around the country ‘’Poverty has been on the rise since 2006 when food and fuel prices started to increase and the

global financial crisis - together known as the “Triple F” crisis negatively affected the country,’’ the report went on to say. The report indicates that Yemen has already confronted a number of challenges that negatively impact on the population’s overall well-being, including complex political crises in several parts of the country, recurrent droughts and floods and the increased influx of refugees from the Horn of Africa and Internally Displaced Per-

sons in the north. The report calls to what it named medium to long-term interventions, which includes expansion of food availability at household and community levels in rural areas through local agriculture, by addressing the declining productivity growth of cereals, horticultural crops and livestock, by providing access to improved, economically viable water management and irrigation techniques and by improving storage and conserva-

tion facilities, and the establishment of a food security monitoring system, including nutrition surveillance and market price monitoring system. The report also emphasized on the short-term response options like providing emergency food-based safety nets for the poorest and most food-insecure households in rural and urban areas, complementing the Social Welfare Fund’s cash transfer system and other existing safety nets.

National Yemen

REPORT

Sunday, Oct 31, 2010 Issue 20 www.nationalyemen.com

Terrorism and Tourism By Mohammed Al-Qiyari Travel advice against Yemen in response to media reportage of many attacks against foreign interests, be they diplomatic or oil, has dried up the previously sizeable revenues from the tourism industry which the country used to enjoy. On this subject, we had an interview with Mr. Aref AlMas’oodi, a Director of the International Company for Tourism. Q: What is your prognosis as to why tourists are no longer coming to Yemen? A: The main reason is the threat to Al-Qaeda. This is a major cause which has forced foreign companies to stop sending groups of tourists to Yemen – Everyone is afraid. However there are other reasons. For one, tourism promotion is ineffectual. The Ministry of Tourism should lower fees for tourists in the light of the current situation to prevent the tourism industry grinding to a standstill. By comparing Yemen with Egypt, the difference is huge. If any tourist incident occurs in Egypt, the following day tourists will flow into Egypt where the authorities are able to maintain security. Tourism promotion is usually then synchronized to make up for the shortfall of guests;, great fee reductions are made by Egyptian airliners, tourist resorts, hotels, restaurants and transportation. This subsequently encourages tourism agencies to send tourists due to cheap prices. However, in Yemen tourist groups are protected by two armed police cars, which is embarrassingly excessive and undermines efforts to create the right atmosphere for tourism to flourish. Q: Which regions do tourist most like to visit? A: From our experience as one of the pioneering travel companies here, we see that the favourite tourism spots are: Old Sana’a (which we call “the open museum”), Shibam Kawaban, Manakhah, Wadi Daw’an, Hadramout Shibam, Hadramout Tarim, Ibb, Al-Mahweet, and Socotra, which is highly requested by tourists. Q: In light of the current

Aden - Abyan beach

Central Security Forces watch over key areas in Yemen situation, which are the most dangerous regions for tourists? A: The most dangerous regions are currently closed, such as Marib, Sa’ada and Shaharah; although currently we dispatch tourist groups with security escort to Hadramout and Aden.

‘‘

... From our experience as one of the pioneering travel companies here, we see that the favourite tourism spots are: Old Sana’a (which we call “the open museum”), Shibam Kawaban, Manakhah, Wadi Daw’an, Hadramout Shibam, Hadramout Tarim, Ibb, Al-Mahweet, and Socotra, which is highly requested by tourists.

Q: Why didn’t you shift tourism to the other provinces which are more secure? A: We have actually made programs for tourists to visit Sana’a, Shibam Kawkaban, Mahweet, Hajjah, Hodeida, Taiz, Ibb, Aden and Hadramout. These are the regions where we usually organize tours to. Q: How many tourists that should have visited Yemen?

A: It is hard to give you a number. However, I can give an approximate number. The year 2010 should have had the most tourist attraction where the number of tourists could have been very high. In 2004, Sana’a was the Arab “Capital of Tourism and saw a massive influx of tourists from the rest of the Arab world, as well as from further abroad, such as Asia. The number of tourists should have exceeded a million tourists in 2010; but in the light of the current situation, tourism has suffered a crisis, not just this year but also since last year due to closure of some regions to which we can’t dispatch tourists. Namely, these regions are Marib, Shaharah, most regions of Hajjah province which is close to Sa’ada province because of the war in Sa’ada. The more places are closed, the lesser the demand. Most tourists wish to visit archeological sites in Shaharah of Hajjah, Sa’ada, Amran-Marib in Wadi Hadramout. When most of these regions are closed, and when there is a crisis or Al-Qaeda acts, the tourist demand diminishes. Only a few tourists, whom we might call “adventurers”, come to Yemen. Yet, there are some regions which are permanently secure. Q: What role do you have as a tourist company in attracting tourists? A: We participate in international tourist exhibitions and whenever we take part in any fairs and exhibitions, we represent Yemen in general and our company in particular. We pro-

mote tourism in Yemen which is a country with tourist potential and secure one. However, it is difficult to talk of security. What happens is the opposite. For example, I was a participant in the Milano Exhibition 2009 and on the third day after our agents held interviews with companies, an explosion took place in Marib. Our credibility suffers because of an unstable security situation and uneven media reportage. Nonetheless, we have to be honest with the agencies we are

‘‘

The year 2010 should have had the most tourist attraction where the number of tourists could have been very high. In 2004, Sana’a was the Arab “Capital of Tourism and saw a massive influx of tourists from the rest of the Arab world,

dealing with. However, the local and international press blows things out of proportion. Contrary to reality, a simple firework or an accidental event can be exaggerated and considered as a terrorist act or an act related to Al-Qaeda. The media outlets, especially written ones, are supposed to be more objective. Q: What are the most attracting tourist regions? A: Socotra Island is a topnotch tourist destination, whose terrain varies between plains, mountains, desert, valleys, rivers, and white coasts. Much of the florae and faunae do not exist elsewhere in the world. There are tourist programs we conduct for diving in more than one place in the island which is an incredibly popular area for diving. These days there is great tourist activity in the island. Q: What would you say to businessmen about Socotra Island? A: I would advise all businessmen in the country, and abroad, and even Yemeni expatriates, especially in Saudi Arabia and Gulf States to seize the opportunity and investment in Socotra Island, a virgin island, and the State will support them. The General Investment Authority is accepting investment proposals in the island at the moment. Q: Do Arab tourists frequent the island? A: Of course there are Arab tourists, but generally they don’t come as part of a group, they generally travel with their families, or as individuals. We arrange tourist programs for them, exactly as we do for western tourists and we meet all requests with special prices and promotional programs in more than one place. Q: Why have you not yet succeeded in attracting tourists from East Asian countries instead of Western ones? A: This is possible and a great opportunity. The Ministry of Tourism and the Tourism Promotion Council must have an efficient and active role. They must seek opportunities in the whole world, east, west, north and south and they must promote Yemen as a country for tourism with great and promising potential. Q: If the situation gets settled, what future will tourism have? A: If the situation in Yemen gets settled we will be able to attract between one million to

‘‘ When they go back to their countries they give a positive image about the country and this is a form of indirect promotion, where they talk with their relatives and friends about everything they saw and they too affirm that their media exaggerate things. three million tourists in case of stability, security, tourist promotion, and proper tourist investment. Q: How do you view Yemen through the tourists’ eyes? A: the first time tourists arrive to Yemen, they form a sheltered impression about Yemen. After they have finished their tour and program, we ask them about their impression and the hassles they have been through in Yemen. They surprise us when they talk about their great positive impression and say they simply did not expect Yemen to be a tourist friendly and safe country with people holding fast to their culture, heritage and identity. After they visit the place, tourists refute the claims they read in media outlets. When they go back to their countries they give a positive image about the country and this is a form of indirect promotion, where they talk with their relatives and friends about everything they saw and they too affirm that their media exaggerate things. With the photos they have taken with their cameras, they show the archeological and historical places, the diversity of customs and traditions, food, costumes. People who see those pictures are resultantly encouraged to visit. Many of the tourists who came to Yemen said that the reason they visited Yemen was their friends who had previously came on a tour here.

BUSINESS

Sunday, Oct 31, 2010 Issue 20 www.nationalyemen.com

National Yemen

Ministry of Trade, Industry Initiates National Industry Survey By NY Staff The Ministry of Trade & Industry (MTI) last week launched an unprecedented comprehensive industrial survey which is to be carried out in cooperation with the Central Statistical Organization (CSO) during the period from 25th October to 24th December. Mr. Abdul-Ilah Shaiban, Deputy Minister of Trade & Industry and Vice-Chairman of the Technical Committee for the survey, said that the next stage of survey will include field visits to all the targeted 52,721 industrial establishments. The survey will be conducted by over 600 male and female researchers from the 14th November and who will be in all prov-

inces surveying and gathering all data about major, minor, medium and conventional industrial establishments with their various legal structures and kinds, whether private or public sector; ranging from exploration companies to construction materials of any form that falls under the rubric “industry.” Mr. Shaiban pointed out that the works that have been conducted during the last two years were preparatory office actions, as well as a preliminary experiment for assessing the suitability of surveying forms and analysing the difficulties and variables which took place after the 2004 survey of industrial warehouses was conducted.

Shaiban said that this is the second comprehensive industrial survey for industrial establishments in the republic and that “its importance lies in developing an industrial database, which will serve the planning process and strategic policies for developing the industrial sector.” The Ministry of Trade & Industry is counting on the survey to provide data related to industrial establishments that would help in drawing development policies and courses, as well as providing basic information for various policies and programs, utilizing the data in analyzing projects and achieving positive integration between develop-

ment plans and their implementation. The survey will also provide an up-to-date and comprehensive database on the industrial

Central Audit Warns Government from Overreaching State Budget Deficit By Faoud al-Kadi

sector, number and type of employees and the production costs, which will allow the government to determine the contribution of the industrial sector to

gross domestic product (GDP), its impact on the national income and the horizons of developing it.

Former Oil Minister Outlines Change in Future Oil Industry By Faoud al-Kadi

Dr. Rashid Saleh Ba Rabba’,

In a statement and report of the final accounts auditing for the 2009 fiscal year, the Central Organization for Control & Auditing warned the government from continuing to overreach the safe limits of budget deficit for the coming years. The report showed that the state’s general budget for 2009 resulted in a deficit of 509 billion YR – a deficit of 8.35% of the Gross Domestic Product, thus exceeding the rate permissible for safe limits, which is estimated to be at 3%. The report warned the government against continuing of hospitability expenditure, office requirements and student group exchanges, which together amounted to nearly 100 billion riyals, an increase estimated at 19 billion riyals from last year. In relation to spending on human development sectors, the report pointed out that the health sector, despite the actual functions of this sector, which reached 80.7 billion riyals, were accountably weak in controlling and supervising governmental health units or healthcare and medical establishments affiliated to the private sector.

‘‘ In education the report criticized the decline in the level of efficiency in executing investment programs for and not making use of the budget allocated, where the ministry achieved a surplus in the final statement of the budget of 28 billion YR.

The report criticized the weak policy adopted by the Ministry of Health in the bad distribution of health staff to health facilities and the drop out of professional qualified staff in addition to the lack of supervision, follow-up and evaluation of process of providing health and medical services as well as the serious phenomenon of drug trafficking in light of the competent authorities’ role in fighting this phenomenon. The report said that a lot of health facilities have started to deteriorate, while many other facilities lack significant and basic medical equipment and appliances. In education the report criticized the decline in the level of efficiency in executing investment programs for and not making use of the budget allocated, where the ministry achieved a surplus in the final statement of the budget of 28 billion YR. The report said that education is witnessing huge weaknesses due to the lacking capacity of school management that has resulted in the low educational levels of the school prin-

cipals because of the random selection which violates the rules of appointment. This has then been reflected by the high rates of failure and ‘drop out’, as well as the decline of the students’ level of education and the weak relationship between school curriculum and the requirements of social development and the labor market. The report pointed out that a large percentage of teachers of basic and secondary schools are not adequately qualified, where the number of teachers who only hold high school certificates represent 60% of the total number of teachers. In relation to the technical and vocational and technical education, the report stressed that teaching staff do not have the qualifications necessary for occupying the teaching positions, nor do they hold sufficient experience and skills in the areas and positions they hold, which resulted in weakness of technical education outputs for emerging labor markets.

Dr. Rashid Saleh Ba Rabba’, Member of the Shura Council and Former Minister of Oil & Minerals, said that 2011-2015 will witness the end of two significant product sharing agreements for ‘producing’ hydrocarbon blocks which are currently held in partnership between the state and Canadian Nexen in the Al-Masilah Block, Total, in the East Shabwah Block and Dove in the East Sar Block in the government of Hadramout. Ba Rabba’ said these blocks are considered to be “the key blocks, as production in them constitutes a majority of overall oil production in Yemen.” Oil is produced in both blocks from sedimentary rocks and foundation rock layers. He stressed the need to accelerate the finalization of a specific schedule and selection of a good team that will occupy the highest administrative positions for these companies, as part of the ‘Yemenization’ standards. Ba Rabba’ pointed out that the oil sector faced several challenges, and outlined them as: the lack of a clear national strategy for promotion; lack of schedules for approval of product sharing agreements; deficiency of managing petroleum operations; non-developed institutional management of various petroleum activities; duality of authorities; lack of coordination between the various bodies for implementation of the agreements issued by a special law; deficiency of making decisions at the right time, deficiency of following up implementation due to weak in-

stitutional performance; fear of casting aspersions on the decision-maker intentions; lack of research data available; and development and building of the technical and institutional cadre and capabilities in order to keep up with and monitoring operations. Ba Rabba’ said that Yemen is one of the regions attracting geo-petroleum investment, as it lies near rich oil fields of petrol and in the vicinity of some of the biggest oil reserves in the world, as well as its geographic location overlooking both the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea. Geologically speaking, Yemen is considered among the more promising oil regions, whose sedimentary basins contain a complete petroleum system, in addition to flexibility and moderateness in partnership agreements of production. On oil and gas exploration and production, Ba Rabba’ said that the area of the Republic of Yemen is divided into exploration and production blocks, there being 12 production blocks with a total area estimated at around 22,000 km2. There are 37 exploration blocks at current, with an area estimated at 200,000 km2. In addition, there is one block currently awaiting approval, and a further 50 open blocks whose size ranges from just 731 km2 to approximately 400,000 km2. As of December 2009, it was recorded that over 2000 wells had been dug; 474 for oil exploration and almost 1600 for production. Over 174,000 km2 of 3-D seismic surveys have been conducted recently to support investment. Ba Rabba’ pointed out that the number of production blocks have reached 12 blocks so far, on which ten companies operate: nine foreign and one national. Oil production started in Yemen in 1986 from Marib-AlJawf block, where the annual production back then reached 2,650,000 oil barrels.

National Yemen

YOUTH / SPORTS

Port Mokha Exports to Morocco, USA

Hodeidah: Junior Wrestling Tournament Begins

By Fuad Qasim

Sunday, Oct 31, 2010 Issue 20 www.nationalyemen.com

Yemeni Comes Second in Taw Luah Kung Fu World Championship By Abdul-Karim Mufadhal Exclusive

By Abdul-Karim

Mufadhal Exclusive

The Yemeni Wrestling and Body Building Federation launches on Tuesday 2nd November in Hodeida the 5th Republic Wrestling Tournament for the champions of the provinces clubs for juniors, in weight categories 50 kg – 58 kg – 63 kg. The planned free wrestling competitions for the category 69 kg have been canceled due to the lack of junior players this year in that weight category.

A group of young people in the Yemeni program “Injaz”, organized by the “Injaz Al-Arab” Organization in various countries as a competition that is intended for polishing up the talents of Arab youth and developing their skills in the business areas will be travelling to Morocco to hone up their business skills. The first participants who won first place in each participating ‘Injaz’ country will proceed to the final stage held late October in Morocco. After intense competitions held between the youth of our

country, which lasted for nearly three months, “Port Mocca” team composed of five young men won the nomination for participating in the final stage in Morocco. Before traveling last Friday, Port Mocca had attended a training program run by Mr. Fares Al-Sanabani, Member of the Yemen Injaz Organization, where they were given practical lessons in how to supervise a company in all aspects. In a statement from Rian Fares Al-Sanabani, leader of the Port Mocca Company and one of the team members, stressed

that their selection of “Coffee” is attributed to its historical value in Yemen, and the famed quality of Yemeni coffee. “It’s distinctive from the rest of the types of coffee in the world. Besides, Yemeni coffee is required in world markets yet has no exporters,” he said. He added that they have initiated distribution of coffee to companies available in Yemen and that there is communication with traders in California, USA, who want to purchase quantities of Yemeni coffee. He pointed out that the goal is not just to promote Yemeni

Football Season Begins: Premier League Match Reports Draw Between Al-Saqr and Sha’ab Ibb in the Green Governorate The Sha’ab Ibb Team managed to snatch a goal from the away Al-Saqr Team, in the 22 May Stadium. The goal was in the opening moments of the first half of the match scored by the professional player Ambuyu, encouraging the Al-Saqr players to end the match with a goal that fustrated the home team, which the away team maintained until the referee’s half-time whistle. In the second round the Sha’ab Ibb players felt their risky situation all too well, with some stern words from their coach during the half time break. Feeling the crunch they looked for a chance for a draw with Al-Saqr when Al-Sha’ab player Al-Hajiri Ayman scored the equalizer, saving his team from a first loss of the season, and gaining a point in their credit.

Al-Hilal vs Hassan: 3-1 In Hodeida, ‘Al-Hilal’ managed to win against Hassan from Abyan with three goals to one. The match saw some stern efforts from Hasan Abyan to score the first goal causing some defensive tactics from the home team Al-Hilal Hodeidah, and some serious caution with-

in the defence box. Hassan kept its nets clean, while its player Abood Mabrook finally succeeded in securing the first goal, before the end of the first half. In the second round Al-Hilal upped their game further, capitalizing on the sending off of some Hasan players, and managed to score three further goals by Saleh Al-Shihri, Mohammed Al-Sallat and Borahn Qasem. With this result Al-Hilal gained a clear victory at the start of the season.

of Ittihad Ibb succeeded in returning with three points, at the expense of Wahdat Sana’a, the host. Samir Mohammed, a player of Ittihad Ibb team scored the first goal. Fadhl AlAroomi scored the second goal. In the second round, the performance of Al-Wahda players has improved and they managed to defend their goal and their player Isam Al-Kodri scored a goal, but the time was not enough and the match ended with Ittihad Ibb winning by three points.

Al-Tilal (Aden) 4Sha’ab Sana’a 1 in Hoqat Stadium, Aden

Football: ‘Shabab’ Al-Baidha Defeat ‘AlRasheed’

The players of the Al-Tilal succeeded in exploiting the weak level of the Al-Sha’ab players and won the most important points of the match. Al-Tilal striker Almi Antana Aul scored a hat-trick (three goals), while his colleague Hussein Ghazi scored the fourth, to make the goal scored by Ali Al-Ba’dani of Al-Sha’ab team utterly useless. Al-Tilal team sent a strongtoned message to the rest of the teams, putting three points on the scoreboard.

Shabab Al-Baidha won their first match of the tournament with a positive result, which was cheered with the roaring fans at their stadium. Shabab Al-Baidha, the local team to Al-Baidha, managed to secure an important win over the away team Al-Rasheed Al-Halimi. The Al-Rasheed players were not an easy hunt and played well, losing only to a single goal in the first round from a penalty shot driven home by Ahmed Amwas. The Al-Shabab players kept their ‘clean sheet’ during the second round meaning that player Amwas hadgiven his team with the first three points of the tournament.

Ittihad Ibb Crushes Wahdat Sana’a In the Capital Sana’a, on the Al-Sha’ab Stadium, the players

coffee, but also to encourage growing this lucrative crop and replace the dominance of Qat in Yemen’s agriculture and society. His colleague, Abdullah AlSamawi, Production Manager in the company, said “coffee beans have been carefully selected and transported to the factory for roasting. However, the difficulty we encountered is in packing the product. Resultantly, we have packed coffee using traditional methods, and labeled in Yemen.”

Our national team for Kung Fu won second place in the 4th Taw Luah Kung Fu World Championships, hosted in Xi’an city in central China between 16th to 21st October, in which 84 states participated. Despite the participation of our team with only three players, they managed to snatch six medals, out of which three silver and three bronze, which accumulatively enabled them to win second place. Yemeni competitor Yousof Al-Khodhari won a silver in the Taiji Sword competition and a bronze in the Taiee style. The pair Sultan Al-Yamani and Saddam Al-Rahoomi won

two silver medals in the handto-hand sparring, and also winning two bronze medals. One bronze was won by Al-Rahoomi for his performance in Hawk style, and another for Al-Yamani in the Chain style. Therefore, the three players of Kung Fu secured an impressive world achievement, adding to Yemeni Kung Fu achievements in Arab and Asian markets, enabling them to enter the international stardom in the sport. Captain Nabil Al-Jaefi confirmed to National Yemen newspaper that our national team prepared well for the tournament through an internal camp of more than three months with the aim of ensuring a solid performance in the tough competitions. “Due to the high prices and the high living conditions in China, the number of the team players was reduced to only three players. We have been confident of entering a strong team and, Thanks to God, they have achieved what they were required, at which 82 other states, each with more than ten players, failed to achieve,” he said.

National Yemen NATIONAL YEMEN VACANCY NOTICE Role Number of vacancies

JUNIOR NEWS / NEWS ANALYSIS JOURNALISTS Two

Application deadline

7 November 2010

Start date

Immediate

Starting salary

$450 USD monthly salary + benefits

Work pattern

Full-time (40 hour weeks) / irregular shifts (journalists will be required to travel)

Description

The NATIONAL YEMEN (NY) newspaper requires two staff journalists to cover ‘breaking news’ and ‘news analysis’ articles. Journalists must be prepared to travel frequently, and at short notice, to provide coverage around Yemen. Our news journalists will be required to write approximately 1000 words of ‘news’ articles, and 2000 words of ‘news analysis’ articles each week on pre-agreed topics, meeting appropriate deadlines. Journalists will be required to attend two weekly staff meetings at NY HQ, and also to complete our journalism training packages.

Eligibility

We are looking for young, reliable, articulate, reasonably experienced journalists. Journalists will be expected to be punctual and to meet both our deadlines and our standards. Failure to meet either our deadlines or our high professional standards may result in instant dismissal. Advanced English language competency is required. Journalists will be expected to be competent computer users.

Incentives

In time we will offer an improved salary, commensurate with the journalists’ competency and professional development. This job is also an excellent opportunity to begin a promising career, and will provide excellent professional training. It also may lead to international coverage of a journalist’s work.

Apply

Applicants should send a covering email, their CV, including all contact details, and also a sample of their written work. The written sample should be 800 words long, in a ‘news analysis’ style, on a subject of their choice.

Selection

Applicants will be contacted within three days, if they have been successful. The applicant will be expected to attend an assessment day and interview within one week, and will be expected to write a further article, of our choice. Selected applicants will work for one month on a non-paid probation status after being selected. If the trainee journalist meets our deadlines and reaches our standards over the probationary period, they will be fully welcomed to a permanent position with us, with full pay.

Sunday, Oct 31, 2010 Issue 20 www.nationalyemen.com

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Sunday, Oct 31, 2010 Issue 20 www.nationalyemen.com

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National Yemen

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