45 percent of NDC withdrawers from JMP, 25 percent Muslim brotherhood

Ahmed Awadh Bin Mubarak

Ahmed Awadh Bin Mubarak

By Akram al-gaolahi
The General Secretary of the National Dialogue Conference (NDC) Ahmed Awadh Bin Mubarak, revealed the overall number of the withdrawing members since its beginning, ensuring that those whose withdrawals and apology were announced and  accepted will be replaced.
“A number of parties and components, since the beginning of the NDC had replaced 21 of their members, whose attendance was impossible. The Islah replaced five of its members, the Unified popular Nasserite replaced two, the Socialist party replaced two and the Hirak “the “Southern Movement” replaced 12 of its members since the beginning of the conference, because some of those “Hirak” replaced never attended for reasons, including their being abroad and the impossibility of their attendance,” Bin Mubarak said in a press statement.
The NDC General Secretary explained that the seats will not remain vacant, because they affect the NDC quorum, which will start within the upcoming period discussion of decisions which will involve voting and attitudes from different forces, a matter that stipulates completion of the political components within the conference, adding that since the incidence of Sheikh Ahmed Bin Farid al-Surimah, only one member withdrew from NDC. It is Ali Yaslem Ba Oudah, adding that some of the media reports over withdrawals from NDC are exaggerated.
In a related issue some of the NDC members carried out a protesting stand to denounce the security disorder, witnessed by a number of Yemeni areas and  Provinces, resulting in attacks against  security and military members, the last of them being the martyrdom of the commander of the intelligence branch in Hadramout, Brigadier Ahmed Abdul-Razeq.
An NDC source said the members during their protesting stance called on the Reconciliation Government and the Security apparatus to take firm measures, so as to maintain the public tranquility, the state’s prestige and to strengthen security and stability in all Provinces. 

Leader attacked in Saudi Arabia

Yahya Mohammed Abdullah Saleh

Yahya Mohammed Abdullah Saleh

By Akram al-gaolahiYahya Mohammed Abdullah Saleh said that he phoned the Yemeni businessman Ali Mohammed Ghaleb al-Nahari, who produced a new brand perfume item named after the former president’s title al-Za’eem (Leader), to stand by him, according to a post brought on his Facebook page.
One of the businessman’s stores has been attacked and burnt down recently in Riyadh.
 Sources close to the former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh said that Saleh cntacted last Wednesday afternoon with the Yemeni businessman in Riyadh, and condemned this cowardly attack, stressing that the former president will stand by the businessman al-Nahari and expressed his confidence that the Saudi authorities will not tolerate in this matter.
The commercial store of al-Nahari has been subjected to fire by unknown assailants after threats to withdraw the new fragrance brand which carries the name of the leader or to change the brand name, which has been recently marketed in Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
The sources said, “The incident reflects the narrow-minded political parties of the Muslim Brotherhood and their allies, with the political choices of the people, pointing out that Nahari expresses his appreciation to the General People’s Congress “leader Ali Abdullah Saleh.”

Yemen Holiday workers

Yemeni labors celebrate their day and President describes them as Yemen new future makers

By Yemen Observer Staff
Yemen celebrated last Wednesday the International Labor Day under the slogan of “Together with NDC to Build the Modern Yemeni State, Under law and Order, Union’s Rights and Freedoms Respect and the Achievement of Social Justice.”
President Hadi said in a speech which the Foreign Minister Dr. Abu Bakr al-Qirbi gave it on his behalf, pointing to the great significance and meaning  of the Labor Day, celebrated by the working forces in Yemen this year, under and atmosphere of optimism of laying the foundation of a modern Yemeni state of justice, equality and the rule of law.
The President saluted the Yemeni workers over this occasion, describing them as the ones who carry the tools for the construction of the new Yemen which the Yemeni people are longing for.
The President spoke of the importance of the Comprehensive National Dialogue Conference (NDC), in the construction of Yemen, praising the role of the Youth in the change and development process.
“The homeland’s head should be raised high with your sacrifices and strife in the fields of work and construction for its prosperity, progress and for raising its banner higher in the sky,” the President said, adding “ We pray to God to bless your efforts which adorn the homeland with lofty medals woven by the bright pearls of your sweat which will be kept in the hearts of your nation as gems, jewels and gifts of love.”
The President saluted in his speech the Head of the Yemeni Trade Union Ali Belkhadar and the workers in all work positions, pointing out the celebration of the working class in Yemen, coincides with holding the comprehensive NDC.
“the Labor day celebration gives significant indications of the effective role in the construction, development and continuous struggle  processes for the accomplishment of social justice in all fields through the real partnership built on the social dialogue principles between the tripartite production sides (the government, the employees and the employers ), ” the President said,noting that the working class in Yemen was the  biggest victim of the situation that prevailed in the country during the previous period.
He called on the Reconciliation Government (RG) to improve the working class’s conditions by raising the levels of minimum wages, to ensure the provision of a decent life for the Yemeni workers and to implement the remaining phases of the wages strategy, the release of the functional, the adjustments of annual allowances and the sorting out of their situations.
On the other hand, the Head of the Generl Insurance Corporation, Ahmed Saleh Saif, pointed out that the Labor Day is an important benchmark in which the workers equip themselves with rights awareness regarding their crucial issues, foremost of them the social insurance. noting that the crisis which the country had undergone during the past period caused a deep crack in the private sector’s wall, through the leakage of their workforce, and their abstention  from establishing new economic and commercial projects, causing a direct impact on the private sector’s retirement fund, represented in the General Social Insurance Corporation.
The head of the Commercial Chambers’ Association Mohammed Qafla, said the establishment of the private institutions in Yemen and the coping with regional and international progress depends on the private, trained, competent and skilled labor, ensuring their giving special attention to the training and capacitating of the working forces so as to cover the growing needs of the labor market.
There were lyrical sections and plays during the ceremony which expressed the occasion and won the praise of the audience.
Finally the prominent leaders of the trade unions  and a number of the distinctive workers from the different workers’ institutions and production establishments were  honored
The RG expressed its understanding to the suffering of the Yemeni workers, in the current conditions, due to the 2011 incidents, ensuring that the government will do all it could to overcome its consequences, and to work for the enhancement of the economic growth, for attracting investments so as to provide more new job opportunities for the youth and to improve the workers’ conditions.

National Dialogue : for release of Yemeni detainees

NDC members demonstrate for release of Yemeni detainees abroad

By Akram al-gaolahiNDC members staged a protest in the lobby of Sana'a's Movenpick Hotel on Monday to demand the release of Yemenis who are presently detained abroad.
In particular, the protesters are concerned over Yemeni detainees at the US facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and Yemeni fishermen who are in detention in regional prisons. Some protesters did, however, also mention Yemenis who had disappeared as a result of extrajudicial arrests.
Among the slogans on the placards held up by the protesters were 'Oh, US - where are human rights at Guantanamo?' And 'Release Yemeni fishermen from foreign prisons'.
Arwa Abdu Othman, the chairwoman of the Working Group on Human Rights and Freedoms, said her group was working hard to address all rights issues - and individuals' rights in particular.
"In the end, we want our discussions to take the country into a new era. We are focusing on individual rights inside our society - or, rather, how to make the government or groups better provide for individuals' rights," said Othman.
Speaking about the importance of her group's tasks, she added, "Building an individual means building a country. If the individual's rights are lost in favor of political rights, a tragedy ensues".
Othman affirmed that the agenda for the Rights and Freedoms Working Group's was moving forward in a positive direction. She pointed out that the group's committees had finalized their preparatory tasks, such as developing guidelines for the constitution.
"So far, there is unanimity on key issues, including how to ensure equality of opportunity, freedom of speech, religious freedom, intellectual and cultural rights, and adherence to international conventions on human rights."

*NDC.COM

Children's Parliament

Children's Parliament questions NDC General Secretariat

By Akram al-gaolahi

Yemen Children's Parliament

The fifth conference of the Children's Parliament (CP) started early Saturday at the House of representatives under the slogan: (The Involvement of Children in Dialogue Conference between Reality and Rights).
At the meeting, the CP questioned the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, Save the Children and the NDC General Secretariat, the Rights and Freedoms Committee, the State-building and Transitional justice Committee, the Civil Society Commission.
The conference also discussed the reasons for not involving the children in the National Dialogue Conference and what the dialogue will offer to the Children given the fact that children in Yemen are representing half of the population.

AL-GAOLAHI :there is no powerful electronic journalism in Yemen because of the weak infrastructure

AL-GAOLAHI :there is no powerful electronic journalism in Yemen because of the weak infrastructure

Sophie Elmenthaler

Akram Al- Gaolahi

The German website " Tintenkiller – Journalismus im Internet " , supported by the Evangelical School of Journalism " Evangelische Journalistenschule ", hosted the Senior Journalist and the person in charge of the Yemen Observer website; Mr. Akram Al-Gaolahi, in an a dialouge about the press in Yemen in general, and the electronic press in specific, addressing the most important issues, constraints and freedom of the press. Interviewed by Sophie Elmenthaler

Mr. / Akram Al-Gaolahi a journalist in Yemen Observer newspaper and a human rights activist and blogger-mail.
Sophie Elmenthaler : First tell us about yourself?
Akram Al- Gaolahi : My name is Akram Mohammed Al- Gaolahi, I was born in 1982 . I work is a journalist and human rights activist in Yemen and I am a senior journalist in the Yemen Observer newspaper, written in  English-language. I am a writer and blogger mail in several newspapers and websites.
Sophie Elmenthaler : Are there obstacles in journalism in Yemen .. What are these obstacles?

Akram Al- Gaolahi :Yes, there are a lot of problems and obstacles that hinder the reality of the Yemeni press in general and the electronic media in specific.
Journalism in Yemen faces many obstacles that increase the hassles of working in this field.
The most important of these difficulties lies in the deterioration of the security situation and the prosecution of journalists by security agencies, in addition to excluding those responsible for authorizing the important topics, and other assemblages taking place in the Yemeni press. And because of that, the officials in Yemen do not seem ready enough to cooperate with journalists in order to provide information of interest to citizens . In addition to the withholding of information and the reduction of the their flow.  Not mentioning the poor Internet service which is the most important impediment to electronic media in Yemen.
Sophie Elmenthaler : How much is the freedom in the electronic press in Yemen.

Akram Al- Gaolahi :We face a difficult situation in the freedom of the press. Yemen was ranked 169 in the world in freedom of the press, according to a report by "Reporters Without Borders" for the year 2013. The report described Yemen as still one of the most dangerous countries to journalists through the attacks and the difficulties and legal aspects encountered by a journalist during a practice done .
Also in online journalism in Yemen is facing many restrictions, most important are blocking and fear of tribal militant groups.
Sophie Elmenthaler : How do you express your opinion and how do you publish your attitude in the Internet?

Akram Al- Gaolahi :For me I work in the newspaper as well as an online publisher. I have my own blog in addition to social networks like Facebook, Twitter and blogs, etc.. I practice a small part of freedom in expression and the defense of rights and freedoms.
But with all this I do not feel complete freedom in the absence of security and the proliferation of armed groups and the weakness of the country.
Sophie Elmenthaler : Are there other points you would like to share with us like the most important difficulties that you face in journalistic work in Yemen?

Akram Al- Gaolahi :I like to add that some of the difficulties faced by the electronic press in Yemen.
- The lack of a broad user base of the Internet, this effective technique that transport information is still not accustomed to Yemeni society.
- Lack of training and contact with the experts in the electronic media, especially in Europe and America.
- Lack of electronic content in light of the weakness of informational configuration. The benefit of the contents of electronic media means knowing the sailing techniques on the Internet.
- The growing piracy websites, and in light of the absence of a legal frame that protects the publisher on the Internet.
- The absence of dual-media culture with the Yemeni individual, because of the newness of the media experience in Yemen.
- The political and tribal tendencies of trends of paper newspapers.
- Lack of a legal framework of electronic journalism in Yemen, due to the timeliness and speed of evolution.
- Publicity Policy-mail in Yemen and fear that comes with the business owners, due to their lack of knowledge in this field.
- The absence of scientific electronic training and rehabilitation, and the absence of electronic culture.
- The difficulty of financing.

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Online-Journalismus im Jemen

Keine Pressefreiheit ohne Infrastruktur

Akram Al-Gaolah

 

Akram al-Gaolahi, Jahrgang 1982, arbeitet als Journalist  und Aktivist im Jemen. Er ist Redakteur für den Yemen Observer, eine große englischsprachige Zeitung und betreibt sein eigenes Blog.

Übersetzt und die Fragen gestellt hat Sophie Elmenthaler. Von einem Skype-Gespräch mussten wir wegen des in Sanaa ständig drohenden Stromausfalls absehen.

Sophie Elmenthaler

Gibt es in ihrem Land Einschränkungen für den Journalismus und wenn ja, was für welche?

Ja, es gibt viele Probleme und Einschränkungen, die den Journalismus allgemein und den Online-Journalismus im Besonderen beinflussen. Die Arbeit in diesem Beruf ist sehr anstrengend. Die Sicherheitslage hat sich sehr verschlechtert und Journalisten werden von den Sicherheitskräften verfolgt. Außerdem bekommen wir zu wichtigen Ereignissen keinen Zugang und sind auch sonst Repressionen von offizieller Seite ausgesetzt. Es gibt keine ausreichende Bereitschaft, mit Journalisten zusammenzuarbeiten, um die Bürger mit den wichtigen Informationen zu versorgen.

Was den Onlinejournalismus anbelangt, werden Webseiten gesperrt und Informationen vorenthalten. Außerdem sind die Internetdienste schlecht.

Wie frei ist der Onlinejournalismus im Jemen?

Hinsichtlich der Pressefreiheit ist die Situation insgesamt schwer. Nach einerStudie von Reporter ohne Grenzen von 2013 nimmt Jemen im internationalen Vergleich nur den 169. Platz von 179 ein. Der Jemen gehört immer noch zu den gefährlichsten Ländern für Journalisten, was Anschläge, allgemeine Schwierigkeiten und den rechtlichen Rahmen anbelangt. Für den Journalismus im Internet gilt das gleiche. Die Hauptprobleme sind, dass Seiten geblockt werden und man sich vor radikalen Stammesgruppen fürchten muss.

Wie publizieren Sie ihre Meinung im Netz?

Ich arbeite ja nicht nur bei der gedruckten Zeitung, sondern habe auch eine eigene Website, blogge und bin in verschiedenen sozialen Netzwerken wie Facebook oder Twitter und unterwegs. Da kann ich schon Meinungsfreiheit praktizieren und die Freiheitsrechte verteidigen. Ich fühle mich aber trotzdem nicht vollständig frei, weil es keine Sicherheit gibt, sich überall bewaffnete Gruppen ausbreiten und der Staat schwach ist.

Welche Probleme hat der Online-Journalismus Ihrer Meinung nach allgemein?

Im Jemen gibt es noch keine breite Basis an Internetnutzern und keine Medienkutlur für die neuen Medien. Da die Informationssituation insgesamt schwach ist, gibt es auch einen Mangel an Inhalten im Netz. Wenn es mehr journalistische Inhalte online geben soll, dann müssen die Leute auch wissen, wie man im Internet surft. Ebenso fehlt es an Aus- und Fortbildung für Informatiker und an Praxis und Kontakt mit erfahrenen Onlinejournalisten, vor allem aus Europa und den USA. Die rechtlichen Rahmenbedingungen sind auch noch unterentwickelt, daher kommt es häufig zu Problemen mit Web-Piraterie, weil Autoren im Netz nicht ausreichend geschützt sind. Die Finanzierung ist schwierig, weil viele Unternehmer sich mit dem Netz nicht auskennen und sehr misstrauisch mit Online-Werbung und Anzeigen sind. Und zu guter Letzt bevorzugen die Politiker und die Stammesangehörigen (also die einflussreichen Gesellschaftsschichten, A. d. R. ) gedruckte Zeitungen
 Journalismus im Internet *
http://jg10.ejs-training.de/tintenkiller/onlinejournalismus-jemen/