الصحف الامريكية فتحت ملف اسرة الرئيس اليمني وفضائحها وتقاسمها للسلطة والثروة
SANA, Yemen — The United States is quickly ramping up its aid to Yemen, which Washington sees as a revived new front against Al Qaeda. But one of the most delicate tasks will be managing the relationship with the president of Yemen, Ali Abdullah Saleh, who has filled his government with numerous members of his family and who wants to ensure that his son Ahmed succeeds him, Yemeni officials, analysts and Western diplomats say.
Mr. Saleh, 67, is wily, witty and fit. But he has been spending less time in the past two years managing the complicated tribal and regional demands of fragile Yemen than trying to consolidate the power of his family, the analysts say. As Yemen’s oil revenues erode and Mr. Saleh has fewer resources to spread around, the reach of the central government has been shrinking — “the government is practically caged in the capital,” Sana, one senior Western diplomat said.
Mr. Saleh presents the Obama administration with a problem that is all too familiar in Afghanistan and Pakistan. He is amenable to American support, but his ineffective and corrupt bureaucracy has limited reach. And his willingness to battle Al Qaeda, which he does not view as his main enemy, is questionable.
Much of Yemen is in turmoil. Government forces on Monday killed two militants suspected of being with Al Qaeda. There is another round of rebellion in the north and a growing secessionist movement in the south. In important provinces where key oil resources are and where Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula is strong, government troops and the police largely remain in their barracks or in the central cities. Order outside the cities is kept by tribal chiefs, with their own complicated loyalties.
“You can’t see anyone in a government uniform in Abyan,” said Murad Zafir, a Yemeni political analyst, referring to a southern province. “There are large areas of the country where there is no electricity, no running water and no central authority.”
United States aid was paltry until last year, and it was only when American intelligence could show Mr. Saleh that his family was being singled out by Al Qaeda that he began to take the group’s threat seriously, diplomats said.
How effectively Yemen addresses the threat depends largely on Mr. Saleh’s family. Ahmed Saleh is head of the Yemen Republican Guard and the country’s special forces.
The president’s nephews — sons of his late brother — include Amar, the deputy director for national security; Yahye, head of the central security forces and the counterterrorism unit; and Tarek, head of the Presidential Guard. The president’s half brother is head of the air force.
The sense of Yemen as a family corporation that has also enriched itself is part of the problem, Mr. Zafir said; the president’s mosque, al-Saleh Mosque, was completed less than two years ago and is said to have cost at least $120 million. “President Saleh wants his son to succeed him,” Mr. Zafir said. To make that happen, he has sought to consolidate power in his family’s hands, but his influence over the tribal chiefs has receded, Mr. Zafir said.
Najeeb Saeed Ghanem, a former minister of health, is a member of Parliament from the largest opposition party, Islah, an Islamist party with close ties to tribal groups. “It is the size of the deterioration of the regime and its control over the country that we’re afraid of,” he said.
With oil revenues down, Mr. Saleh has had to turn to outside allies to help finance the war in the north. Saudi Arabia provided $2 billion last year to make up for the budget shortfall — an amount that dwarfs the $150 million in security assistance that the United States will ask Congress to approve for the 2010 fiscal year.
“The Saudis understand,” said Ahmed M. al-Kibsi, a political scientist at Sana University, “that they are the real prize for Al Qaeda, and Yemen is the platform.”
But there are challenges to Mr. Saleh’s goals of empowering his son, if not direct challenges to Mr. Saleh. One of his main allies, even as a young lieutenant colonel in 1977 when he initially took power in the north, was Ali Mohsen. Now he is the military commander in charge of the effort to stamp out the Houthi rebellion to the north. The Houthis are Shiites, and Mr. Mohsen is said to be a Sunni religious conservative.
Mr. Saleh and Mr. Mohsen are not related and are not considered rivals for the presidency. But Mr. Mohsen has signaled that he does not favor a direct succession of Ahmed Saleh to the presidency, diplomats and analysts said. Mr. Mohsen believes, they said, that the younger Mr. Saleh lacks the personal strength and charisma of his father and cannot hold the country together.
The tension between the two old comrades is visible in the criticism of the way the war in the north is being handled, with government officials sometimes complaining that Mr. Mohsen set off renewed fighting there by occupying or destroying the mosques and holy places of the Houthis and building Sunni mosques and schools in the area. Mr. Mohsen’s supporters have countered that the war has not been fully supported by the central government.
Mr. Saleh and his son also face another internal challenge from the next generation of the powerful Ahmar family, Yemeni bluebloods. Sheik Abdullah al-Ahmar was the chief of the powerful Hashed tribe, founded the Islah party and was Parliament speaker until his death in December 2007. One of his sons, Hamid al-Ahmar, a businessman in his 40s, now leads Islah.
Mr. Saleh has tried to keep the family close, in particular by letting Hamid al-Ahmar invest in major cash cows, like the main cellphone company, SabaFon, oil interests and the Bank of Saba. But in August, Hamid al-Ahmar stunned Yemenis by appearing on Al Jazeera to describe Mr. Saleh as having overstayed his time and calling on him to leave office and not try to enthrone his son. “If Saleh wants the people of Yemen to be on his side against monarchy and defend national unity, he himself must quit pursuing monarchy,” he said.
How the United States manages Mr. Saleh and his family ambitions will have much to do with success or failure against Al Qaeda. “Washington must work with and behind the regime, whatever its flaws, while trying to push Saleh toward reconciliation with his opponents,” a Western diplomat said. “I am afraid it will take more delicacy than the Pentagon can do.”Read more…
في ساعة مبكرة من صباح اليوم الخميس قامت قوات الأمن بمديرية البريقة بعدن الصغرى بقتل الشاب يونس باحبيب بعد الترصد له إثناء عودته من مدينة الشعب في تمام الساعة الثانية صباحا ، وبعد أجبارة على النزول من سيارته أردوه قتيلا ، وقد بررت الشرطة قتله بالطريقة التي قاموا بها بمحاولته الفرار .
وقال شهود عيان في المنطقة لـ " عدن برس " بأن اشتباكات دارت عقب مقتل باحبيب بين جموع من أهالي البريقة الغاضبين على العمل الإجرامي الذي قام به جنود الشرطة بحق الشاب باحبيب وجرح مدير مباحث البريقة واثنين آخرين من الأمن .
إلى ذلك رفضت قوات الأمن تسليم جثة الشهيد باحبيب إلى أسرته إلا بعد تسليم بعض الشباب الذين هاجموا مركز الشرطة والذي جرح فيه مدير لمباحث .
وتم إغلاق مديرية البريقة منذ الصباح الباكر إمام المواطنين القادمين من جهة الشيخ عثمان وكذلك من جهة صلاح الدين ، وأصبحت مدينة مغلقة حتى كتابة الخبر ، وهدد الأهالي بالذهاب يوم غداً إلى مستشفى الجمهورية وإخراج الجثة بالقوة إذا لم تسلم لهم اليوم .
جدير ذكره أن عدد من مديريات عاصمة الجنوب عدن تشهد مسيرات واعتصامات احتجاجاً على ممارسات قوات الأمن تجاه أبناء الجنوب عامة وأبناء عدن خاصة .Read more…
متابعات: أنصار صحيفة " الأيام " من أبناء الجنوب في الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية قرروا تنظيم مظاهرة يوم الاثنين 11 / 1 / 2010 المقبل في
الساعة العاشرة صباحا أمام مبنى وزارة الخارجية في العاصمة واشنطن ، تضامنا مع صحيفة " الأيام" وأسرة ناشريها الأستاذين هشام وتمام محمد علي باشراحيل لما تتعرض له من ممارسات إرهاب الدولة لنظام الاحتلال الذي يقوده الطاغية علي عبد الله صالح ، والذي قام بترويع النساء والأطفال من أجل إسكات المنبر الجنوبي الإعلامي وقمع وترهيب ناشريه والزج بهم وأنصارهم من أعضاء مؤسسات المجتمع المدني بالجنوب في زنازينه .
نداء عاجل
تظاهرة تضامن مع " الأيام " في واشنطن
قام نظام على عبدالله صالح الهمجي بإضافة جريمة جديدة إلى سجل جرائمه ضد شعبنا ووطننا الجنوبي المحتل حيث اعتدى في الرابع من يناير ٢٠١٠ وبالرصاص الحي على ممثلي أحزاب المعارضة ومنظمات المجتمع المدني والمواطنين الذين هرعوا للاعتصام السلمي أمام مقر صحيفة الأيام للدفاع بصدور مفتوحة عن هذا المنبر والرمز الوطني لمدينة عدن والجنوب ، ورغم استلامه ثلاثة رهائن بينهم محمد هشام باشراحيل فانه نقض تعهده برفع الحصار عن مقر الصحيفة ومسكن عائلة باشراحيل .
وفي يوم الثلاثاء قصف من الساعة الثالثة ليلا حتى الثامنة صباحا مقر الصحيفة ومسكن الناشرين هشام وتمام باشراحيل مستخدما سلاح الدوشكا المخيف غير عابئ بالأطفال والنساء ولا بالمعتصمين الذين لجئوا الى مقر الصحيفة والمسكن بعد ان أطلق الأمن المركزي عليهم الرصاص عصر يوم الاثنين الرابع من يناير ٢٠١٠ .
لم يتوقف القصف إلا بعد خروج خمسة أفراد من أسرة باشراحيل وتسليم أنفسهم كرهائن واعتقال حوالي ٥٠ شخصا بعد أن نقلوا أولاً إلى شرطة كريتر بعذر التوقيع على تعهدات مطلوبة من الشرطة.
لم يكتفي هذا النظام الوحشي بأخذ الرهائن بل انتزع أيضا الناشر هشام باشراحيل من فراش المرض ورمى به في غياهب السجون ، ملفقا ومفبركا تهما لتبرير إرهاب الدولة الذي مارسه ضد أسرة لا تملك الا صحيفة أبت الا أن تكون صوتا للحرية وصوتا للحق الجنوبي .
لقد استغلت الدولة العصابة سلمية المعتصمين فسفكت دماء البعض واعتقلت البعض لتذيقهم العذاب والتعذيب ، لذا فإننا نتوجه بهذا النداء العاجل لأبناء الجنوب ولأخوتنا أبناء الشمال الذين يؤمنون بعدالة قضيتنا الجنوبية والمتواجدين في الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية بالتوجه يوم ألاثنين ألموافق ١١ يناير ٢٠١٠ الساعة العاشرة صباحا إلى أمام مبنى وزارة الخارجية ألأمريكية للتظاهر وتقديم رسائل إلى وزيرة الخارجية ألأمريكية تشرح حقيقة ما يحصل والمعاناة التي يعانيها شعبنا من جراء ألاحتلال.Read more…
Posted by OIPWHR-M.T. on January 7, 2010 at 12:42am
أردنية ولبنانيةإمرأة أردنية زارت صديقتها اللبنانية، وبعد التحدث في شتـّى المجالات ،تفاجأت الأردنية حين علمت من صديقتها اللبنانية أن زوجها لا يشكو أبدا ولا يتذمّر من شراء حاجيات المنزلبل على العكس تماما ، فكل ما تريده تطلبه منه وهو يجلبه.فقامت الاردنية واستفسرت من صديقتها اللبنانية عن سر ذلك ،فقالت لها صديقتها اللبنانية ، أنظري كيف اكتب له الطلبات التي اريدها :حبيبي ، أريد :جبنة بيضاء مثل قلبكقشطة يا قشـطةسـُكـّر مثل دمكطماطم مثل لون خدودكشطة مثل مشاعركعسل يا عمري ..زعفران مثل لون قلبكصابون معطـّرة مثل ملمسكشكولاته حلوة يا حلووقالت لها بعد ذلك جملتها التي تطبقها دائما في حياتها الزوجية " كـوني له امرأة يكن لك رجلاً :فانبهرت الأردنية من هذا الأسلوب الجميل وقررت أن تطبقه هي أيضاً على زوجها ،وعندما عادت إلى منزلها ، قامت بكتابة الطلبات التالية لزوجها لكي يحضرها لها ، فكتبت :حبيبي أريد :بصل مثل ريحة حلقكباتنجان مثل لونكطماطم بلون عيونكقرنبيط مثل شعركبطاطس مثل منخاركربطة جرجير مثل شنبكورق عنب مثل دانكوثوم من ريحتكمساحة بطولكولا تنسى قبل العيد تجيبلنا خروف ناصح....مثلكولا تتأخر.رحمة الله عليهاالبقاء للهالفرق بين الزوجة والسكرتيرةما هو الفرق بين الزوجة والسكرتيرة ؟الجواب : 30 كيلو جرامالسكرتيرة مهمة جداًو الزوجة مهمة صعبةالسكرتيرة لا تتدخل في شؤون المنزلالزوجة تتدخل في شؤون المكتبالسكرتيرة تكون بكامل أناقتها بمجرد أن تدخل المكتبالزوجة تكون بكامل أناقتها أيضاً, ولكن بمجرد أن تخرج من المنزلالسكرتيرة تنفذ الأوامرالزوجة تعطي الأوامرالسكرتيرة تكذب بالنيابة عنكالزوجة تكذب بالنيابة عليكالسكرتيرة مشروع حب قادم نظام(( أحلم بيك .. أنا بحلم بيك ))الزوجة مشروع حب قديم نظام(( لسه فاكر ))السكرتيرة لديها حل لكل مشكلةالزوجة مشكلة لكل حلالسكرتيرة تبحث لك عن أعذار حتى و إن كنت مشكوكاً فيكالزوجة أي عذر تقدمه مشكوك فيهالسكرتيرة تفسر الشك لصالح المتهمالزوجة تفسر الشك ضد المتهمالسكرتيرة لا تدخل المكتب إلا وتجدها أمامكالزوجة لا تخرج من البيت إلا وتجدها وراءكالسكرتيرة مثل بضاعة في الفاترينةالزوجة مثل بضاعة في المخزنمرة أخيرة ما هو الفرق بين الزوجة والسكرتيرة ؟الجواب : السكرتيرة تشعر المدير بأنه سي السيدوالزوجة تشعره بأنها سيد قشطهRead more…
Yemeni security forces attacked al Ayyam again at 2:49 am Tuesday morning, the attack is in progress with Yemeni security forces using live rounds and tear gas to attack the newpaper headquarters and residence of the editors.
Update 2: Reporters without Borders, Army machine guns protestors outside newspaper office amidst growing clampdown As usual, Yemen lies.
Update from Aden Gulf Net: Northern occupation forces cracked down on Monday afternoon, as some 500 people were in the sit-in in solidarity with the newspaper al-Ayyam. They were forcibly stopped by the Ministry of Information, as the security forces began killing people who were shot dead by security forces, according to witnesses and spokesmen for al Ayyam.
On Monday, civil society organizations in Aden held a sit-in in front of Al-Ayyam Newspaper’s building in Aden, Yemen that began at 3:00pm. Around 4:00pm, central security forces arrived and began to attempt to disperse the pro-freedom of the press demonstration. Within several minutes, the soldiers opened fire at the compound with live rounds. The shooting lasted for 30 minutes. None of the protesters or those within the building’s compound fired back.
The security forces announced one person was killed and two injured.
By 10 pm this evening, the military was laying siege to the newspaper’s compound and cut off all roads leading to the district of Crater. Soldiers have started to station on top of nearby buildings.
The newspaper hasn’t published since May, when it was banned for reporting on anti-government protests in southern Yemen. Its delivery trucks were attacked and copies of the paper burned. Several of al Ayyam’s journalists have been brought up on charges of “undermining unity” by reporting on the civil unrest in the south. Yemeni President Saleh is largely reviled in southern Yemen as a tyrant and a thief. Some southerners consider their lands illegally occupied by the Saleh regime after 1994’s civil war.
One of the most respected and long established independent news papers in Yemen, al Ayyam recently won the ACE Freedom of the Press Award, which noted in its award:
“The Al Ayyam newspaper has shown enormous commitment and bravery by covering sensitive stories despite paying a high price for being out spoken in Yemen, one of the World’s most closed countries. Created in 1958, Al-Ayyam is one of Yemen’s leading dailies. It has no political affiliation but, with headquarters in the southern city of Aden, it acts as a mouthpiece of the inhabitants of the poor southern provinces and has provided extensive coverage of the social unrest in the south in recent months.”
“The Al Ayyam newspaper has shown enormous commitment and bravery by covering sensitive stories despite paying a high price for being out spoken in Yemen, one of the World’s most closed countries. Created in 1958, Al-Ayyam is one of Yemen’s leading dailies. It has no political affiliation but, with headquarters in the southern city of Aden, it acts as a mouthpiece of the inhabitants of the poor southern provinces and has provided extensive coverage of the social unrest in the south in recent months.”
Reporters Without Borders condemned Yemen’s attempt to use the current anti-terror push to crush human rights after security forces today fired on a crowd of protestors staging a ‘sit-in’ outside the offices of a banned newspaper.
“The Ali Abdallah Saleh government is taking advantage of support from foreign powers in the fight against terrorism on its soil to deliberately violate people’s rights”, the worldwide press freedom organisation said.
“The international community must remind the Sanna government that the legitimate fight against terrorism can never be used to justify cracking down on the media”, it said.
More than 200 demonstrators answered a call from several Yemeni human rights organisations to hold a ‘sit-in’ outside the offices of the newspaper al-Ayyam in Aden, in protest at the forced closure of the daily since May last year and to call for its reopening.
Editor Hisham Bashraheel described the scene to Reporters Without Borders: “The security forces started firing on the crowd at 16.07pm. The police even aimed at one of their own number to make it look like the demonstrators were armed, when in fact everyone came to protest peacefully”.
“We are surrounded. There are soldiers and police everywhere,” he added. “We have heard them calling for reinforcements. The demonstrators are still gathered at the entrance. It will be dark in Aden soon and we fear the worst”, the worried editor said.
Security forces previously fired on the offices of the newspaper on 13 May 2009 (http://www.rsf.org/Soldiers-fire-on-Aden-based.html), after the information minister banned the newspaper from printing on 4 May in the name of the principle of the “country’s national unity” (http://www.rsf.org/Major-crackdown-on-independent.html). The situation deteriorated still further on 15 July when a journalist on the newspaper, Anis Ahmed Mansur Hamida, was sentenced to 14 months in prison for “attacking national unity” and “separatism” at the end of a politically motivated trial (http://www.rsf.org/Al-Ayyam-reporter-gets-14-month.html). He remains in prison.
The state of press freedom in the country has considerably worsened since May 2009, particularly in the south of the country. Nothing has been heard of Khalid Jahafi a journalist on the opposition news website Alsahwa.net since security forces arrested him on 27 December 2009 while he was taking photos of clashes between police officers and supporters of the southern pro-independence movement (http://www.rsf.org/Crackdown-on-media-reinforced.html). Shafi’ al-Abd, a journalist on the newspaper al-Nada, as well as four members of the leadership of the Federation of Southern Youth, were arrested by police in Aden on 28 December, before being moved to Khor Maksar jail in Aden province. The journalist has been charged with forming a political party hostile to “security and national unity”. A court in Lahij province has also postponed indefinitely and without explanation the trial of journalist Iyyad Ghanem, who is in worsening health from a two-week hunger strike. He has been in custody for six months after filming a rally by supporters of the southern rebel groups in the city of Korsh.
Further, nothing has been heard since 18 September of journalist Muhammad al-Maqalih, who disappeared in unexplained circumstances. Many Yemeni journalists believe the security services were responsible for his abduction, despite their denials. Fouad Rashid, editor of the website Al-Mukalla Press, and Salah al-Saqladi, editor of the website Adengulf-website, are also still being held.Read more…
أنه وسط ذهول وصرخات النساء والأطفال وبطريقة إرهابية فجة اقتحمت صباح اليوم وحدة خاصة من قوات الأمن المركزي التابعة ليحي محمد عبدالله صالح نجل شقيق الرئيس اليمني علي عبد الله صالح مؤسسة الأيام بكريتر بعد ثلاثة أيام من محاصرتها وتم إعتقال هشام باشراحيل الذي كان طريح الفراش لا يقوى على الحركة بسبب الأمراض التي يعاني منها ومنعه من السفر للعلاج طيلة الأشهر الثمانية التي ظل فيها تحت الإقامة الجبرية منذ أن قرر الرئيس اليمني إغلاق الصحيفة بصورة قسرية ، كما اقتادوا أبنه هاني ، وحسب معلومات غير مؤكدة بأن هشام قد تم نقله الى صنعاء .
وقال شاهد عيان أن خالد عقبة مدير مديرية صيرة أحد افراد لجنة الوساطة حاول أخذ الاستاذ هشام باشراحيل بسيارته بعد أن اقتحم الامن منزله بالقوة ، الا أن جنود شماليين شتموه وأهانوه بعبارات نابية وسحبوا هشام بسيارتهم العسكرية واقتادوه الى جهة مجهولة بعد أن ترددت معلومات عن نقله الى صنعاء ، وأكدت مصادر في عدن أمس أثناء حصار الايام من أن الرئيس اليمني قال لمدير الأمن بعدن العقيد عبدالله قيران ( شمالي ) بأنه يريد هشام باشراحيل حيا او ميتا ، وعلى ضوء هذا الأمر نفذت عملية اقتحام دار الأيام والعبث بجميع محتويات البيت والمؤسسة صباح اليوم . متابعاتRead more…
المهجرون يعتصمون امام مبنى الحكومة احتجاجا على الصمت الرسمي ازاء استئساد الشيخ منصور ومليشياته المسلحة
في اعتصام غابت عنه النخبة المكررة وحضره أصحاب القضايا اعتصم عشرات النازحين المهجرين من قراهم التي يسيطر عليها شيخ الجعاشن أحمد محمد منصور ويوجه هجوما على سكان قرية الشقة أحرق فيه منازلهم وأصيبت امرأة مسنة بشضايا قذيفة لم يعرف نوعها حتى الآن، وقال محمد مرشد أحد الأهالي أنهم معتصمون أمام مجلس الوزراء احتجاجا على الصمت الرسمي الذي يقابل استئساد الشيخ منصور ومليشياته المسلحة التي يسلحها وينتمي أفرادها إلى مناطق أخرى.
وفي اعتصام الثلاثاء الذي تنظمه صحفيات بلا قيود أسبوعيا للمطالبة بحرية التعبير وتضامنا مع صحيفة الأيام، قال قاسم ناجي المتحدث باسم مهجري الجعاشن أنهم يتعرضون لحملة تشريد واسعة النطاق وأن مليشيات الشيخ أخرجت النساء والأطفال من القرية وأنها في هذه الآونة تقوم بإحراق المنازل بحثا عن مطلوبين للشيخ عجزوا عن دفع اتاوات بالغة الكلفة
وطالب المهجرون من الجعاشن الدولة ببسط نفوذها على المنطقة بدلا من الشيخ منصور وأكدوا أنهم مستعدون للتبرع بأحد منازلهم كمركز للشرطة كما طالبوا بنزع أسلحة مليشيات الشيخ منصور ومحاسبته على ما اقترفه من جرائم بحقهم .
كما شارك في الاعتصام طلاب كلية المجتمع محتجين على قرار وزير التعليم العالي بإلغاء دراستهم العليا والتعنت الذي يقابلون به في بقية الكليات موجهين رسالة لرئيس مجلس الوزراء لإعادة النظر في قرار الوزير كما استمر اعتصام المطالبة بقتلة الدكتور درهم القدسي إلى جانب اهالي المعتقلين والمخفيين قسرا على ذمة احداث صعدة أو لأسباب سلالية أو طائفية وهتف المعتصمات بالحرية للمعتقل وليد شرف الدين وغيره من ضحايا السياسة الأمنية كما طالب المعتصمون بالإفراج عن الصحفي محمد المقالح والاعتذار له وتعويضه عن مالحقه من أضرار جراء اختطافه من قبل اجهزة الأمن وإ نكارها لوجوده لديها حتى اعترف الرئيس مؤخرا بوجوده لدى الأجهزة الأمنية التي كانت قد انكرت وجوده لديها في رسالة موجهة للنائب العام .
وعلى صعيد متصل أعتصم عشرات المغتربين اليمنيين أمام سفارة اليمن في الرياض احتجاجا على الصمت الرسمي جراء ما يتعرض له أهلهم في الجعاشن من قبل الشيخ منصور مطالبين السفارة بإبلاغ حكومة الجمهورية اليمنية بضرورة حماية مواطنيها وسلامتهم متسائلين إذا كانت الدولة لا تستيطع حماية اهلنا في الداخل من مجرد متنفذ وتتركه يعيث في الأرض فسادا فكيف نعتمد على حمايتها لنا في أرض الغربة نحن أو غيرنا .
كما اعتصم العشرات أيضا من أبناء المنطقة أمام مبنى محافظة مأرب مطالبين الدولة ببسط نفوذها وتحرير الأهالي من سلطة الشيخ منصور .Read more…
نشرت الكاتبة والصحافية البريطانية فيكتوريا كلارك ( من مواليد عدن ) اليوم مقالا في صحيفة الاندبندت البريطانية تطرقت فيه عن خفايا ما يجري في اليمن ورايها من القضايا الساخنة سواء في الشمال او الجنوب ، ولاهمية الموضوع ينشر " عدن برس " المقال بعد ترجمته بتجرد .
لفت سروال داخلي سيء التصنيع "صنع في اليمن" أنظار العالم إلى وجهة جديدة, إلى واحدة من أكثر الأماكن جاذبية وتنوعاً أنثروبولجياً كما أنها واحدة من البدان الأكثر فقراً والأقل شهرة. بلد يقع في الجزيرة العربية هو ما يساورنا القلق بشأنه.
في غضون أيام من الهجوم الفاشل الذي تم في ليلة رأس السنة كان وزير الخارجية اليمني يتسول طلبا للمساعدة ضد الجهاديين اللذين يقدر عددهم بنحو 300. مروحيات وتدريبات ضد الأرهاب وأموال كانت في قائمة أمانيه. في أول أيام العام الجديد أستجاب غوردون براون بخطة لاستضافة مؤتمر دولي لمناقشة سبل منع تحول بلد وصفه بأنه "حاضن وملاذ آمن محتمل للارهابيين" من أن يصبح أفغانستان أخرى. حتى الأمس حصل اليمن بالفعل على تعهد لتمويل جديد لمكافحة الارهاب ودعم لوحدة خفر السواحل كما ضاعفت الولايات المتحدة إنفاقها في اليمن من سبعين مليون دولار إلى مائة واربعين مليون دولار لهذا العام. دفعت معلومات استخباراتية جديدة حول التخطيط لهجوم في صنعاء بكل من الولايات المتحدة وبريطانيا لإغلاق سفارتيهما هناك. اليمن, أو بتعبير أدق، رئيسها ، علي عبد الله صالح, هو حليف في الحرب على الإرهاب التي خضناها في العقد الماضي لذا فأنه من الجيد أن نمد له له يد المساعدة ، ولكن يمكن الجدل إنه هناك القليل الذي يمكننا عمله في هذا المرحلة دون أن نعرض أنفسنا لخطر حقيقي لإرتداد مجهوداتنا ضدنا.
في عالم مثالي ، الرئيس صالح هو شخص لا نود أن نتعامل معه. وهو وإن كان بعيداً عن كونه طاغية متعطش للدماء في صورة صدام حسين ، إلا أنه تمكن من الإحتفاظ بالسلطة طيلة السنوات ال 30 الماضية عن طريق تحقيق توازن ماهر في المصالح تمكن منه بفضل الإغراءات المالية التي يمولها من عائدات اليمن القليلة من النفط منذ عام 1986. أن هذا المصدر المتباطئ والذي يشكل ثلاثة أرباع إيراد اليمن، لم يعد كافيا لتهدئة المعارضة ضد النظام الذي وصف من قبل الأكاديمي الأمريكي، البروفيسور روبرت دال بوروز ، بأنه حكومة لصوص يدار باللصوص ومن أجلهم. كلمات كفاسد ، ظالم ، بدائي، وإجرامي هي بعض الصفات التي يستخدمها المثقفين اليمنيين لوصف النظام.
فليس من المستغرب إذن أن الرئيس صالح يتنازع مع إثنتين من الحركات المنشقة الخطرة خلال النصف الثاني من العقد الماضي, واحدة في الشمال الغربي من البلاد وأخرى في الجنوب, وكلاهما يهدد سلامة البلاد. يحمل المتمردين الزيديين الشيعة في شمال غرب اليمن الكراهية لصالح بسبب بيعه بفعالية "للروح اليمنية" للوهابية السنية السعودية، وهي السياسة التي بدأت في وقت مبكر في بداية سبعينيات القرن الماضي حيث سعت صنعاء الى اقامة حصون ضد الماركسيين الذين أستولوا على السلطة في جنوب اليمن بعد رحيل البريطانيين في عام 1967 . انتفاضة الجنوب ضده ، في الوقت نفسه ، مشحونة بالغضب من طريقة التعامل مع توحيد شمال وجنوب اليمن منذ الإعلان عنه في عام 1990 ؛ في أواخر عام 2004 أعترف شيخ قبلي جنوبي مؤثر يدعى الشيخ طارق الفضلي ، وهو صديق قديم لاسامة بن لادن من أفغانستان والجهاد ضد السوفييت ومؤيد مخلص للرئيس صالح أعترف انه يتمنى أن يعود البريطانيين إلى عدن "قبل الغداء إن أمكن!"
بسبب إعتباره لإثنتين من الحركات المنشقة على أنها تشكل الخطر الأكبر عليه وعلى علاقاته من تنظيم القاعدة ، أنفق الرئيس صالح الجزء الأكبر من موارده عليها منذ عام 2004. المليارات من الدولارات من الطائرات الروسية من طراز ميج قصفت الأهداف المدنية في محافظة صعدة ، وجهود مكافحة الإرهاب تركزت على مضايقة وحبس الصحفيين والكوميديين والسياسيين المعارضين بدلا عن الإشراف على المساجد والمدارس ، ناهيك عن اقتلاع القاعدة.
حصل الجهاديون في اليمن على حرية لاعادة تجميع صفوفهم منذ عام 2006 عندما فر 23 منهم من سجن في صنعاء تديره وكالة الأمن المركزي, جهاز الأمن السياسي. وكما هو الحال في باكستان ، كانت هناك علامة إستفهام حول مصداقية جهاز الأمن السياسي ومساعدته وتشجيعه للجهاديين.
ومع ذلك, في زيارتي الأخيرة إلى صنعاء أكد لي أحد مستشاري الرئيس أن تنظيم القاعدة قد صعد على جدول الأعمال منذ أن أدرك صالح أنهم وضعوه مباشرة في أذهانهم ؛ أبلغت إمرأة عجوز عن كوخ غامض بين القبور في مقبرة بالقرب من المطار، فكشفت عن مؤامرة لاسقاط طائرة الرئيس صالح. في كانون الأول / ديسمبر دفع إكتشاف مؤامرات ضد السفارتين الامريكية والبريطانية في صنعاء إلى القيام ببعض الإجراءات المباشرة النادرة ضد تنظيم القاعدة. بالحصول على دعم –معلن- إستخباراتي وتسليحي من قبل الولايات المتحدة ، قصفت طائرات يمنية أهداف حددتها الولايات المتحدة لتنظيم القاعدة.
بدلا من تحويل المزيد من الأصدقاء إلى أعداء وقبل الخوض في اليمن كما يوصي السناتور جو ليبرمان -إطلاق البنادق في كل الاتجاهات وإلى جانب نظام فاشل لا يحظى بشعبية - يجب علينا النظر إلى بعض العوامل.
أن حرب كسب القلوب والعقول قد تم فقدانها إلى حد ما في اليمن وذلك بفضل غزو العراق وعدم شعبية الرئيس صالح حليف الولايات المتحدة. اليمن هي موطن لكثير من الأطياف الإسلامية المختلفة, وكثير منهم من السلفيين مثل بن لادن- وهو المقابل الإسلامي للمتشددين- ولكن الغالبية العظمى منهم ليسوا جهاديين، حتى لو كانوا لا يثقون بالغرب ويرفوضن قيمه.
من الممكن إبطاء إنتشار التطرف في اليمن إذا مورست ضغوط على جيران اليمن الإغنياء من دول الخليج لإستيعاب العمال المهاجرين اليمنيين, وعلى المدى الطويل، زيادة الاستثمار في البلد.
نصيحتنا السياسية للرئيس صالح قد تكون أنه في حاجة إلى تحقيق اللامركزية في أسرع وقت ممكن، قبل أن ينهار البلد. من غير المرجح أن تصبح اليمن ملاذا آمنا للمجاهدين. أن القوى التي سعت إلى السيطرة على اليمن منذ القرن السادس عشر - كالعثمانيين والبريطانيين والمصريين، والاتحاد السوفياتي- تعلمت جميعها بتكلفة هائلة أن القبائل اليمنية تهتم بالمال والأرض، لا بأي أيديولوجية, سواء كانت دينية أو علمانية.
في العراق تم في نهاية المطاف إنتزاع العشائر السنية من براثن تنظيم القاعدة برشوتها. أن هذا التكتيك قد ينجح في اليمن على الرغم من أن التعامل سيكون أفضل بالتأكيد لو تم على يد العرب من دول الخليج بدلاً عن من أي قوة غربية.Read more…
De mon dernier baiser sur tes lèvresJe garde le goût de sang et de cendreIl condense la mort et le feuIl me fait encore descendreDans un gouffre de désir malheureuxCar ce fut l’ultime carnageDe nos sentimentsL’ultime état de mariageDe nos sensSentencieusementAu-delà de tout ce qui a été demandéDe mon dernier baiser sur tes lèvresJ’épuise le laid de la beautéJ’extrais le mal de la bontéJ’extrude le sang de la criminalitéJ’institue la beauté du crimeJe diffuse la lumière du malJe déverse le sang de la puretéPour mon dernier baiser sur tes lèvresJ’accepte que je sois coupableQu’on m’enchaîne avec le ferQu’on m’enveloppe de ton mystèreQu’on me tire comme un chienQu’on me traite comme un rienQu’on me frappe comme une semelleQu’on m’enlève les prunellesQu’on m’arrache la peauQu’on guillotine mes motsQu’on me cloue sur la croixDe ton choixDe me quitter.Read more…
أي مهزلة هي خطة البيت الأبيض الجديدة للسخام وأي بهدلة! أي مزحة ثقيلة الدم وأي زعرنة! كيف يمكن لشلة زعران من هذا النوع أن تقود العالم؟ كيف لا يعي العالم، كيف لا يعي عالمنا العربي، كيف لا يعي الفلسطينيون مدى سقوط هذا النوع من زعران العالم الأضعف زعرنة؟ وهم على الرغم من أنهم الأضعف تجدهم يستضعفوننا! أي مصاب إذن يعم العالم والعالم العربي والفلسطينيين! زعران من أضعف الزعران يتحكمون بمصائرنا، وهم اليوم سيربطونها بخطة مهزلة تدوم سنتين! سنتان فقط حول تحديد الحدود بين فلسطين وإسرائيل يجري فيها تبادل للأراضي، ومن يقول تبادل للأراضي يقول في الوقت ذاته تشريع للمستعمرات وأسرلتها! هذه الزعرنة بل هذه السفالة في السياسة لن تمشي علينا، لأن حل هذه المسألة ممكن حسب خطة أفنان القاسم في ساعتين، ولأن الخطة تعي ضعف الزعران، وتطالب الفلسطينيين أن يعوا أيضا هذا الضعف، ويقوموا بفعلهم المصيري، وذلك بالالتفاف حول الخطة، وفرضها بقوة من أجل حل شامل وكامل في وقت لن يتجاوز الأسابيع الثلاثة. والأنكى من كل شيء ما يوهمنا الإعلام به من ضغط على الأزعر الأصغر الفلسطيني ليقبل مثله مثل الأزعر الأصغر المصري بخطة البهدلة! وَلْكُمْ يا عمي هذا الشخص مثل أخيه لا يُضغط عليهما، هما ها هنا للأمر والتنفيذ، وهذه ما هي سوى مسألة زعران فيما بينهم... أما عنا، فنحن لا نريدهما هما وأربابهما معهما الأمريكان والإسرائيليين، ما نريده أن تناقش خطة أفنان القاسم، وأن تنفذ، أن ينسى الزعران أنفسهم من أجل شعوبهم، وهم إن لم يفعلوا أرغمناهم على ذلك، وفرضنا عليهم وجهة نظرنا .نرغمهم كلهم على قبول خطة أفنان القاسم المشرفة برفعها رمحا في وجوههم، فيا بشر الكتابة تحركوا قبل فوات الأوان، يا أمة اليأس انفضي عن كاهلك حراشف التهزيم، يا شعوب العرب افرضي نفسك في التذليل، فأنت لم تُهزمي يوما، ولم تُذلي، هم الزعران الأذلاء المهزومون.ويا رؤوس الأموال في العالم العربي اتحدي مرة واحدة فقط في حياتك من أجل خدمة القضية ومَوّلي مؤتمر بال للأكاديميين من أجل تأسيس دولة فلسطين كما نريدها نحن، أو اعطينا دينا ما يساعد على عقده بالفائدة التي تطلبيها.على الأموات أن ينهضوا، وأن يتحركوا، لا نريد منهم أن يصرخوا، ولا أن يكتبوا عشرات المقالات التي هي عبارة عن مقالة واحدة سمجة في خدمة الزعران مباشرة أو غير مباشرة، نريد منهم أن يفعلوا، وفعل المقاومة الوحيد الممكن حاليا: خطة سلام أفنان القاسم.Read more…
Posted by OIPWHR-M.T. on January 5, 2010 at 10:43pm
وأنا عمري 4 أعوام : كان أبي هو الأفضلWhen I was 4 Yrs Old : My father is THE BEST.وأنا عمري 6 أعوام : أبي يعرف كل الناسWhen I was 6 Yrs Old: My father seems to know everyone .وأنا عمري 10 أعوام : أبي ممتاز ولكن خلقه ضيقWhen I was 10 Yrs Old: My father is excellent but he is short tempered.وأنا عمري 12عاما : أبي كان لطيفا عندما كنت صغيراWhen I was 12 Yrs Old: My father was nice when I was little .وأنا عمري 14 عاما : أبي بدأ يكون حساسا جداWhen I was 14 Yrs Old: My father started being too sensitive.وأنا عمري 16 عاما : أبي لا يمكن أن يتماشى مع العصر الحاليWhen I was 16 Yrs Old : My father can't keep up with modern time.وأنا عمري 18 عاما : أبي ومع مرور كل يوم يبدو كأنه أكثر حدةWhen I was 18 Yrs Old : My father is getting less tolerant as the days pass by.وأنا عمري 20 عاما : من الصعب جدا أن أسامح أبي ، أستغرب كيف إستطاعت أمي أن تتحملهWhen I was 20 Yrs Old : It is too hard to forgive my father, how could my Mum stand him all these years.وأنا عمري 25 عاما : أبي يعترض على كل موضوعWhen I was 25 Yrs Old : My father seems to be objecting to everything I do.وأنا عمري 30 عاما : من الصعب جدا أن أتفق مع أبى ، هل ياترى تعب جدى من أبي عندما كان شاباWhen I was 30 Yrs Old: It's very difficult to be in agreement with my father, I wonder if my Grandfather was troubled by my father when he was a youth.وأنا عمري 40 عاما: أبي رباني في هذه الحياة مع كثير من الضوابط، ولابد أن أفعل نفس الشيءWhen I was 40 Yrs Old: My father brought me up with a lot of discipline, I must do the same.وأنا عمري 45 عاما : أنا محتار ، كيف أستطاع أبي أن يربينا جميعاWhen I was 45 Yrs Old: I am puzzled, how did my father manage to raise all of us.وأنا عمري 50 عاما: من الصعب التحكم في أطفالي، كم تكبد أبي من عناء لأجل أن يربينا ويحافظ عليناWhen I was 50 Yrs Old : It's rather difficult to control my kids, how much did my father suffer for the sake of upbringing and protecting us.وأنا عمري 55 عاما: أبي كان ذا نظرة بعيدة وخطط لعدة أشياء لنا ، أبي كان مميزا ولطيفا.When I was 55 Yrs Old: My father was far looking and had wide plans for us, he was gentle and outstanding.وأنا عمري 60 عاما: أبي هو الأفضلWhen I became 60 Yrs Old: My father is THE BEST.جميع ما سبق إحتاج إلى 56 عاما لإنهاء الدورة كاملة ليعود إلى نقطة البدء الأولى عند الـ 4 أعوام " أبي هو الأفضل"Note that it took 56 Yrs to complete the cycle and return to the starting point "My father is THE BEST "قال تعالى:وَقَضَى رَبُّكَ أَلاَّ تَعْبُدُواْ إِلاَّ إِيَّاهُ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ الْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَا أَوْ كِلاَهُمَا فَلاَ تَقُل لَّهُمَآ أُفٍّ وَلاَ تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلاً كَرِيمًاGod orders not to worship except Him and to treat one’s parents kindly. If one of them is alive and old or both are alive (and old), do not say “uff” to them and do not address them with harsh words. Be humble and compassionate and address them with nice and gentle words.وَوَصَّيْنَا الإنسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ حُسْنًاGod urges one to treat one’s parents nicely.وَاعْبُدُواْ اللّهَ وَلاَ تُشْرِكُواْ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًاWorship God without associating any partner to Him, and treat your parents in a good way.Read more…
صاحب الفخامة الرئيس الامريكي باراك حسين أوباما : أبو سمراء
بعد التحية والتقدير
هذه رسالتي اليك لكى أحملك مسئولية تحرير العبيد في اليمن الشمالي من الأضطهاد والتمييز والعنصرية والجهل والفقر والمرض انهم ياصاحب الفخامة يعانون ظروف قاسية منذ قرون ولم تصل لهم ثورات تحرير العبيد الدينية منها أو العلمانية بسبب نخبتها الحاكمة الجائرة باعرافها التى لاتمد للرب بأي صلة.
كما تعلم ياصاحب الفخامة أن ابن عبدالمطلب والفاروق عمر كان وسيكون مناصراً ليس فقط للعبيد وانماء كذلك للمحرومين والفقراء والمساكين وابن السبيل.
وما الاحداث الاخيرة لأبن عبد المطلب الا رسالة الرب لحكامه العقلاء و الاقويا القادرين وكذلك وسيلة الضعيف للتعبير عن الغضب الدفين لقضايا عبيد وكذلك احرار اليمن الشمالي العنيد وما يمارس ضدهم من جرائم أبادة وتنكيل من طغاة العصر الجلادين .
أن ابن عبدالمطلب حمل شعلة النور والايمان لأن حفيد عبدالمطلب قال أن العرق دساس, فمناصرة أبن عبدالمطلب من قيبل الدولة العظمى امريكا وايضاً دول العالم الاخرى لابد وأن تبداء في الحال .
كما ارغب أن انوه معاليكم أن تدخل الوكالات الحكومية والغير حكومية امراً ملحاً للغاية من أجل الاسراع وانقاذ بني البشر. وذا تم أجلاء المنكوبين فلابد أن يتم الى دولة محائدة تتمتع بقوانيين حضارية وغير متعصبية دينياَ أو قومياً, كما يجب أتخاذا اجرات مشددة بخصوص حكام اليمن الجائرين وتجميد ارصدتهم المالية الثابت منها والمتحرك في البنوك والدول الغربية وكذلك العالمية .
في الختام لك وللشعب الامريكي اجمل وارق التحيات في العام الجديد 2010م.
انت و أنا ياصديقي لن نختلف
فقد كنت العب في طفولتي مع أظلالك واطيافك ونرتل القران ونغني الاغاني ونتلفظ حروف القاف والالف
ونقتسم الرغيف وناكله مع الوزف
ولقد نقعت بغيابهم بعد سنيين ليس فقط الفلل العدني الحار بالماء وانما الكركدية السوداني وشربتهم واكلت بقائهم ايام مؤمرة العدو الصلف ابن الصلف
فالموت بكرامة اكان على سرير أو كرسي الموت أو بالرصاص أو بحد السيف.
الرئيس المنتظر د. محمد توفيق المنصوري, واذا لم اصبح رئيساً فلن انحرف
فقد بشرتهم بعذب ماقبل الاخرة والقبر , وكذلك بمملكة الديك والهدهد ذات الكرامة والسلام والزهد والاستقامة , و بانهم سينشدون ملحمة حواء وآدم بحروفها الناصعة ومنها: لا للعين والنون ونهاية حرف الألف .Read more…
Posted by OIPWHR-M.T. on January 5, 2010 at 5:26am
While other postings give excellent information about how to recognize a run-on sentence, I will focus on a few techniques to eliminate them from your writing. These will not only help you with run-ons, but will improve your writing in many other ways, too.First, it's perfectly acceptable to begin a writing project by typing as much stream-of-consciousness material as possible. This might lead to run-ons, but at least you get your primary ideas onto the screen, from which you can begin to fashion a more polished text.With this blast of text available as the raw material, the real work begins. You need to edit your article at least once (preferably several times), with an eye towards fixing things like run-ons. To edit for stylistic improvement, you must go through phrase-by-phrase and sentence-by-sentence to decide whether you have made your point clearly and succinctly. This is how you eliminate run-ons.In this editing process, read each sentence with a "fresh" perspective. Step back from the words, so to speak, and see if each sentence contains more than one action or thought. If it does, then consider chopping the sentence into multiple sentences. If the thoughts are closely related, then use punctuation to separate the thoughts. Commas are the most common punctuation form because they are the least disruptive to the reader. Use semi-colons, colons, dashes, or elipses (...) only when you are making a very strong point.This editing process should clean up the obvious run-ons.To further refine your writing, you should read your next draft aloud. Anywhere that you would naturally pause in your speech, you should probably have punctuation. Often you will notice that at those pause points, you would actually use more words in speech to help with the transitions, or you would change the phrase slightly. Those also are signals that you need punctuation to help the reader understand that a transition is occurring. In verbal communications, we use pauses and transitional phrases; in writing we use punctuation (often in combination with transitional phrases).Example. "Johnny walked to school passing the graveyard on Maple Street where the big kids told him ghosts come out on Halloween." This sentence needs punctuation, such as: "Johnny walked to school, passing the graveyard on Maple Street, where big kids told him ghosts come out on Halloween."There is no alternative route for improving your writing than editing and re-editing. It's a hard task. But it's worth it, if you have ideas and information that you wish to share with people.SOURCE:http://www.helium.com/items/198436-rooting-out-run-on-sentencesRead more…
قدم للحوار: د. أفنان القاسمأجرى الحوار: د. أفنان القاسمكنت لنبيل درويش أخا كبيرا عندما كان كلانا للنحل لدغ الاكتراث وللقلب نبض التميز ثم دخل كلانا في حالة من حالات النفس الحيادية تجاه الآخر حالة لا لذة فيها أو ألم، كان عليّ أن أكتب كتبي، فانقطعت عنه وعن ولدي، وكان عليه أن يحصل على وسام الاستحقاق الوطني الفرنسي برتبة فارس، فانخرط في صفوف النظام كإعلامي، ونهائيا حولني إلى وهمٍ من أوهام تخفي عنه قدره الحقيقي كما يقول شوبنهاور، لهذا لم أتردد عن ترشيحه لجائزة أسوأ صحفي إذاعي وإقناع لجنة التحكيم على التصويت لهذا الترشيح الذي تم بالإجماع، فهو نموذج للخبر الرسمي، وللتعليق الرسمي، وللصوت الرسمي، يدغدغ، ويرضي، ويعتذر عندما لا يرضي، لهذا كانت علاقاته جيدة مع الجميع، من أبي عمار إلى ليلى شهيد وإلى أبي بطيخ، وكانت المعلومة لديه ذات اتجاهين، منهم إليه، ومنه إليهم، وهذا ما حصل عندما "باعني" بشكل عادي جدا للمذكورة أعلاه، لأنه لم يعد يشعر بجسامة ما يقول أو ما يقال وقد غدا بوقا، فالقيم المهنية لم تعد مطروحة لديه إلا بقدر ما تعود عليه من نفع، وبقدر ما تعود على غيره من كسب، أي أنها ليست قيما، بل مطايا، وعدم الإحساس بها، يجعل من صحفي كهذا سلبيا في كل شيء، فأين الإيجابية، وكل شيء لديه يقاس بمقياس خبر يذاع، خبر يمشي، ويتم إيصاله، وهذا هو جوهر القمع المخملي للتوصيل حسب المفهوم الإعلامي السائد في الغرب وفي الشرق على حد سواء، لهذا ابْحَثْ عن مقال واحد له على انترنت تضيع نفسك دون أن تجده، لأن الهرب من الملموس يجنبه الهجوم، وهو يظن بهذا أنه يحمي حياته المهنية بينما المحمي الأول هو المؤسسة التي ينتمي إليها وصناع الخبر الرسمي صانعوه...الحوار الإفتراضي* ما هو انطباعك أستاذ نبيل بعد حصولك على جائزة أفنان القاسم لأسوأ صحفي إذاعي؟. أنا سعيد بهذه الجائزة فهي تؤكد وجودي الإعلامي في ساحة لست موجودا فيها ورؤسائي في مونت كارلو سعيدون بها على اعتبار أنها موجهة لهم أيضا وقد فتحوا زجاجات الشمبانيا وشربوا نخبي على الرغم من وجودي في القاهرة.* هل تفضلها على وسام الإليزية؟. الوسام شيء والجائزة شيء آخر الوسام لأني الأحسن والجائزة لأني الأسوأ وهذا يكمل ذاك وهذا وذاك يصب في صميم صالحي.* ماذا تود أن تقول بهذه المناسبة السعيدة للمبتدئين في المهنة؟. أن يكون لهم صوت جهوري كصوتي وصوت الطيب صالح وأن يصمموا على الصعود مثلي من حارس ليلي وليس في هذا عيب إلى حارس إعلامي وليس في هذا عيب أيضا.* الطيب صالح حقا كان إذاعيا مثلك وكتب روايات شهيرة فماذا كتبت أنت؟. أنا كتبت روايات أشهر من شهيرة لم أدونها على الورق بعد وأنت أعلم الناس بذلك عندما كنا في الجامعة معا وعندما أعطيتك بعضا من أحلامي لتكتبها.* عظيم كل هذا ولكن متى ستتحفنا برواياتك؟. قريبا وبعد التقاعد الأكثر من جيد الذي سأحصل عليه بسبب وسام الفارس وأنا لهذا السبب سعيت إلى الحصول عليه (يعمل التحية العسكرية ضاربا قدميه في الأرض) بأمري أيها القمندان!* حدثنا عن علاقاتك بالملوك والرؤساء العرب.. كلها زي ما بدك زي ما بدي زي ما بدهم وخاصة جلالة الملك محمد حسني مبارك المعظم (ثم يشخر) ك... أم سما أكبر ملك وأكبر رئيس، رجاء ألا تنشر هذا.* سمعت هذا الكلام منك عندما حدثك ياسر عرفات عن لقائه الهام بكارتر مهندس مخيم داوود، أذعت ما قاله أما لي فشتمته... أنت غير راض عما تفعل أستاذ نبيل؟. أبدا أبدا أنا راض كل الرضا ولكنها نرفزة بسيطة لتسكيت ضميري من وقت لوقت.* ضميرك المهني؟. ضميري المهني ميت منذ مدة لا أخفيك رجاء ألا تنشر هذا.* أي ضمير إذن؟. ضميري... لن يكون ضمير ستنا العدرا... ضميري، فأنا لم أزل صاحب ضمير، والكل يعرف هذا، عندما تسمع صوتي مبحوحا في الراديو إنه صوت ضميري.* لم ألاحظ ذلك أبدا.. إذن لاحظ... ألفت انتباهك إلى أن صوتي مبحوح منذ جائزة أفنان القاسم 2009.* معذرة إذن كنت أظنه صوتك العادي.. أصبح صوتي العادي... فأنا قادر على التأقلم حتى مع صوت ضميري.* شكرا أستاذ نبيل وأتمنى ألا يضيع صوتك تماما بعد نيلك لجائزة وسام الاستحقاق الفرنسي.. لا شكر على واجب.Read more…
'The Father of Ants', coming to you from the tunnel next to you
Khalid Taja the Anthony Quinn of the Arab drama in Gaza tunnels
From 'The Lorry Driver' to 'Kingdom of Tunnels', Taja highlights the misery of the oppressed.The 70 years old Syrian Kurdish actor Khaled Taja, the iconic figure of Arabic drama is going to play the leading role in a movie about the tunnels of Gaza.
Taja the Syrian Kurdish actor was one of 12 leading Syrian actors who managed last month to visit Gaza and offer his solidarity to the actors at the theatre of Gaza, and he is one of the few actors who were able to translate the political and social aspirations of the average Arab citizen who is crushed by desperation and the almost unachievable dreams. He is an icon in the Arab world drama that the late Palestinian poet Mahmud Darwish described him as ‘the Anthony Quinn of the Arab world’.
Taja was born August 25 of 1942 and found himself since an early age captivated by drama that he produced a large number of movies, and TV series.
Some of his very early produced movies in Damascus were the ‘The Lorry Driver’ 1966, ‘Days in London’, ‘AlFahad’, and ‘AlAr’ (the Shame).
But now Khaled Taja is getting ready for another new controversial role in a movie about the tunnels of Gaza, The mentioned movie is entitled ‘Mamlakat AnNaml’ (The Kingdom of Ants) which is going to be produced by the Tunisian Shawqi AlMajiri.
The movie will reflect the details of the daily life of Palestinians working in the tunnels that Israel failed to destroy after forcing the Gazzans to dig them up to smuggle every day urgently needed consumer goods following the enforced long siege almost 4 years ago.
Taja will play the leading role of ‘Abu AnNaml’ which translates "The Father of Ants" who creates an underground kingdom of smuggling tunnels through which he supplies materials for the besieged Palestinian people. The movie will be filmed between Tunisia and Syria at a budget of more than two million US Dollars.
Taja is one of the most brilliant drama actors of Syria. As a child he was obsessed with art, and haunted by acting and drama to a point he started his professional work at the age of seventeen. He began his drama mission on the theatrical stage and as a writer at the same time. He was fond of the small details in the lives’ of the poor, the simple humble people and the oppressed.
He started his cinema experience with 'The Lorry Driver' movie followed by 23 other movies, but after that he became very sick and his financial situation deteriorated and he was abandoned by the people working in the drama business. He decided then to isolate himself from everything after reaching the point of despair, his escape of all that was to travel all over Europe and Africa and get himself detached of all his emotional burdens, but at the end of his journey he returned back to the arena he was passionately in love with, with the support of a friend who offered him a new scenario that brought him back under the lights.
Taja lived the characters he played, and brought them to live. He played diverse complex multilayered roles thus harvesting many awards. He became a gigantic drama figure especially in his documentary roles that offered an insight of the colonial history in the Middle East with much of the focus on Palestine and Syria like his role in ‘AtTagrebeh ElFalasteeneyeh’ or the Palestinian Exodus. He was a genius in his roles that the late Palestinian poet Mahmud Darwish said: ‘This is the Anthony Quinn of the Arabs, take care of him’.
When he was a young boy he used to impersonate other people’s actions and movements and how they talk and walk. He used to wear his mother’s coat, or wear an old man’s beard to impersonate a woman or an old man.
But the breaking start happened when he was only ten, when he found out what he wanted to do after seeing a professional theatre act in a cafe close to his home. It was a shadow theatre that used to be popular in the Arab world at that time, especially the two shadow figures of 'Krakouz' and 'Awaz' popular amongst Syrians.
He liked the idea of the shadow theatre where the personalities used to be reflected from behind a transparent screen with the help of the accurate amount of light. He loved the idea even though he did not understand the mechanism of creating such characters. But still he went back home and started cutting his own paper figures, and made a screen out of a sheet of a thin cloth and created his own theatre for the youngsters in his street to watch. They used to pay him in sweets or one penny to watch his show, but funny enough his first theatre was set in the family bathroom because it was the darkest area that would reflect the best quality of light he was aiming for to show his characters.
One day Taja found himself in front of AnNasir theatre in Damascus so he went in, and saw for the first time ever real characters of flesh and blood playing on the stage. He liked the idea so much that he went home and called three boys in his neighbourhood and established his own first theatrical group and started training them to be actors.
When he became 17 he joined AlHurya Theatre where Abdellatif Fathi used to be the manager and where a number of iconic drama figures played, like Sabri Ayyad, Anwar ElBaba, and Hikmat Muhsen.
After one year he became a member of a group of young actors who established AlZahra Artistic Club, which became the gathering place of the educated young generation who used to live in the newly built popular housing areas of Damascus. They were all interested in art, literature, and society development. During that period he wrote his first theatrical script which happened to be a three parts comedy play titled ‘Altafar Kanzon La Yafna’ or Never Ending Treasure. The play talked about the agricultural reform and the poor majority. Some of the most prominent theatrical figures who participated in this play were the acclaimed actors Rafeeq Subaeei, Mohammad Khair Halawany, and Abu Shakir.
During his work at the theatre, the General Organization for Cinema was established and started its production. And a Yugoslavian director working at the organization then was looking for a new face for his first movie ‘The Lorry Driver’. He interviewed many actors then chosen Taja to play the leading role of the driver, and from that point Taja entered the movie acting experience where he played challenging roles in 23 Syrian productions.
After the production of ‘The Lorry Driver’, Taja suffered an infection in his lungs and was admitted to hospital. He had to go through intensive treatment for 7 years during which he felt despair because he felt he could not pursue his dream for financial and physical reasons, besides the fact that as he puts it ‘ I suffered the ignorance of the artistic community at that time. I was never demanding, I was only an artist who dreamed of a modern clean theatre, I was a person who held bold courageous ideas, and called for rejecting old useless traditions. But the possibility of financing the theatre I was dreaming of was not possible; this is why the artist inside me was burning’.
Taja withdrew from the stage, but the writer Ahmad Qabalawi insisted that Taja should return to the profession of acting, but this time he wanted him on TV screen. Taja refused at the beginning, for he did not believe in TV then, and as he explained his stand: ‘For me the TV in its early stages was only an extremely small box, it was not cinema nor it was the theatre’. But Qabalwi’s persistence paid off. Taja wrote a TV script titled ‘Khareef ElAyyam’ or the Autum of Days; it was a good start that attracted attention to his talent by a number of producers who started offering him more contracts, eventually he participated in almost 100 TV series.
Taja confessed that his dream was bigger than reality, his capabilities, his country’s potentials, and the bad present the Arabs experienced on every level, be it politically, economically or socially. All that curbed the artists’ ambitions. His favourite writers in Syria are Waleed Saif, the late Mamdouh Odwan, Hasan Yousif, Nihad Serese, and Fuad Hamerah. Yet he confirms that there is what he calls a ‘book crises’, and production crises even though there are great directors in Syria like Haitham Haqqi, Najdat Anzor, Hatim Ali, Laith Hijjo, and Basil AlKhateeb.
In general Taja was and still is the politically aware actor who highlighted corruption in his society on every level. In an interview he explained his stand by talking about few examples like ‘the late Egyptian President Jamal Abdul-Nasser who scolded his son for going to university by a car that belonged to the palace, he requested of him to live his life like any other Egyptian student’. Taja talked of another example of the late Syrian President Shukri al-Quwatli (1891- 1967) who was expecting a guest at the Mazzeh airport but his car broke down, and there was a need to buy another car for the Palace. ‘At that time it took the parliament a full year of discussions to find out whether they should buy a car for the President or not’ Taja said, ‘now we witness with our own eyes the sons of the state officials driving cars that matches the colour of their clothes’ Taja explained.
These sensitive matters of social and political corruption are of extreme need to be highlighted through drama, but Taja lamented that a great deal of dram efforts were censored. But Taja did not give in to what he describe ‘the scissors of censorship’, he found a way around that obstacle by finding parallel from history and use such symbolic images to reflect the present, it is almost like history is recycling itself.
As an example in the script of ‘Molook AtTawaef’, or The Kings of Congregations, the writer reflected in a genius way the breakdown, corruption, internal conflicts and the sense of defeat Arabs were in a very similar way to our present time situation.
When Taja was asked if he sees the Syrian drama as an act of venting people’s views, he said: ‘I am against just venting; I support anger and protests that reflects a more accurate picture of people’s feelings. Even USA is manipulating democracy. In democratic countries no one is above the law, while here the officials are, and the Syrian drama has been successful in reflecting this reality in a frame of intelligent black comedy, unlike Egyptian drama approach of tackling this problem by direct zaniness and laughter.
Iqbal Tamimi is an exiled Palestinian journalist, living in the UK. She has worked in news TV production, broadcasting and print journalism for almost 17 years, besides publishing many studies about drama and its political significance, and she is the founder and moderator of the Palestinian Mothers' network for human rights.
http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=36480Read more…
Posted by OIPWHR-M.T. on January 4, 2010 at 8:45am
الرئيس اليمني يسب عرق الهنود, الأندونوسيين و الصومال و يصف أهل الجنوب بقليلي الأصلأغلقت سفارتا الولايات المتحدة وبريطانيا ابوابهما الأحد بسبب تهديدات القاعدة حسبما أفادت مصادر رسمية.وقال بيان نشر على موقع سفارة الولايات المتحدة بالانترنيت ان "السفارة الامريكية في صنعاء مغلقة "في" الثالث من كانون الثاني-يناير، بسبب التهديدات المستمرة لتنظيم القاعدة في جزيرة العرب باستهداف المصالح الامريكية في اليمن".وذكّر البيان الرعايا الامريكيين بضرورة "الحفاظ على مستوى مرتفع من التيقظ والحذر".وفي لندن، أكدت متحدثة باسم الخارجية البريطانية أن سفارة بلادها في صنعاء أغلقت ابوابها الأحد مشيرة الى ان قرارا سوف يتخذ في وقت لاحق بشأن فتح السفارةومن جهتها، أعلنت صحيفة "ال موندو" الاسبانية ان سفارة اسبانيا في صنعاء ستغلق ابوابها الاثنين والثلاثاء، وذلك نقلا عن مصادر في هذه السفارة.يأتي ذلك في وقت بلغ فيه التنسيق الأمني بين واشنطن ولندن وصنعاء مرحلة يمكن الحديث معها عن تحالف ثلاثي سيكون رأس حربة في التصدي لتنظيم القاعدة في المنطقة التي تضم اليمن إلى جانب الصومال بعد أن أعلنت "حركة الشباب المجاهدين" بالصومال استعدادها لدعم القاعدة في اليمن.وقال القيادي في الحركة مختار روبو الملقب بـ"أبي منصور": "قلنا لاخواننا المسلمين في اليمن إننا سنعبر البحر.. ونصل إليهم لمساعدتهم" في القتال.وتكثفت في الأيام الأخيرة الاتصالات اليمنية الأمريكية وتوجت بتباحث ديفيد بتريوس قائد القيادة المركزية الأمريكية مع الرئيس اليمني علي عبد الله صالح في صنعاء حول مسألة تعزيز التعاون العسكري بين الطرفين في لقاء تم السبت بصنعاء ووصفته الإدارة الامريكية بالمثمروقالت بريطانيا أمس إن واشنطن ولندن اتفقتا على تمويل وحدة شرطة لمكافحة الإرهاب في اليمن في إطار الجهود المكثفة لمحاربة الإرهاب.وأوضح مكتب رئيس الوزراء البريطانى جوردون براون أن الولايات المتحدة وبريطانيا اتفقتا على تكثيف العمل المشترك للتصدي "للتهديد الإرهابي الناشئ" من اليمن والصومال في أعقاب المحاولة الفاشلة التي قام بها شاب نيجيري لتفجير طائرة الركاب التي كانت تربط بين امستردام وديرويت يوم عيد الميلاد.وأوضح مكتب بروان أن بريطانيا والولايات المتحدة ستتعاونان أيضا في دعم قوات خفر السواحل اليمنية.وقالت متحدثة باسم براون ان تمويل هذه الاجراءات سيأتي من التعهدات المالية الحالية لليمنRead more…
For years, southern Yemenis have been wondering when the west and free world will punish Ali Abdullah Saleh, the president of the previously called northern Yemen and the president of the -by force- united Yemen since 1994 for his relation with terrorism.
The last thing southern Yemenis have ever thought about was linking their political movement to Al-qaida. For decades, Southern Yemenis have been described as Marxists, apostates, non-religious and even non Muslims by the tribal, religious and military alliance that has been supporting the Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh since his first day in the presidential palace.
South Arabia or the later called south Yemen with a 3 million inhabitants was a separated country for hundreds of years until it was united with the north in 1990 in a unity the south later discovered was an occupation by the northern tribal, religious and military alliance for its relatively large and rich lands. When southern Yemenis tried to get their independence back, they were suppressed by the northern forces in 1994.
Until 1967, south Arabia or south Yemen was under British occupation which allowed a margin of freedom and modernization. Later, after the independence, the political leaders of the south have adopted a socialist pro soviet political regime, which was obviously an anti radicalism regime.
On the other side, on north Yemen, or the previously called Motawkliah Yemenia Kingdom with 18 million inhabitants, the imams - religious leaders- have ruled the country for more than a thousand years. A culture of religious political and social system was deeply established in north Yemen even after the one-day revolution in 1962 which replaced the imam regime by another that kept the same components.
Tribal leaders, religious leaders and army leaders have always been the main corners of the political regime in north Yemen regardless of the name of the country they choose for themselves.
It is almost a known fact for most Yemenis that Ali Abdullah Saleh has always depended on extremist leaders to suppress his political enemies. He has used them between 1990 and 1994 to assassinate his southern liberal opponents, and later on in his war against the south in 1994, and he has been using them for the last 5 years to fight with his torn army against the northern Houthi repels in north of Yemen. Some of the well know ex mujahedeen have been chosen as senior figures in Saleh's ruling party. In fact, one of them, Abdulmajeed Alzendani which is on the USA wanted list was chosen by Saleh as the fifth member of his 5 members presidential council of united Yemen in 1990.
Abdulmajeed Alzendani: Although he has been on the USA wanted list because of his relation with Osama Bin Laden who considers Alzendani as his "religious master" he has maintained a strong relation with Saleh. In order to avoid getting captured by USA, Saleh has offered Alzendani a (ride) on his presidential airplane to attend King Fahd's funeral in Saudi Arabia on 2005, it was a safe free return ticket. Alzendani has always been the religious arm of Saleh in all of his conflicts. In particular, he has supported Saleh in his war against the southern "apostates" when they decided to get its identity and country back. He owns and runs a government inspection-free religion university in Yemen, The Faith University. He, by himself selects students and instructors that get 7 years of religion teaching before he approves them as Shekhs. On February 24, 2004, the US Treasury Department identified Zindani as a "Specially Designated Global Terrorist". The Department said it had credible evidence al-Zindani had a "long history of working with bin Laden, notably serving as one of his spiritual leaders". Executive Order 13224 by U.S. President George W. Bush on September 23, 2001 designates him a person “who commits, threatens to commit, or supports terrorism”. His name is mentioned on the UN 1267 Committee banned entity list of individuals associated with Al-Qaida.
Jamal Albadwai: He as well is on the USA wanted list because of his direct relation with killing seventeen American soldiers in the suicide attack against the US navy destroyer USS Cole on October 2000. Jamal has managed to escape from Yemeni political police prison twice although political police prisons are the worse and the most guarded in Yemen. After his second escape, he turned himself in to Saleh and was released from prison in exchange for a “promise of good behavior”. The FBI placed a $5 million reward for Badawi's capture. When FBI Director asked Yemeni President Saleh about al-Badawi’s status during a visit to Yemen, “Saleh gave no clear answers about the suspect, Jamal al-Badawi, leaving Mueller “angry and very frustrated” said one source, who added that “he's rarely seen the normally taciturn FBI director so upset”. Newsweek, May 5 2008; A Tense Impasse In Yemen, by Michael Isikoff.
Jabr Albana: He is an American Yemeni citizen considered by FBI as the key supporter of the Lackawanna Qaida cell (also known as Lackawanna Six or Buffalo Cell) which is a group of six Yemeni-Americans who were convicted of providing material support to Al-Qaida. Albana was considered as the most dangerous member of the cell. On February 23, 2006 the FBI confirmed his escape and issued a national press release naming him as one of the first new additions to the FBI most wanted terrorists list. The U.S. administration has offered $5 million for information that will get him arrested. He also after escaping from a Yemeni prison had turned himself to Saleh which released him. Later, he surprised judges in a Yemeni court by opening the court door and entering to the hall with his guards just to tell them that he will not get arrested because he has the president "word". Albana has made it safely out of the court.
Officers? Terrorists or both? In 2006, during the only -close to real- election Saleh had during his 3 decades on president palace he stood in public in front of hundreds of thousands of his followers and in front of media representatives and showed a photo of a man Saleh claimed to be a terrorist supporting his Sothern competitor, Faisal Bin Shamlan who is known for his good reputation and clean hands in one of the most corrupted countries in the world. Later, the man was found to be a police officer and said he will sue Saleh. Last month, a man named Mohammed Omaier appeared on Aljazeera TV saying he is alqaida member and he is participating in Sothern separatist’s activity, later the man was found to be the son of Shabwa governorate security commander. The government did not comment.
USA arms given to Yemen found with terrorist: According to Jane Novak, a US-based analyst and expert in Yemeni affairs “The serial numbers for two rifles used in the attack on the USA embassy in Saudi Arabia have been traced to Yemen’s ministry of defense”. Novak also said in her article: Drug Smuggling, Gun Running and Other Crimes, published on her website on October 14th 2005, that “Both the United States and the United Nations have expressed concern regarding the amount of illegal arms transfers from Yemen. The Yemeni weapons pipeline has two sources of supply: the black market and legitimate military purchases”. Giving arms to tribes is a way Saleh uses officially to apologize to upset tribes or to gain their support. This practice is usually covered, in one occasion Yemeni ministry of defense has announced that it investigates about “disappearance” of 600 mortar ammunition from army stores in the borderline Almahra governorate.
Alqaida Great Escape: By digging a tunnel using only plastic spoons, Yemen announced that 23 Alqaida members including 13 top figures have escaped form one of the most guarded prisons in Yemen, the tunnel was estimated to be 140 meter in length. The Interpol issued a global alert described the fugitives as a “danger to all countries”. Prison’s previous commander and deputy were dismissed two weeks before the escape. When a Yemeni official was asked how the fugitives managed to breath in such a long tunnel, he said they have used footballs they were playing with inside prison as a source of oxygen. Saleh later announced that he is in "contact' with them and that things are under control.
Saleh has used almost all of the above mentioned terrorism related figures in his conflicts against his enemies. Their participation was obvious in Saleh’s war against the south in 1994. He has started a campaign to gather fighters to fight in the South based on braining the south back to Islam as they were “corrupted by socialism and British occupation”. He is using al Qaida members in his war against Houthi rebels in the north of the country. He has repeatedly called southern separatists and northern rebels as apostates, the word that usually switches on Alqaida members.
It is evident that whoever stands against Saleh must stand against be Alqaida fighters as well. Yet he will be accused of being connected to Alqaida on the same time. It might look non sense, but it is the case. USA and its alliance must understand that the support they provide to Saleh will reach to Alqaida at the end. They are not fighting Alqaida by supporting Saleh to suppress his enemies. They are sending the wrong message to the area by supporting a dictator who has been suppressing his people for three decades with the help of terrorists.Read more…
The PlanMake it your way to the founding State of PalestineBY PROFESSOR AFNAN A. EL QASEMDEDICATIONI dedicate this peace plan to our neighbour in Nablus, Palestine, a Jewish woman, who had a gentle soul and a magnificent beauty. I dedicate this peace plan to the eleven year old Israeli girl, who was just at my daughter Inas’ age. This Israeli little girl was in a program on Channel Five, among twenty male and female Israeli pupils, who agreed to live between Palestinian people. I dedicate this peace plan to the Palestinian child, Mohammad Al Dorrah, who was killed while trying to take refuge between his father‘s arms. He was shot to death by Israeli soldiers near a wall in Gaza. Paris April 2004INTRODUCTIONThe former prime minister of France, Jean-Pierre Raffarin, was the first person to whom I sent this plan in September 2002, in a certified letter and a certificate of receipt!! One year later on September 7, 2003, I sent it to Howard H. Leach, the U.S. ambassador in Paris. Neither of the two had bothered to respond to my letters, mind you if I have sent these letters to some third world countries, such as Mauritania or Bangladesh, I might have received a response, but not from the leaders and representatives of two of the most powerful countries in the world!Maybe I should have had the backing of the Israeli Mossad, the CIA or the D.S.T. Maybe it was because I did not have funds in a Swiss bank account, to bankroll my plan, similar to those that Yaser Abed-Rabbo and Yosi Beilin had during their Geneva Palestinian-Israeli deal. Maybe it was because I did not have a broker like the U.N. Secretary General at the time, Mr. Kofi Anan, to carry my plan to the Superpowers of the world. Sometimes I think if I had all that, I would have some listening sessions from the Prime Minister of France and the Ambassador of the United States of America. I had no one but myself to carry my plan, for my Palestinian people, to reach the Statehood dream which is for a long time have just been a dream. As an author, a novelist and a university professor, I could have just given up and lived my life aloft of my Palestinian people’s problems, but I could not do that. I am a strong believer in my Palestinian people’s cause for their national, ethical and humanitarian rights. I am determined and willing to carry my plan and message of United Palestinian-Israeli Statehood to the end, even if my life will be the ultimate price to pay.Everyone on this earth has a duty to fulfil. Since there is a vacuum in sincerity among today’s Palestinian leadership to reach a peaceful resolution that dignifies and restores to right to exist on their God given land, it is my duty and the duty of every Palestinian to push my plan and see that the rest of the free-world supports this plan, for it is the only likely resolution to solve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.Since many of my people are consumed with their selfish reasons and hidden agendas, I feel that I should carry the role of my people’s defender with others who share the same devotion for our Palestinian goals, even if the doors of the world’s leaders remain closed in our faces. This is contrary to the treatment that the puppets of their masters, the likes of Yaser Abed-Rabbo and Yosi Beilin, have received. The world leaders’ doors have been open for them, welcoming them with open arms. They are – as it seems – the extension and messengers of both sides of the same coin, where you find Palestinian officials at the offices of previous Israeli Presidents, from Moshe Katsav to Shimon Peres,and vice versa, where you find Israeli officials meeting with Palestinian Presidents, from Yaser Arafat to Mahmoud Abbass. Now it seems that the Western and Arab leaders, particularly the current Palestinian leaders, are alike as if corruption has consumed both worlds, Western and Eastern.Humble to say I have published over thirty books in French, I have distributed this plan and sent it to all major newspapers: Le Monde, Libération, Le Canard Enchaîné, Le Figaro, France Soir, Témoignage Chretien, Le Monde Diplomatique... No one, and I say no one, has accepted to publish a single line! I am very well known to all of them, but because I am trying to publish an important plan for the Palestinian people I became suddenly unknown. I felt the danger immediately. I sensed hidden hands playing in the background, in the dark, and they could not hide as hard as they tried. This is more dangerous than not to receive an answer from a Prime Minister of France who was always in the midst of an election campaign. It was more important for him to win over the hesitant voice in the popular Arab district in Paris, than the lives and dignity of an entire people in the Middle East. An answer to my letter and to millions of Palestinian refugees was not worth losing an election over. A no answer from the U.S. Ambassador, who considers himself in a permanent holiday in the “City of Art and Parisian lights”, is even more dangerous to the expressions of freedom.Freedom is wholly imposed on the media to respect and supposedly to disseminate any speech or opinion, whatever opposing the view that the author conveys. Rejection should not happen if a minimum of logic has been applied. I say the minimum of logic, even in the absence of the maximum limit of the substantive; otherwise what is the benefit of the term "freedom of speech" in the concept of "freedom of expression”?In the Middle East, there is denial of freedom of speech that aspires to total aspects of human dignity and human rights. It appears that the West has fallen not far behind. As long as our officials dictate to our editors and journalists, instructing them to ignore those speeches and articles that voice other opinions and points of view, opposite to what the West advocates, freedom will be doomed.Differing opinions seem to be ignored by the media, belittling them to oversight; a self imposed censorship, under the pretext that they do not know of any standard or guidelines to be used as to when to publish and when not to publish. As long as those so called guardians of "news and freedom," bear the trumpet of corruption, democracy will be a false item in their public market. This was clearly seen in a scandal that was masterminded by a former Prime Minister of France that was famously called the Juppé scandal. This former Prime Minister refused to leave his office as the Mayor of Bordeaux after he was linked in a corruption scandal that involved swindling salaries of phantom employees, who never existed, and which in turn resulted in the Pujadas and the resignation of famed journalist Mazerolle in the Second Channel. It was enough proof of how undemocratic and corrupt the media in the West have become. Paris April 2004PREFACEIn France there is this well known dish liquid called "Monsieur Propre”. In the Middle East, we need a version of that powerful dish liquid in order to clean the contaminated dishes that our leaders have dished out to us throughout the decades, poisoning our lives. We need that powerful dish liquid to clean the blood stains that our leaders have brought on us. I doubt the tarnish of blood can be easily cleaned by any stretch of the imagination.All what is left of my imagination to employ, as lush as it was, is taking into account each of the elements that contribute to a mutual solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict in a way that is acceptable to both Palestinians and Israelis.First and foremost there is this subconsciously hidden, but sometimes obvious need, by both Israelis and Palestinians, to reach a peaceful and permanent resolution to their historical conflict. It is sickening to see those European technocrats sitting aloft in glass towers, closing the window between them and the rest of the world and sharing seclusion with them are their American partners, have filled the U.S and Western media about their peace plan. Their plan seems to be moving in a slow motion and never seem to be able to pick up the necessary speed and the magical chemistry of an equation like ours. The proof of that failure is in "the road map"; a misleading plan as I have explained in a previous chapter.Only the sons and daughters of that region, Arabs and Jews, who know and feel the pain and suffering that consume both nations, Palestinian and Israeli. Alone, they are capable of forging a peaceful resolution powered by the charge that comes from being the silent majority. Their independence of thought, their hunger for peace and their eagerness to contribute will have the desired effect towards a viable resolution of this ongoing conflict. They will never be lost in the maze of discussions for the sake of discussions and negotiations for the sake of negotiations over the viability and the ability of a Palestinian state that can survive.The inhabitants of that region will be moved by sights of the World Trade Centre tumbling down and will be moved by the force of humanity toward the holy goal of saving mankind. They know that after September 11th, 2001, a new era has emerged; an era in which no war can be won but peace and tranquillity will be the only winning solution; a kind of peace that is handed down by normal people, who in return will give peace to the rest of the people on earth.Without all those wars in Palestine and the catastrophic tragedies that followed, I myself would not have accepted what I am suggesting today. I would never dare to look at things face to face and dive into the future with depth, way deeper than the far future of Arabs and Jews. It is time to be responsible. We shall carry our share of the responsibility. Leading the way are those who call themselves the “warriors’ generation”, my generation, the ones that have been inflamed by violence and wars.As to my plan, I will not go into great detail but instead I will raise interest and ignite enthusiasm through ideas that will be left to be polished and executed by legal scholars, economists and social specialists. I shall name all the points of conflicts; address with appropriate answers each and every point, anticipating what both sides of the conflict would expect. I will offer sufficient answers and not just proximate ones. This is only possible when you have sensible answers that please all.EASTERN UNIONKing Abdullah II of Jordan, said that "he would not hear of an engagement with the Palestinians before the establishment of their state." Shimon Peres, the President of Israel, often spoke of an economic future that includes all states in the region. He implied, of course that we, the Palestinians, would be a part of this once our identity is specified. In the West, France is among the first countries to have advocated the establishment of a Palestinian state, alongside Israel, as a precondition to any solution. The U.S. President keeps saying that he supports the creation of a state belonging to the Palestinians and ensuring Israel's security. For us, of course, this is the first to be desired. We fought and lost thousands of our men, women and children for creating that state. We prefer not to hear about economic union or other bilateral arrangement before our independent Palestinian state comes into being. Yet, everything must start from somewhere.Indeed, the basis for a definitive solution, as in my plan, is not "Gaza and Jericho first...West Bank and Jerusalem after", or any other form of state, be it bi-national one- state, as advocated by the late Professor Edward Said of Columbia University, or two-states, as advocated by most others, but “Union first." That's the key. The Palestinian State will be announced along with the Union. To meet the aspirations of both of these two peoples, Israeli and Palestinian, whose fates are linked by a single land, a single history, a single economy, in my opinion, forming a simultaneous Palestinian State and a regional Union is the best of all solutions.The Two-States form, each with defined borders, and simultaneously entering into a regional union, will address the needs, the rights and aspirations of both peoples, Palestinian and Israeli. With it, all problems are settled, all disputes are solved, all rights are restored and all hardships are overcome, despite the orthodox position of those who thank God for having a separate Israel from other nations.As for the Union’s name, it was obviously the choice between the “Eastern Union”, like in the “European Union”, or the “United States of the East”; though personally I prefer the first. I let each country administer itself within a federation, guided by a fundamental principle: “the separation in the union.” In other words, I am for creating a common market which, unlike Europe, will lead immediately to other non-economic areas, taking into account -and this is like Europe- the specificity of each nation. Why now? Because the region cannot wait much longer for miracle cures, and because all means are now available to enforce this Union. Other states could eventually join the Union, like the U.S. or France. The Mediterranean basin has never been an obstacle; it will always be a link to build the new societies. We may associate religion with modernity. Islam has never been the traditional enemy of the West; some lunatic so called Muslims may be, but Islam never. The cessation of the war in Lebanon proves it. The design of ruling of a sovereign nation over others will become obsolete. Nations will turn their power to build and advance without constraint. It will relieve the burden of having a dictatorship. We finally show that the Union between East and West is not impossible.Eastern Union Aspects:Economic:Obviously, creating a common market between Israel, Palestine, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, yes Saudi Arabia, from where we all came from, a pan-East market, will spearhead a larger economic whole including other countries in the region in the future. This regionalization models no geographic area. The economic space, meanwhile, will adapt and undergo a shaping in an evolving world. The rise of the Union lies in its development. I say that because evolution involves regionalization of all states that make up this Union. Thus, we will end the long and disastrous periods of war to usher in an era of peace and prosperity.Apart from the fact that Saudi Arabia is the cradle to all of us, why this choice?Contrary to the concept of war and division of the Bush administration, the new era inaugurated by the events of World Trade Centre must halt all military action and fragmentation. In a move to globalization of justice and law, the trend should be to strengthen links between poor and rich countries, which is the only way to end terrorism and violence. Saudi Arabia is a rich country, and anyway, in a strategy to unite all countries in the region sooner or later it will be part of this new economic structure. Likewise for those who belong to "ahl adh-dhimma" dhimmis, that is to say non-Muslims, namely the Jews and other Christians recognized and respected by Islam.It must be said that a peaceful space is always a space conducive to the development of man. In all states of the Union, we apply the same laws of social life to provide access to schools, social security, health, recreation, fellowship, solidarity, love and freedom. We will defend the agricultural production and industrial output. We will regulate wages. A fair economic share implies a real social policy. Only thus we will not submit to the single market law.Culture:Culture means the assertion of individual personality and in universal sense it will mean fulfilment. Full respect of the specificity of each State will be provided. Nevertheless, the study of Hebrew as a second language, will be considered. In Israel, Jordan and Palestine to learn the language of "enemy" is considered a good thing. According to our former teachers, this helps to understand the psychology of the enemy to better confront him! Now, learning the language of the other will be a source of enrichment and cultural advantage. Arabic literature and Hebrew take off again. There is no question of acculturation. However, all cultural values are respected and cultural identity is preserved. The linguistic unification will never be on the agenda.Human rights, freedom and democracy:Respect for human rights is the basis for common action on the international stage, or separately within each country. On the other hand, the Union will promote common standards in maintaining the system of national rights. Thus, by diversifying, the political side draws strength from democratic institutions. Saudi Arabia, our common cradle, will begin immediately a process of democratization of state institutions, religious and political.Jordan will be less timid in its initiatives. Palestine will follow the example of Israel by separating the real power of the Presidency, to be held by the Prime Minister. Thus, freedom of religion, freedom of choice to work within political parties, freedom of expression, freedom of the press, and all other freedoms are preserved.Other aspects:In this political space, where regionalization comes to shared sovereignty, the Union can include:- Legal component (justice for anyone who aspires to a broader justice).-Military component (an army to defend the Union in case of external aggression).- Ecological component (a common measure to live in accordance with laws of nature).-Tourism component (a beautiful area like ours can attract tourists from all over the world).- Administrative component (a greater effort to remove the red tape and facilitate matters of everyday citizens as well as inter-state approaches, etc...).Disputes and litigation:Once the Union is established, disputes and litigation will be resolved based on U.N. resolutions 242 and 338:Jerusalem:It will be the capital of the Union and remains unified. Also, Jerusalem will be a shared capital of Israel (West Jerusalem) and the capital of Palestine (East Jerusalem). There will be a sharing of power and responsibilities within the two municipalities. Places of worship will be protected as it has always been the case by the faithful themselves and their religious associations, under Palestinian sovereignty in its sub-capital, and under Israeli sovereignty in its own sub-capital. A joint municipal police will be formed to ensure these religious places are protected.The Green Line:These are the borders of Israel in 1967, finally identified and recognized. However, the green line represents a path and not a barrier. As with the European Union, the borders of member countries of the Eastern Union will be open to movement of all its peoples. Gaza and the West Bank, in other words the State of Palestine within its borders finally defined and recognized, will have a territorial continuity through a land corridor connecting Gaza to the West Bank. This land corridor will not be under Israeli sovereignty. Israel maintains its contiguity on the corridor sides through a venue above or below this corridor. Israel will have no right to inspect or control the movement of goods and people through the corridor to its access points. There will be no Israeli warning stations or surveillance bases on the State of Palestine. The full extent of the Union will be open to everyone; Israel with Palestine, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and other members to come. The Union will end the isolation of one or the other off his country. The territorial contiguity between one or the other states must not represent any danger.The security requirements:Although Israel, Palestine and all other members of the Union have their own defence forces, the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) will be an added strength to their own to provide defence and security for Israelis, Palestinians and all other members of the Union.Definitely, however, the best guarantee for the security of Israel and all Eastern Union members is security arrangements with the United States of America, France or other Western Power. These countries are not obliged to join the Union, but at a given sphere of its multiple spheres; and in this case is the area of defence, they are welcomed to do so. In joining the Union army, these countries are the best guarantors of security for Israel and all other Eastern Union federal states. Far from simply forming a bilateral or multilateral treaty, in joining the Union, the United States of America, France and throughout the West, will be devoted in body and soul to the welfare and security of the Union.The Right of Return:A symbolic return to Israel of 1948, Palestinian refugees will take place. These Palestinians will become Israeli citizens under the banner of the Star of David. The rest of the exiled Palestinian population during the war of 1948, will receive a very good financial compensation that will help them change to better life where they reside. Unless naturalized in their adopted countries, they will be citizens of the State of Palestine. Ditto for the Jewish population which has left the Arab countries as a result of 1948, war. On the other hand, all those who have taken the path of the exodus of 1967, will be guaranteed to return to the State of Palestine. However, like the European Union, the population of each member state of the Eastern Union is free to choose where to live and work, including in Israel. There are Americans, French, Italian, Polish, etc..., who work and live in Israel without affecting with their presence, from either far or near, the specific characteristics of Israel, and so it will be in the Palestinians case. To preserve the legal status and the specific character as to religion or race of each State in the Union, and primarily the State of Israel, this alien population, their children, grandchildren, and for all generations that follow, will have the right to citizenship and other civil rights only in their own country of origin.Settlements:Settlements must be considered on a case by case basis. Those that represent a territorial continuity with Palestinian cities and villages would remain under Palestinian sovereignty. The Palestinians would understand that the sovereignty of the Eastern Union, including Israel, will play a key role. All other settlements will be the dismantled. We apply the same rule to their inhabitants as to the 1948, Palestinian refugees, in that those Jewish settlers (and all Jews around the world that does not bother me), have the right to work and reside wherever they wish in Palestine and in the entire inhabited Union. However, the right to citizenship and other civil rights are denied them. Thus they satisfy their inclination for a religious home and participate in the construction of the Union and the happiness of all its citizens, without usurpation of land or entity and without forming any settlements.CONCLUSIONThis is the essence of my plan. As is now, the Palestinians are under Israeli occupation and have no rights. Even a nation of beggars has rights, but not the Palestinians! The Israeli and Palestinian national conscience must assume their responsibility and form a Union. The Palestinian State will be announced along with the Eastern Union. Everything is possible and ready to be solved within our Union. A Union dedicated to security and prosperity of all countries in the region. It is absolutely not incorporated to throw the Jews into the sea or the Arabs into the desert. The Israelis will be satisfied in that not only Palestinian extremists, but all the entire peoples of the region, will become guarantors of a just and lasting peace. As a starter, delivery of U.S. and French aid under the auspices of the UN, for a limited mission in space and time, prepares the way for normalized life in Gaza and the West Bank. Immediately following recovery bilateral and quadrilateral negotiations must start and should include all opposing forces. Without their participation, the situation will remain precarious. This will clear the atmosphere and install trust and confidence between the two camps, future allies and partners. No solution will succeed if it is not based, first and foremost, on unity and equal civil rights among its people, both Israeli and Palestinian.Read more…
Ottawa International Poets and Writers for human Rights (OIPWHR)