Issue (490) October 2011 · has officially inaugurated Dubai Metro’s Green Line, the second and...

Issue (490) October 2011

Unseemly windsUAE families pay the price of social development, at the expense of their stability and continuity

999Society and Security Monthly

email:[email protected] Free 8009009

Tel.: +971 2 4194488Fax: +971 2 4194499

P.O.Box :38999Abu Dhabi - UAE.

Contacts

Ministry of Interior United Arab Emirates

Consultative Board

Maj.Gen. Khalil BadranLt.Col. Thani Al-Shamsi

Editor-in-Chief

Major Awad Al-Kindi

EditorIssam Al Sheikh

Associate EditorsBassel SourayaOmar Hamza

Art DirectorsMuhannad Salem

Hisham Abdul Hameed

CONTENTSIssue (490) October 2011

Cover Story................................................Education Department at AD Police..........Life after prison.......................................Dhahi Khalfan on crime prevention...........Somalia’s dilemma.....................................The Yaarubi state......................................

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999Society and Security Monthly

email:[email protected] Free 8009009

Tel.: +971 2 4194488Fax: +971 2 4194499

P.O.Box :38999Abu Dhabi - UAE.

Contacts

Ministry of Interior United Arab Emirates

Consultative Board

Maj.Gen. Khalil BadranCol. Thani Al-Shamsi

Editor-in-Chief

Lt.Col. Awad Al-Kindi

EditorIssam Al Sheikh

Associate EditorsBassel SourayaOmar Hamza

Art DirectorsMuhannad Salem

Hesham Abdul Hameed

CONTENTSIssue (478) October 2010

International accolade for police service.......................E-crime lab in Abu Dhabi.................................................Prevention is better than cure......................................Reckless on the road......................................................Time to pay up...............................................................Policeman’s courage......................................................Novel inside out..............................................................

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A new phase in the history of the UAE federation was ushered in on September 24 with the second round of elections in the history of the UAE. Half of the 40

Federal National Council members were elected to represent the people of the UAE in the country’s Parliament. It is a preamble to general elections opening the door to every citizen to practise their electoral rights. It is important to stress that the current phase necessitated a start of FNC elections through the Electoral College of which women comprised 46 per cent, in order to evaluate the experience and identify, through analysis, the points of strength and positivity and build on them, and eradicate any negative points in the future. The experience is a test of the electorate as well as the government agencies concerned, including the Ministry of Interior that has been an active agency in making the elections a success, to learn from the unique experience. The total FNC seats are distributed among the seven emirates with Abu Dhabi and Dubai having eight seats each; Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah having six each; and Ajman, Umm Al Quwian and Fujairah having four seats each. In the first-ever FNC election in 2006, just over 6,500 Emiratis voted to elect 20 representatives. On the historic day last month, almost 130,000 Electoral College members went to the polling stations to elect the same number of FNC members from a list of more than 450 candidates.The 20 elected representatives joined 20 other members appointed by Their Highnesses Members of the Supreme Council and Rulers of the Emirates. The FNC was established in February 1972 as one of the five Union Authorities – the others being the Supreme Council, President and the Vice President, the Cabinet and the Judiciary.We are proud that this year’s FNC election made history by the minimum number of Electoral College members, which was set at nearly 300 times the number of FNC seats. That vividly showed the solid transformation towards promoting political participation. In 2006, the minimum strength of the Electoral College was set at 100 times the number of FNC seats, which is 4,000.On September 24, 2011, the UAE lived a beautiful day where the citizens of the young nation had the responsibility of casting their votes and of selecting the candidates who rightfully deserve to be representatives of the people at the FNC. We are hopeful that the FNC, with its elected and nominated members, will enrich the political, social and economic life and assist the government in achieving the objectives of the nation and further consolidate the development march of the UAE.

EDITOR’S NOTE

Issue (490) October 2011Issue (490) October 2011

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Elections are a democratic test for sons and daughters of the UAE: MohammedHis Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, congratulated the UAE people on the second Federal National Council (FNC) elections.Sheikh Mohammed viewed the new democratic experiment as a test for sons and daughters of UAE to exercise their franchise in electing those they see good, competent and able to convey their voice to the dome of the FNC, which was founded in 1972 to act as a channel of communication

between the government and people in addition to its core duties of debating bills and national issues that concern the citizen's daily life and of consulting and coordinating with the government on preserving national higher interest.Sheikh Mohammed called on eligible voters to maintain on the elections day and all other national occasions a high sense of belonging and practice this experiment with a civilised, democratic manner away from prevarication and personal courtesy at the expense of national interest.

Inaugurates Dubai Metro's Green LineUAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has officially inaugurated Dubai Metro’s Green Line, the second and final phase of the city’s rail network.Sheikh Mohammed unveiled a plaque commemorating cer-tificate issued by the Guinness World of Records confirming Dubai Metro as the world’s longest fully Automated Rail System. He also watched a documentary about progress of

Dubai city infrastructure into one of the world’s best.Accompanied by Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Deputy Ruler Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, other sheikhs, ministers and senior officials, Sheikh Mo-hammed took the first metro ride on the new line from Dubai Healthcare City Station, passing through 16 stations to the line’s end, the Etisalat Station in Qussais.

News

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President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has stressed that the UAE values the role of judges in spreading justice among people.The President was speaking at the sworn in ceremony of Justice Mohammed Abdul Rahman Ali bin Jarah Al Tunaiji, alternate judge at the Supreme Federal Court at Al Mushrif Palace in the presence of General Sheikh

Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in the Western Region.Sheikh Khalifa wished the new judge success in spreading of justice and becoming an example of integrity.

President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has called upon members of electoral colleges for broad and active participation in the elections to the Federal National Council so that the real participation can be achieved.Addressing the nation ahead of the second Federal National Elections on September 24, 2011, the President said: “Citizen is the key element in the development and progress of the country, and should be a partner in shaping the future of the nation and shaping its policy so that our citizens will enjoy a radiant future. We have to walk with a clear vision to empower the Federal National Council. And the upcoming elections are the perfect opportunity to make a major step towards this goal, which will be achieved, God willing, with your virtuous efforts.”Since the establishment of the Federal National Council in 1972, Sheikh Khalifa indicated, it worked to embody the proper relationship between the government and the people in the United Arab Emirates.

“It continues to be the strong platform for political participation and positive impact on the decision-making process in the country, and hence inspired our great interest in enabling it and activating its role so that it will become the authority that supports and guides of the country's executive authority.“Not a single phase along the march of building the country was devoid of the existence of consultative councils surrounding the country's leadership as they strongly believed in the importance of people's participation.“Since the year 2006 we started a new experience for the election of half the members of the Council with the faith that political participation is an integral part of the progress of the country and the comprehensive development we live,” the President added.Sheikh Khalifa expressed the UAE's determination to cross over to a new phase of development and achievement and to uphold and consolidate its position among the world countries.

Law above all, justice for all, urges Khalifa

Khalifa calls upon voters for broad and active participation in FNC elections


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Attends lecture on ‟Common Interests in the Global Economic Crisis”His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces attended at his palace a lecture on the common interests in the global economic crisis, delivered by the Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint.Also present were H.H. Sheikh Saif bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, H.H. Sheikh Surour bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, H.H. Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Advisor, H.H. Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chief of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Public Works and Chairman of the National Media Council in addition to a number of Sheikhs and ministers.

The lecture was also attended by Abdul Aziz Abdullah Al Ghurair, Speaker of Federal National Council and Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy. During the lecture, Lord Green highlighted that there are tremendous opportunities to be exploited between the UAE and the United Kingdom particularly in the trade field and in the development of infrastructure and semiconductor as the UAE is keen to develop its economy according to the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015 / 2020 and the Abu Dhabi plan 2030. He added that what is required is to contribute to the economic development between the two countries not only in trade and business, but in other culture, education and tourism areas.

Mohammed bin Zayed meets the UK-UAE CEO Forum membersHis Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Su-preme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces received at Al Bateen Palace the UK-UAE CEO Forum members who took part at the UK-UAE CEO Forum held in Abu Dhabi.They included the UK Trade and Investment Minister Lord Stephen Green, Nasser bin Ahmed Al Suwaidi, Head of the Economic Development Department in Abu Dhabi, senior businesspersons and investors.Sheikh Mohammed welcomed the audience, stres-sing the strength of relations between the UAE and

the UK, and keenness of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan to upgrade the cooperation ties through reinforcement of pri-vate sector role between the two friendly countries. The Abu Dhabi Crown Prince welcomed the setting up of the Joint Business Council between the two countries, hoping that the council would contribute to finding bu-siness opportunities and activating joint ventures to sup-port the national economies in both countries. For its part, the British side thanked Sheikh Mohammed and the government of Abu Dhabi for supporting the set-ting up of the council.

H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior called for adopting measures for gauging quality of services, such as the secret shopper project.He stressed the importance of the project in enhancing the delivery of the services, describing the secret shopper project as the best available means for police commands to promote the development plans. Chairing the Abdu Dhabi Police Command Committee meeting, Sheikh Saif reiterated that self assessment is one

of the most important tools for development. The report revealed that the performance improved at dif-ferent sectors of the Ministry of Interior since the imple-mentation of the secret shopper project in July.The meeting tackled a number of issues pertaining to upgrading of police work and services to the public. The minister urged the police commands to support the secret shopper project. Present were senior police officers, a number of directors general and their deputies.

Saif bin Zayed chairs Higher Police Command Committee meeting

News

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Lt. General H.H Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minster and Minster of Interior has inspected at the Abu Dhabi Police GHQ premises the new awareness traffic patrol known as Tathkeef, in presence of Major General Mohammed bin Al Awadhi Al Menhali, Deputy Director General of Police Operations at Abu Dhabi Police and a number of senior officers.Sheikh Saif was briefed by Brigadier Eng. Hussein Ahmed Al Harithi, Director of Traffic and Patrols Directorate of Abu Dhabi Police of the new vehicle. According to him, the idea of creating the vehicle is a materialization of the Abu Dhabi Police strategy to achieve the best traffic safety standards in Abu Dhabi and to increase awareness among various society segments. The goal of making the new vehicle is to increase traffic culture among families through holding visits to the houses and providing guidance to the private drivers and nannies

as to how they correctly deal with children on board or on the road. The vehicle is also intended to offer advice to par-ents, and to individuals in public and open places through organizing education sessions on the advantages of the new vehicle and the type of services it delivers to the public, as well as presenting gifts and brochure.One of the most important goals of the new vehicle is to spot traffic offenders and offer them advice by showing pictures of accidents and outcomes probably result from violating traffic rules, according to Al Harithi.Al Harithi said the vehicle is an ordinary traffic patrol but appears in a different design. The new vehicle is fitted with special equipment including a monitor at the back and a mobile camera to record awareness activities and discus-sions held with the members of the public and families. The vehicle is equipped with traffic safety installations such as child safety seats, first aid kit and a fire extinguisher.

Inspects new traffic awareness vehicle


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The committee in charge of implementing the third phase of the new organisational structure of the Ministry of Interior held its fourth meeting of 2011 at the General Headquarters of Abu Dhabi Police, presided over by Major General Khalil Dawood Badran, Director General of Finance and Services at Abu Dhabi Police, who is the chairman of the committee.The meeting discussed the work completed by the sub-committees regarding the strategy of administrative units affiliated to the police departments in Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah. It also discussed the unification and classification of the functions at the Ministry of Interior’s level. Maj Gen Badran urged the work teams to intensify their efforts in this phase, to implement the directives of His Highness Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior. “We need to reach applicable objectives that contribute to the promotion of the ministry’s performance in all units and administrations”, he said.

Meanwhile, the General Headquarters of Abu Dhabi Police signed a cooperation agreement with the US Rand Corporation to provide consultancy services required to upgrade the performance of the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) of Abu Dhabi Police.Under this agreement, the CRSS will become one of the prominent public policy institutions on the regional and global levels in the field of preparing political, economic and social researches and conducting innovative and effective policy analysis. The agreement was signed by Maj Gen Badran and Dr. Haneen Salim, Director of RAND office in Abu Dhabi.On another front, the General Headquarters of Abu Dhabi Police signed a contract with the Emirates Transport Corp. to rent new model buses for police staff to meet the requirements of various activities and functions.The contract was signed by Maj Gen Badran and Mohammed Abdullah Al Jarman, Director of the Emirates Transport Corp.

Police News

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A total of 138 retired officers of Abu Dhabi Police, includ-ed in ministerial decree no. 675 of 2010, were honoured recently by Staff Major General Obaid Al Hiri Salem Al Kitbi, Deputy Chief of Abu Dhabi Police.The honouring ceremony was held at the Abu Dhabi Police Officers Club and was attended by a number of senior of-ficers.“We at Abu Dhabi Police believe in the value and impor-tance of individuals in achieving the objectives and fulfill-ing the aspirations of the force… we believe that retirement is not the end of the journey but rather the beginning of

a new and continuing phase in the service of the nation. We highly appreciate the efforts of retired officers and their dedication to the police work, as well as their professional-ism throughout their years of service”, said Maj Gen Al Kitbi.He stressed the unlimited support of the leadership in strengthening security and consolidating stability in the UAE, highlighting the contribution of retired officers in achieving the progress of the UAE.Maj Gen Al Kitbi distributed certificates of appreciation and token gifts to the retired officers.

Retired policemen honoured in Abu Dhabi

The fairness in the evaluation process of the Minister of Interior’s Excellence Award is a very important element to encourage all police departments and administrations to do their best, said Major General Naser Lakhraibani Al Nuaimi, Secretary-General of the Office of His Highness Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.His statement came during a recent inspection visit to the Union Hall at the Ministry of Interior where the delivery of the participants’ files in the award was held. He lauded the efforts of the award’s team in organising the award and the swift completion of tasks.The team had completed the file delivery of 530 participants of category one and three, representing the general police departments and the Ministry of Interior’s sectors.Major Abdul Rahman Ali Al Mansouri, head of the Institutional Excellence Section of the General Directorate of Strategy and Performance Development at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, said: “The evaluation process of the files will be completed on November 17, and a neutral panel will handle it, following which the winners will be announced”.

Excellence Award team applauded for distinguished efforts

Badran chairs organisational structure committee meeting

A top police officer has said it is a critical requirement for the law enforcement agency to catch up with the latest in police work. This was stated by Major General Ahmed Nasser Al Raisi, Director General of Central Operations at Abu Dhabi Police, during a recent inspection tour of the rescue and swift intervention unit at the centre of Mohammed bin Zayed City. The unit is affiliated to the Emergency and Public Safety of Abu Dhabi Police. The official urged policemen to upgrade their performance and catch up with global advancements in police work, to serve the nation better.He was briefed on the performance of the unit by Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Ibrahim Al Ameri, Deputy Director of the Emergency and Public Safety of Abu Dhabi Police.

“Catching up with global advancement is critical”– Al Raisi


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Brigadier Mohammed Ahmed bin Ghanem Al Kaabi, Act-ing Commander in Chief of Fujairah Police, met recently Lieutenant Colonel Ibrahim Al Dibel, general coordinator of the National Awareness Programme. The meeting was attended by several police officers.Lt Col Al Dibel explained the National Awareness Pro-gramme, aimed at streamlining national efforts to prepare youths capable of leading the renaissance of the society. “The programme consists of several elements including crime prevention, health and safety, personal skills and na-tional awareness. It targets all society including students, teachers, parents, institutions and organisations”, said Lt Col Al Dibel.Brig Al Kaabi thanked Lt Col Al Dibel and members of the programme’s team and pledged full support to achieve the objectives of the initiative.Meanwhile, Brig Al Kaabi received a delegation of Fu-jairah Scouts. The delegation presented a token gift and a certificate of appreciation to Fujairah Police for their role

in the Community Service Programme organised in June by Al Bleida region. The meeting was held by Colonel Mohammed Rashid by Nayea and Lt Col Saeed Al Hamar, head of the Special Tasks Department and acting head of Media and Public Relations Section.

The Traffic and Patrols Directorate of Ras Al Khaimah Police recently organised a traffic awareness campaign targeting school students.The campaign coincided with back-to-school activities and the 3rd Traffic Awareness Campaign launched by the Ministry of Interior under the slogan ‘Let’s Protect Our Children Against Accidents’. Many police officers took part in the three-week campaign. Colonel Abdullah Ali Minkhis, head of the Traffic and Patrols Directorate of Ras Al Khaimah Police, said: “The campaign is part of the strategic plan of the Ministry of Interior, aimed at protecting the lives of children and providing all safety and security measures for that purpose”.He said a coordination meeting was held with the Ras Al Khaimah Education Zone and officials of Emirates Transport Corp. to prepare the programme of the campaign and achieve the goals of the activity.

Delegations visit Fujairah Police

Arab palm day marked by Ajman PoliceThe General Headquarters of Ajman Police has taken part in the Arab Palm Day by planting 100 palm trees at the headquarters building and several police stations in the emirate.Brigadier Sheikh Sultan bin Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Acting Chief of Ajman Police, planted a palm tree at the build-ing of Ajman Police as part of the activity. The initiative is part of the efforts to increase greenery in the emirate and to

inculcate the principles of green development in the minds of the people.Lieutenant Colonel Obaid Mohammed Al Suwaidi, direc-tor of the police chief’s office, Lieutenant Colonel Rashid Jasim Mijlad, director of police operations, Lieutenant Colonel Omar Mohammed Al Shamsi, director general of resources and support services and Lieutenant Colonel Hu-maid Al Matroushi, director of the Police Training Institute.

Traffic awareness campaign in Ras Al Khaimah

Major General Humaid Mohammed Al Hadidi, the Sharjah Police Chief, met members of the Supreme Permanent Committee of Comprehensive Police Stations, headed by Brigadier Hamad Ajlan Misfer Al Nuaimi. The committee includes six members.The meeting, attended by senior officers of Sharjah Police, is part of the visits made by the committee to discuss means to set up police stations with comprehensive specialisations in the emirate. The committee will provide consultative support as well as studies and research to police departments in the country.

The committee will present reports and recommendations to His Highness Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, through the Supreme Committee Directorate at the Ministry of Interior.The panel visited Al Gharb police station in Sharjah which has implemented the ‘comprehensive police station’ concept. Brigadier Al Nuaimi urged policemen to enhance their skills to be able to perform their duties in the best way and catch up with the latest in the security field.

Sharjah Police Chief meets police station panel members

Dubai Police Chief, Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, recently received an honorary doctorate from the European University of ap-plied sciences in Bulgaria in recognition of his role in the service of security, defence of hu-man rights and active participation in the fight against human trafficking.The doctorate was presented by Toshko Krastev, president of the university in the pres-ence of His Excellency Dr. Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahad, UAE Minister of Environment and Wa-ter.On the occasion, Lt Gen Dhahi unveiled a new initiative which is an MA programme in human rights at Dubai Police Academy, and assigned a senior police officer to follow up the imple-mentation of the programme He said: “The global reputation of Dubai Police has reached security, scientific and academic institutions around the world”.

Dhahi Khalfan receive Bulgarian honorary doctorate


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Interview

Discussions are underway to establish an association to be tasked with fighting

crime. Though the idea behind the proposed association came from the Police Consultative Council for Community Service at Dubai Police, Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, told 999 in an exclusive interview that the association would be a civil organisation not purely a police-led entity.

Excerpts:Q. What are the vision, mission and objectives of the UAE Crime Prevention Association?A. The idea was presented by Dr. Mohammed Murad Abdullah, Director of the Decision-Making Support Centre of Dubai Police at a periodical meeting of the Police Consultative Council for Community Service at Dubai Police. The association seeks to be a pioneering force in organising activities aimed at achieving and preserving safety and security in society. Its mission is to coordinate efforts to curb crime and enhance security in the community, spreading the culture of no-violence and finding mechanisms to consolidate safety for

Ordinary citizens should join new association to be tasked with crime prevention in the UAE

By Khalid Al Dhanhani

all. This association will aim at raising awareness standards to prevent the dangers of crime, supporting law enforcement agencies by forming joint teams, preparing awareness campaigns and seminars, monitoring crime trends and analysing them and selecting best practices from around the world in crime prevention efforts. Part of its work scope is to confront unfounded rumours that affect the safety and security of society and its security agencies.Q. Who are the association members, and what will they do to curb crime?A. Citizens working in the public and private sectors can join the association as members, in addition to members from the police agencies. The association should be chaired by a proficient security official... the association will work closely with police in organising seminars, courses and competitions. These efforts are intended to enable the public, individuals and institutions, to take part in crime prevention activities. The efforts will involve the use of social media.Q. The Police Consultative Council for Community Service is also tasked with fighting crime, isn’t it?A. The objectives of the association are different from the objectives of the council. We are aiming at involving individuals and institutions in solving security issues and enhancing the cooperation with the public to achieve strategic targets... the role of the association will not be less than that of other civil associations. It will support police work, as well as the efforts of parents, schools and mosques. Security is the responsibilities of all.Q. Dubai Police launch many initiatives to enhance the security of society and create partnerships between police and the public. To what extent have these initiatives succeeded?A. The initiatives are many, and with the availability of modern technology and social media, the initiatives reach their target audiences and create strong interaction between police and the public. They contribute towards solving problems, crime prevention, fighting the menace of drugs and negative phenomena emerging in our society.

Q. There are successful experiences at the international level in association work like those implemented in Japan and Singapore. To what extend have we benefitted from them?A. We at Dubai Police seek to make use of modern international experiences in this field. This is important to support the foundation of the association that should include members of society to achieve partnerships desired by Dubai Police General Headquarters. We strongly believe that security is the responsibility of everyone, particularly in advanced countries.

We can benefit from the expertise of Japan and Singapore in NGO management in the creation of the new association here in the UAE. We will be the first to welcome its creation and the efforts to achieve its vision, mission, objectives and strategic plan. We will also evaluate its programmes and results of activities conducted to achieve its goals. The structure and functions of the association will be scrutinised and assessed to ensure they comply with the norms of UAE society. The proposed body must be a civil association, that is a non-government organisation.

Fighting crime ‘a national duty’

The proposed body must be a civil as-sociation, that is a non-government organization

Cover Story

UAE families pay the price of social development, at the expense of their stability and continuity

Unseemly winds

In this edition, we have three stories on challenges faced by UAE families at the beginning of the 21st century, focusing on the relation between husband and wife.These challenges seem trivial and, to a very large extent, part of the daily life of any family. But prob-lems emerge from them and get bigger to form a social phenomenon that threatens the stability of soci-ety and opens the door to alienation and the disintegration of original values.The problems are not exclusive to the contemporary family unit in the UAE; rather, we find the same issues in many Arab societies. They could pose a threat to the future of the UAE social tapestry. Divorce rates in the UAE are regarded as too high, exceeding 40 per cent. If we take into consideration the im-pact of such a percentage in a small society like the UAE, we’d conclude that keeping the family unit together in the country is a national duty in its own right.We shed light in the three stories on intrinsic challenges encountered by UAE families. These challenges include the absence of trust, lack of proper communication and escapism. In a story by Amira Al Raisi, we read about husband-and-wife suspicions which often lead to family disintegration. Amani Al Yafei discusses communication and interaction issues between couples and their effects on families, while Lara Al Zarasi deals with the topic of marriage to foreigners by Emirati men, regarded by many as an escapist route of critical impact on the future of UAE society.


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Suspicions should be prevented between spouses By Amira Al Raisi

On the edge of a cliff

Cover Story

Suspicion of infidelity between spouses represents a problem that could destabilise families and

lead to divorce. The devastating effects of suspicions are detrimental to the wellbeing of society, experts say.Meera Mohammed, who is married and has two children, said: “Since I got married five years ago, I noticed that my husband had an inclination to have multiple affairs. We had many problems, which ended in many cases with apologies and false promises. Over the last years, I discovered many affairs my husband had with women. “He used a special phone for his extramarital relations, and I found many photos of girls in his car. He stayed late outside the house… and now, we are seeking divorce at the court. I feel sorry for my children, but I cannot stand his selfishness and whims any more”.Maryam Abdullah, a divorced woman, said: “I was never a person who would suspect others of dishonest actions. But my ex-husband made me suspect him by his acts. Since the first week after we got married, he used to stay late at night and always used the mobile phone… he used to create problems with me just for nothing to find the excuse to leave the house.“On one day, I chased him to his destination and discovered that he was on a date. I asked him to divorce me. Since then I never trusted any man”.Mohammed Al Shamsi, who is married and has three children, said he was able to overcome his protectiveness. “My wife is very beautiful and I became extremely jealous… I did not let her leave the house alone… I used to take her in my car to her workplace and bring her back home. She accepted my excessive jealousy… I made her cut ties with her women-colleagues, and we had many arguments that she sometimes asked me to divorce her. “But after we had our first baby girl and my pious wife’s efforts to make me change, things got better”, said Al Shamsi. Abdullah Humaid, though not married yet, looks at this issue objectively and rationally. He said: “I do not have paranoid, and I think that when you trust your partner, he or she will keep up the love. Suspicion does not come from nothing… that is why the two spouses should be frank with each other to avoid suspicion that leads eventually to divorce”.Dr. Mohammed Al Qallaf, a social

worker, said there are many reasons that lead to suspicions between spouses. One of the reasons could be that one of the spouses was married before and the cause of the previous marriage’s breakdown was infidelity.‘Fatal love’, he said, is another reason. “When a person loves his or her spouse excessively, things go beyond control in terms of jealously. Some newly-wed men and women make a mistake by being ‘too open’ about old relations which do not need to be discussed, and this causes unnecessary anxiety”, he said.He added: “A married woman, who had an affair with a man before marriage, sought my advice on whether she should tell her husband. I warned her not to”.Dr. Al Qallaf said a person having suspicions about his or her spouse lives in confusion as they find no answer to their questions. “A state of instability prevails in the house and anxiety becomes the norm. There should be an end to this instability… accusations should not be mounted against anyone, based on rumours or messages from envious people”, he pointed out. Khalifa Al Mahrazi, family counselor at Dubai Courts, warned against the use of bugging devices at home to spy on one’s spouse. He said such devices were often used by wives to monitor the phone calls of their husbands. “Some hi-tech companies introduced devices that can tell the location of the husband… these devices (with a miniature radio transmitter with a microphone) can create a wave of problems… we have a divorce case every eight minutes… if these devices are used extensively, we will have divorce cases every eight seconds!”.Al Mahrazi said that spying on one’s spouse by suspicious people is a dangerous matter. “I know husbands who wanted to divorce their wives because they used listening devices in

their clothes daily. Some women used sunglasses placed in the husband’s car to listen to conversations and take photos. Highly advanced digital cameras are also used to catch the husband with his mistresses”, said Al Mahrazi. He added that spying is unethical. But he added that spouses resort to spying in the absence of channels of communication between husband and wife. He said suspicion in one’s spouse could also be the result of previous bad experience in the person’s life.Dr. Adel Al Karani, psychiatric consultant at Rashid Hospital in Dubai, said that suspicion is a human feeling and exists when the person is torn between believing and disbelieving. “The result of such a situation is instability in the family”, he explained. Suspicion comes as a result of the conflict between two contradictory ideas. “It could be the result of excessive love or jealously”, he said. Dr. Al Karani said suspicion becomes a psychiatric diagnosis when the person involved reaches the stage of confusion and turmoil because of unjustified mistrust.He said there is the ‘Paranoid personality disorder’ which is a psychiatric diagnosis characterised by paranoia and a pervasive, long-standing suspiciousness and generalised "Mistrust" mistrust of others.When this state becomes a sickness by suspecting the husband or the wife of being infidel, there is a possibility that the person has Paranoia, which is a thought process believed to be heavily influenced by anxiety or fear, often to the point of irrationality and delusion.Dr. Al Karani said that a person suffering from these negative ideas should neglect them and move on to positive ideas and use his or her energy to build a happy life. As for people with Paranoid personality disorder, they should seek counselors and psychiatrists to help him control suspicious ideas. If the case has to do with a psychiatric diagnosis, then the help of psychiatrists is essential.The psychological effects resulting from a wife suspecting her husband of engaging in extramarital affairs are numerous, said Dr. Al Karani. “She would pass through a conflict in which she cannot be sure about the suspicions she has. Her life at work and at home is affected as she spends most of the time keeping an eye on her husband’s movements. She would eventually be isolated totally, not caring about her job or home”, he concluded.

Dr. Al Qallaf


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Cover Story

Why couples need to keep talkingBy Amani Al Yafei

Deafening silence

When family problems increase and worsen, dialogue ceases to exist,

and it is replaced by silence in the lack of solutions that satisfy the two sides.This silence is deafening, but there are ways to break this silence and restore dialogue in family life.Rashid obaid Al Dahmani, a UAE national, said that when the husband is silent in the house, he has too many things that he keeps inside him without telling his wife, in order to avoid problems. “The wife should understand the nature of the man and his way of thinking”, he said. “The way of thinking is different in the man from that of the woman. When the man does not find something to say, he goes silent. The woman continues to look for something to speak about”, he added.Rashid said the wife should realise the differences between her and her husband so as to be able interact with him. “She should find him the excuses, interact with him and create the appropriate environment for positive dialogue. She should be optimistic. Usually, the man avoids dialogue if it always leads to problems”, he noted.Suhaila Al Darmaki, a UAE national woman, said one of the most important reasons behind a husband’s silence at home is his extramarital affairs.“But he could also be suffering psychological disorders that he does not want to reveal to his wife”, she added.She said many husbands have normal life outside their homes but once they return home, they become silent and forget their responsibilities towards the family. “This reflects adversely on the whole family, particularly on children”, she stressed.But Abdullah Saleh Al Tunaiji, also an Emirati, said: “The husband and the wife have to respect the rights of the other party. Problems start when one of the two ignores the other’s rights, reflecting negatively on the relation. Both of them have to find the time to discuss things in order to increase confidence levels and

solve problems when they occur”. Husbands, he said, do not like to be ‘interrogated’ by their wives as if they committed a crime!Despite the varying reasons behind silence between spouses, social worker Razna Al Ahbabi of the Social Support Centres, said it results from a gap between the couple, caused by variations in interests and priorities. The silence could be an expression of concerns or weaknesses, or perhaps a trend towards tranquility that a human being wants in his or her life.She added: “The reasons leading to silence in the case of husbands differ from one person to another. It could be attributed to problems in family life, financial issues, the failure to have a constructive dialogue, physical fatigue, among other factors”, she noted.A husband’s silence, Al Ahbabi said, could be a natural thing as many people tend to be silent in order to focus and reach good conclusions. “But husbands should find the opportunity to sit down with their wives and discuss their problems to reach agreeable solutions”, she emphasised.She warned against the catastrophic results of silence, saying the failure to find solutions to family problems could throw the matter outside home boundaries where the husband could seek solutions from external sources. She said the gap between couples widens when no attempts are made to solve problems, bringing about what can be termed as ‘spiritual separation’ – that eventually leads to divorce.

Choose the right time to start a dialogue. Don’t make him feel that you are interrogating him. Select the right topic before complaining about his silence. Try to discover the topics your husband wants to talk about. Change your talking style… make it as gentle and quiet as possible, and

discuss things with him smartly to get him out of his silence. Don’t mention things that make him angry. Use etiquette and answer his questions in a calm manner.

Tips for the wife of a‘silent’ husband

Silence has many types, according to Mohammed Mahmoud Mustapha, a social worker. It could be a natural thing in some people, or a chosen one. In the latter type, a person chooses to refuse to talk for various reasons.The dialogue between spouses is an intrinsic part of happy family life, said Mustapha. He added: “The husband and the wife have to respect each other’s rights and responsibilities”.Dr. Ahmed Jamal Al Raisi, a family counselor, said: “The causes of silence can be interpreted by psychological analysis of the personality through its internal and external energies… when negative situations are frequent, silence between couples is repeated as well. This is a dangerous phenomenon in marriages”.He added: “To solve this problem, husbands and wives need to have the will to change in the interest of the family and its well-being. The change is possible in many ways; by attending religious sessions, making use of others’ useful family experiences, attending training courses, research, and other methods”.

Rashid Al DahmaniAbdullah Al Tunaiji


2524

Cover Story

By Lara Al Zarasi

UAE 2061

The big strides taken by the UAE in many fields give food for thought for people visualising

how the country will look like 50 years from now. Few would consider creating a picture in their minds on how the UAE national would look like as a result of increasing number of UAE marriages to non-Emiratis. Would the Emirati be a ‘global citizen’ like counterparts in London, Sydney or New York?“It is a flight of the imagination to visualise how Emiratis would look like after 50 years”, said Dr. Hissa Lootah, associate professor at the Media Faculty, UAE University. “It is hard to predict... the future holds too many surprises for us”, she added.Children, she said, reflect what they parents are, particularly in terms of culture. Dr. Lootah said UAE marriages to foreigners is a result of the openness of UAE society to the outside world, on the one hand, and the astronomic expenses of marriages

of Emirati men to Emirati women. “The result of these marriages is a multicultural Emirati face”, she said.Dr. Lootah said that in most cases, Emirati men choose to marry foreign women because they get infatuated by their beauty. “But beauty is only skin deep”, she noted. And in most cases, she added, children are the victims of failed marriages.When a foreign woman decides to leave, Dr. Lootah said, she abandons children who are split between two cultures and nationalities. However, a successful marriage, built on trust and respect, can bring about individuals (children) “who are culturally fit to live in any society, thus becoming a great and balanced fit that enriches society and helps advance it”.Dr. Lootah, however, underlined that children born to Asian women, particularly from south-east Asia, feel uncomfortable as they carry the physical facial features of two cultures. “Would things be different if they eyes are green or blue, with blond hair? I think more than one answer could be given to this question”, she underlined.Brigadier Najm Sayyar Al Hosani, Director of Social Support at the General Headquarters of Abu Dhabi Police, said: “It is very hard to predict what the future would hold after 50 or 100 years from today. UAE society is developing fast, and it is open to all cultures and ideas. Development in itself has positive and negative aspects. Adverse effects can be overcome”, he said.The most important thing, Brig. Al Hosani said, is to support Emirati youth. “Our society can live with other cultures and assimilate them. The religion of Islam respects all religions and respects the preferences of people. God Almighty says: ‘O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you’ - Sura of Al Hujaraat: 13”.Brig. Al Hosani said there were no objections to the marriage of a UAE youth to a non-Emirati woman as

long as she is righteous. “The most important thing is that the couple should have harmony... cultures are now closer to one another and in 10 years, the outlook of a culture can change...”, he said.Family counselor Khalifa Mohammed Al Mahrazi called marriage to foreigners a ‘modernising torpedo’ sweeping the region in recent years. He said that the number of Emiratis marrying foreign women had increased significantly, mainly because of high wedding expenses if the woman is a UAE national. According to Dubai Statistics Centre, the number of marriages of UAE national men to foreign women in Dubai increased from 2007 to the end of 2009 by 10 per cent (539 marriages), while the marriages to UAE women dropped by two per cent (1,178) in the same period. On another front, divorce cases involving foreign wives in Abu Dhabi rose by 63 per cent, compared to 40 per cent in the case of Emirati couples, according to the statistics of the Security Research and Studies Centre of the General Headquarters of Abu Dhabi Police. The same study showed that 63 per cent of Emirati men married to foreign women belong to the category of people with medium or limited income.“There are reasons that should not be ignored when we analyse the trend

of Emirati men marrying foreign women. Some Emirati young men are infatuated by what they watch on Western satellite television channels and they blindly imitate what they see. They find it easy to marry foreign women, and they mistakenly think foreign women are more attractive than UAE women… in many cases, foreign women achieve other objectives by marrying Emirati men, like getting residence in the UAE and achieving some material gains”, he said.In a decade from now, Al Mahrazi said the children from such marriages would face language and cultural adaptation challenges. “The foreign mother, who usually does not speak proper Arabic or is ignorant about UAE Arabic accent, is the main source of learning for children. This could detach children from their environment”, he said.Dr. Hussain Salem Al Sarhan, family protection counselor, said many studies were conducted on the phenomenon of marrying to foreigners. There are supporters and opponents to the phenomenon, he said.“If we have to imagine how UAE society will be like after 50 years, we have to remember how it was 50 years ago… the couple should understand that marriage is a sacred bond and should be respected for the sake of children. The children from foreign women should have the means to integrate properly in their environment”, Al Sarhan said. But he added Islam has encouraged marriages of unrelated people.Al Sarhan said there were no fears about the future of social stability as the UAE has built strong foundations in socio-economic progress, sustainable development and social and human fields, as highlighted in international reports in these spheres.

Marriages of Emiratis to foreigners pose questions on the look of UAE society 50 years from now.

It is a flight of the imagination to vi-sualise how Emiratis would look like after 50 years: Lootah

Dr. LootahBr. Al Hosani


26

Musical chairs!

People of important office look at their positions in two dif-ferent ways: some regard it as something that gives them their true value, and others who are self-confident strongly

believe they give that office the value and weight it holds.The same applies to people with money: some believe money is what gives them their value, and others who think they give mon-ey the value it holds.Those who think their ‘chairs’ give them their importance are los-ers as they lose their value once the ‘chair’ is gone, unlike the other group of people who realise that the ‘chair’ will be occupied by other individuals sooner or later. The same applies to money which is of a transitory value.That is why a human being has to look deep inside for his or her value. The true value is in the essence that remains unchanged, whether or not the ‘chair’ or the money remained… whether or not people remained around them when the important post or wealth is no more.‘Chairs’ are not something that stays on. What people leave behind after the end of their service, whether they willingly leave the job or grudgingly, is what they have built or demolished. History tells us that some people were too attached to their posts that they could never imagine their life without the posts. They were intoxicated by power to the extent that they could not read the past or foresee the future.The game of musical chairs could be interesting for those watch-ing it from a distance, but it gives excruciating pain to those who play it. The game could also be fatal. When the game is over, the losers run away like rats, looking for a place to hide and a cover to cover their bad work. They transform themselves into bogus strug-glers, wronged by history, geography and the masses.The game of musical chairs played by adults is different from the game we used to play when we were children, purely for entertain-ment… when we did not know the games of adults that have no innocence nor purity.Had those clinging to their chairs known the meanings of inno-cence and purity, they wouldn’t have stayed in their chairs for an hour… or even less.

Ali [email protected]

Perspectives


2928

Global Issues

Somalia has had no functioning government since January 1991, when former President

Siyad Barre was ousted.Since then, fighting between warlords, government forces and various alliances of Islamist insurgents has resulted in the deaths of thousands of Somalis and displaced hundreds of thousands more. In the north, the former British protectorate of Somaliland declared its independence from the rest of Somalia in May 1991, and in 1998 the northeastern region of Puntland declared itself an autonomous state. Both regions have remained largely peaceful, although Puntland has in recent years suffered from heightened insecurity.One of the boldest attempts to turn a new page in Somalia was the US Restore Hope intervention in 1992, which was mandated by the UN to protect the delivery of humanitarian assistance amid a major food crisis.The following is a chronology of events leading up to the current conflict and subsequent famine in parts of southern-central Somalia.26 June 1960:The former British Somaliland Protectorate gains independence;1 July 1960:The former Italian colony of Somalia becomes independent. The former British (northwest) and Italian (south) colonies unite;15 October 1969:Democratically elected President Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke is assassinated by one of his bodyguards;21 October 1969:The army under Major-General Muhammad Siyad Barre overthrows the civilian

government after parliament hits deadlock trying to choose a new president. The army suspends the constitution, bans all 86 political parties, and promises to end corruption. Barre heads the 25-member Supreme Revolutionary Council, comprising army and police officers;21 October 1970:The army junta declares Somalia a socialist country and adopts “Scientific Socialism”. This signals a shift towards Soviet backing, and security organs and intelligence networks are given greater powers;21 October 1972:A written script for the Somali language is established. A modified Roman alphabet is adopted as the official orthography for the Somali language; 1974:One of the worst famines, known as Dabadeer (long tailed), hits northern and central Somalia, with thousands dying. The Barre government relocates tens of thousands of pastoralists to southern Somalia. The country joins the Arab League; July 1977:A low-level war of attrition between Somali-backed insurgents and the Ethiopian army becomes an all-out battle when Somalia declares war on Ethiopia. It goes down in history as the fiercest Cold War battle on the continent, played out in the Ethiopian Somali region; 13 November 1977:Somalia expels about 6,000 Russian, Cuban and other Soviet allies after the Soviet Union switched sides and allied itself with Ethiopia; March 1978:The Somali government announces the withdrawal of its forces;

Djibouti at which Ali Mahdi is chosen as interim president but Aydid and his wing of the USC reject the appointment; 17 November 1991:Full-scale fighting starts between two factions of the USC; 3 March 1992:A ceasefire comes into effect between the warring factions in Mogadishu;1992:Fighting erupts in the northeast between the Islamist Al-Ittihad group and militia loyal to the Somali Salvation Democratic Front (SSDF), led by Colonel Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmad; April 1992:The UN Operation in Somalia, UNOSOM I, begins; December 1992:The Unified International Task Force (UNITAF) forces under American leadership land in Mogadishu, in Operation Restore Hope; February 1993:A three-month conference in Borama seeks a new leader for the self-declared state of Somaliland. Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal, a former prime minister of Somalia, is elected in May 1993; March 1993:The next serious attempt at peace talks. An Ethiopian initiative evolves into a joint UN-Ethiopian-sponsored reconciliation conference in Addis Ababa; 4 May 1993:UNITAF hands over to UNOSOM II;5 June 1993:23 Pakistani peacekeepers are killed by Aydid loyalists; 12 July 1993:American helicopter gunships kill more than 50 unarmed Somalis in a private house in Mogadishu, increasing local hostility to the international intervention forces; 3 October 1993:American-led forces

8 April 1978:After the defeat of the Somali army, a group of army officers tries to topple the Barre regime. The attempted coup is crushed and Barre tightens his grip. He begins a process of putting power into the hands of his relatives and sub-clan, the Darod Marehan. He also empowers the related Dulbahante and Ogadeni sub-clans; May 1988:The Somali National Movement (SNM) mounts an offensive in the north, as a result of the regime’s brutal post-Ethiopian war policies. Barre responds by bombing the area. Hundreds of thousands of civilians are displaced and many killed. It is the first real challenge to Barre’s rule, and the beginning of the proliferation of armed opposition to the regime; May 1990:A manifesto is published in Mogadishu, the capital, calling for an all-inclusive national reconciliation convention to avert protracted civil war. It is signed by 144 people, including politicians, religious leaders, professionals and business people, representing all Somali clans; December 1990:Armed uprising erupts in Mogadishu; 27 January 1991:Barre flees Mogadishu. Forces loyal to the Hawiye-based United Somali Congress (USC) capture the city; 28 January 1991:The Manifesto Group of USC appoints an hotelier, Ali Mahdi Mohamed, as president. The military wing of USC, led by General Mohamed Farah Aydid, rejects the appointment; 18 May 1991:The former British Protectorate of Somaliland declares unilateral independence from the rest of Somalia in the town of Birao; July 1991:A conference is held in

SOMALIA: Countdown to calamity


31

looking for Aydid’s senior aides are involved in a shoot-out, which leaves 18 Americans and hundreds of Somalis dead. The body of a dead American is dragged through the streets of Mogadishu, and caught on camera, sparking an international outcry; August 1996:Aydid dies of gunshot wounds sustained in operations against his former lieutenant, Osman Ali Atto. His son, a former American marine, Hussein Mohamed Aydid, is chosen by the clan to replace his father; November 1996:Ethiopian government-sponsored reconciliation conference brings most of the factions together but is boycotted by Aydid’s son; November 1997:Faction leaders meet in Cairo, with limited success, leaving Somalia without a national leader and Mogadishu still divided and insecure; 2 May 2000:On the initiative of the President of Djibouti, the Somali National Peace Conference brings together more than 2,000 participants in Arta, Djibouti. It is the first

conference where the warlords do not have control of the agenda; 26 August 2000:A 245-strong

Transitional National Assembly (TNA), based on clan representation, elects Abdiqasim Salad Hassan as the new president of Somalia. He forms the Transitional National Government (TNG); 27 August 2000:Hassan is sworn in during an inauguration ceremony attended by the heads of Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan, Yemen, and the host country Djibouti, along with representatives from

the UN, EU, Arab League, African Union, France, Italy, Kuwait and Libya; April 2001:The Somali Restoration and Reconciliation Council (SRRC), a group of

southern factions opposed to the interim government, is formed in Ethiopia and announces its intention to form a rival national government within six months; November-December 2001:Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi brings together the TNG and some members of the SRRC and other faction leaders who sign the Nakuru agreement to end conflict; November 2001:In the aftermath of 9/11, the US freezes the funds of the main remittance bank - and the largest employer – Barakat, for suspected links with Al-Qaeda; May 2002:Mohamed Ibrahim Egal, president of the self-declared republic of Somaliland, dies in a South African hospital and is replaced by his vice-president, Dahir Riyale Kahin; October 2002:Another reconciliation meeting, sponsored by the regional Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), opens in the Kenyan town of Eldoret; 22 August 2004:Almost two years later, a 275-member transitional parliament is inaugurated; 15 September 2004:Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan, a businessman, is elected Assembly speaker; 10 October 2004:Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, 71, is elected interim president of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) by the interim parliament; 14 October 2004:Ahmed is sworn in at a ceremony attended by several African heads of state in Nairobi; 3 November 2004:Ahmed appoints Ali Mohamed Gedi as prime minister; 13 January 2005:Parliament approves Gedi’s reconstituted, 90-member cabinet; 6 February 2005:The speaker, leading some 60 legislators, returns to Mogadishu and is welcomed by cheering crowds; 9 February 2005:Gedi announces plans to start relocating from Nairobi to Mogadishu on 21 February; 24 February 2005:Ahmed and Gedi begin a week-long tour of Somalia - the first time they have stepped on Somali soil since Ahmed’s election in October 2004; 29 April 2005:Gedi flies to Mogadishu to meet MPs and ministers who insist the transitional government should be based in Mogadishu, and not Baidoa or

Jowhar as proposed by the TFG; 18 February 2006:A group of Mogadishu-based warlords, led by Mohamed Qanyare, form the Alliance for Peace and the Fight Against International Terrorism and confront the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC), a coalition of armed judicial units formed by various Hawiye sub-clans; several days of bloody clashes ensue; 19-22 February 2006:Thousands flee Mogadishu, particularly the northern and southern suburbs; February 2006:TFG parliament meets on Somali soil for the first time - in the northwestern town of Baidoa; March-May 2006:Hundreds killed and many more injured in Mogadishu during fierce fighting between the UIC and warlords. It is the worst violence in almost a decade; June 2006:Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed is named UIC chairman; July 2006:The UIC defeats warlords, who flee from Mogadishu, and quickly moves to other parts of south-central Somalia and assumes de facto control of state administration; August 2006:Mogadishu airport re-opens for the first time since 1995. UIC also re-opens Mogadishu port; July-December 2006:A semblance of peace and stability returns to Mogadishu for the first time in over 15 years; December 2006:Ethiopian troops oust the UIC from Mogadishu and much of the south, capturing Mogadishu on 28 December. The TFG president, Ahmed, and his government enter Mogadishu for the first time since 2004; March 2007:The UIC and others opposed to the Ethiopian presence regroup and launch attacks on Ethiopian and government positions. First African Union (AMISOM) peacekeeping troops (Ugandans and Burundians) arrive in Mogadishu; April 2007:The fighting intensifies, forcing hundreds of thousands of people to flee Mogadishu - the biggest exodus the city has seen in 15 years. Hundreds are reported killed after several days of fierce clashes; September 2007:UIC remnants and other opposition groups meet in the Eritrean capital, Asmara, to form a new alliance to fight the Ethiopians. The Alliance for the Reliberation of

Creation date: 06 September 2011 Feedback: [email protected] http://unocha.org

Mogadishu

Kismayo

Bossaso

Hargeysa

Huriwa

Deyninle

Karan

DharkeynleyBanadir Hospital

Mogadishu Intl. AirportMogadishu Port

Hodan

WaberiWadajir (Medina)

Yaqshid

Shibis

Wardhigley

Hawl-Wadag

Bondhere

HamarJab-Jab

HamarWeye Abdi-

Aziz

Shingani

IDP locations

5 km

IDPs have been flowing into Mogadishusteadily since March 2011. From 16 June to 2 September, 44,900 people arrived in Mogadishu (UNHCR, 2 September). A total of 226 IDP shelter concentrations were identified by UNOSAT in the city.

Source: UNOSAT

Dollo Ado, EthiopiaWhile arrivals have slowed in recent weeks, more than 79,000 new refugees registered at the Dollo Ado camps in 2011, increasing its total size by more than 400 per cent.

Dadaab,KenyaMore than 146,000 (UNHCR, 25 August) new refugees arrived at Dadaab camps in 2011, with arrivals tapering off slightly in August.

Bari

Bay

Mudug

Sool

Gedo

Sanaag

Hiraan

Galgaduud

LowerJuba

Nugaal

Bakool

Togdheer

Awdal

Upper Juba LowerShabelle

WoqooyiGalbeed

Upper Shabelle

ETHIOPIA

N O R T H

C E N T R A L

S O U T H

N O R T H

E A S T

KENYA

YEMEN

DJIBOUTI

Area of detail

IDPs in Mogadishu

INDIANOCEAN

INDIAN OCEAN

The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.

OCHA Access Coefficient, June 2011

05102040100Unrestricted Severely

restricted/denied

Source: WHO

Source: UNHCR, 25 August

South SomaliaSeventy-five per cent of people in crisis are located in this area. These 3.0 million people live in areas where access is challenging due to insecurity.

Humanitarian AccessFood insecurity, malnutrition and massive displacement are exacerbated by insecurity which prevents many humanitarians from accessing the worst affected areas.

Famine area750,000 people are currently famine-affected.Food security isdeteriorating and more regions of South Somalia are likely to face famine in the coming months.

Access on the groundThe World Food Programme reports partial access to the Central Region, while access in the South remains limited to Mogadishu and some border areas in Bakool, Gedo and Lower Juba. Through UNICEF and the Somali Red Crescent, all areas of Somalia are being reached with interventions for malnourished children.

HealthCholera and measles are both on the rise. WHO reports an 660 per cent increase in measles cases over 2010.Cases of cholera or Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD) are reported to be on the rise in Mogadishu and Kismayo.

Somalia’s population - More than half are in crisis7.5 million

totalSource: UNDP, 2005

4.0millionin crisis

750,000famine-affected

3.3 millionneed immediate lifesaving assistance

400

800

1,200

Suspected measles cases reported in South and Central Somalia

JJMAMFJ2011

New refugees from Somalia in 2011 by destinationThe combination of hunger and insecurity has prompted more than 250,000 Somalis to seek assistance in other countries since the start of 2011.

Kenya

152,734new refugees

in 2011

Ethiopia

78,476

Yemen

15,252Djibouti

3,663

Over 4.0 million people are still affected by drought and famine in Somalia with a quarter of the nation’s people displaced by the crisis.

Somalia: Famine (as of 5 September 2011)

SOMALIA

Mogadishu

200 km

None Stressed Crisis Emergency Famine

Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Oct - Dec 2011 projection

Sources: FEWS NET, FSNAU/FAO

Somalia (ARS), led by Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, is formed; October 2007:Gedi resigns, after falling out with the president; November 2007:Ahmed appoints Nur Hassan Hussein, also known as Nur Adde, as the new prime minister and immediately embarks on a process of reconciliation with the opposition. The number of

Somali refugees hits one million, with nearly 200,000 fleeing Mogadishu in two weeks, according to the UN, while hundreds of thousands flee the fighting between insurgents and government forces backed by Ethiopian troops. Aid agencies warn of a humanitarian crisis; April 2008:US air strike kills Aden Hashi Ayro, a leader of the Islamist

Global Issues


30


32

Al-Shabab insurgent group, in its fight against Al-Qaeda; June 2008:Government signs a three-month ceasefire with opposition ARS to halt fighting in Mogadishu. Part of the deal envisages Ethiopian troops leaving Somalia within 120 days, but the ceasefire is rejected by the ARS faction led by Aweys, who vows to continue fighting until all foreign forces, including AMISOM, leave Somalia; September 2008:As piracy off the Somalia coast increases, Somali pirates hijack a Ukrainian ship carrying large amounts of weapons, including 33 tanks, which creates concern and forces the international community to deploy naval ships in Somali waters;October 2008:A wave of what appears to be coordinated suicide bombings across Somaliland and Puntland kills at least 27 people. Al-Shabab claims responsibility; December 2008:President Yusuf tries to sack the prime minister over his attempts to draw the opposition into the government. Parliament declares the dismissal unconstitutional and passes a vote of confidence in him. Yusuf resigns and Speaker Sheikh Aden Madobe becomes acting president; January 2009:Last Ethiopian troops complete their withdrawal. Al-Shabab militias take control of the southwestern town of Baidoa, the former seat of the TFG, and capture senior government officials but later release them unharmed. ARS faction led by Sheikh Ahmed reaches power-sharing deal with TFG in Djibouti. However, the deal is rejected by another faction led by Aweys. A new expanded parliament of 550, including 275 MPs from the opposition ARS, is inaugurated in Djibouti. Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed is elected by parliament to replace Yusuf and the transitional period is extended for two more years; 13 February 2009:Ahmed appoints Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, son of a former president, as prime minister; February 2009:Ahmed returns to Mogadishu to a warm welcome; May 2009:Al-Shabab and Hisbul-Islam launch a major attack on the government and quickly gain the upper hand as they attempt to overthrow the government; June 2009:Nearly 170,000 displaced from Mogadishu and, according to

local human rights groups, hundreds of civilians killed and injured since the clashes began on 7 May; 3 December 2009:A suspected suicide bomber kills 23 people, including three ministers in the TFG, parents, students, professors and journalists at a graduation ceremony. Al-Shabab denies responsibility; January 2010:The UN World Food Programme (WFP) withdraws from areas under the control of Al-Shabab, most of southern and central Somalia, after threats from the group; September 2010:Sharmarke resigns after coming under pressure to quit. Ahmed appoints Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed “Farmajo” to replace him, the fourth PM of the TFG; April 2011:Aid agencies sound alarm about serious humanitarian situation amid reports of rising levels

of malnutrition in parts of southern and central Somalia; June 2011:Farmajo resigns as part of a deal, signed on 9 June in Kampala, Uganda, between Ahmed and the speaker Sharif Hassan, extending the mandates of the Transitional Federal Institutions (TFI) for a year until August 2012. He is replaced by Abdiwali Mohamed Ali; July 2011:The UN declares famine in some parts of southern Somalia, with agencies warning that millions face starvation; August 2011:The UN warns famine has spread to more areas in southern Somalia and that it is likely to continue into 2012. Thousands of cases of cholera/acute watery diarrhoea reported in Mogadishu amid warnings that the caseload may increase to 100,000 countrywide

Global Issues

- Irin


3534

Focus

The Education Department at Abu Dhabi Police was set up following ministerial

decree no. 440 of 2010 issued by His Highness Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister

Education Department at Abu Dhabi Police strengthens the potential of police employees

By Lara Al Zarasi - Photos: Mohammed Ali

A shot in the arm for education

of Interior. According to the decree, the department has four divisions: Planning, Educational Programmes, Scholarships and Students Affairs and Support Services.The department has been offering valuable services to enhance the

the beginning of every academic year, the department assesses the needs as communicated to it by the Human Resources Planning Department of Abu Dhabi Police, in order to identify the degrees to be obtained by staff members and the countries where they will pursue higher studies”.He explained that lists of staff members to pursue higher studies are prepared in coordination with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the Supervision Units in various countries. “We recommend the names of distinguished and recognised universities and the educational attachés are contacted to provide enrollment documents for police staff members from various universities”, he said. Col. Al Shamsi said the Education Department at Abu Dhabi Police supervises the study process throughout the study years through dedicated offices. Before their departure, students sign forms allowing the department to request score cards and academic performance records from the universities in which they study, he added. “It is permitted to stop financial support to the student or end his or her scholarship if score cards or study reports did not reach the department for reasons that have to do with the person… The student should have a face-to-face meeting with an academic guide at least once a year”, he explained.The Education Department at Abu Dhabi Police is in charge of preparing strategies, policies, scholarship plans and supervision programmes in accordance with endorsed educational policies. The department also

The specialisations approved by the Education Department of Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters include firefighting and explosions engineering, crisis management, maritime engineering, civil engineering, electric al engineering, telecommunications engineering, networking engineering, software and programming, Centrifuge physics engineering, electronic engineering, aviation and aircraft engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, computer engineering, surveying, architectural engineering, general medicine, dentistry, physiotherapy, health and safety, pharmacology, Information Technology (IT), information systems, network security, computer sciences, Internet development software, general administration, finance, financial engineering, hospital management, economics, information management, hospitality, e-commerce, strategic project management, quality management, literature, history, translation, human resources, international relations, public relations, sociology, law, journalism, police communications, criminology, ambulance services, rescue, business administration, environment sciences, statistics and criminal investigation.

Approved majors

potential of police employees and consequently enable the police force to become a formidable institution by international standards in the 21st century.Colonel Khalifa Butti Al Shamsi, director of the department, said: “At

coordinates the selection of students with the Selection and Appointment Department at Abu Dhabi Police to attract high school certificate holders, as well as the communications with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the embassies.Major Jasim Al Harmoudi, head of the Scholarship Section, said the section follows up the needs and performance of the students throughout the study years. It also gives recommendations about the continuation or cancelation of scholarships.Major Mutaredh Mohammed Al Afari, Head of the Students Affairs section, said his section brings out the brochures and educational material for students.The section receives students and their parents or guardians and offers them administrative services. The archives

and the e-system are also handled by the section.Captain Ahmed Juma Al Khaili, acting head of the Planning and Educational Programmes Section, said the section puts together scholarship and educational programmes in line with the vision and strategy of the Education Department at Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters. The section also prepares lists of universities in coordination with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the Supervision Units in various countries. A key element in the functions of the section is the preparation of programme agreements including legal and academic terms and conditions. The section also coordinates with the Human Resources Planning Department at Abu Dhabi Police to ensure the requirements of the force are met.

Colonel Khalifa Butti Al Shamsi Major Jasim Al Harmoudi Major Mutaredh Mohammed Al Afari


3736

Focus

A rehabilitation programme en-abling previous convicts to join the job market is being imple-

mented by the Reformative and Puni-tive Establishments, supervised by the Higher College of Technology. It is the first of its kind in the Arab world.

Pursuit of lifeafter prisonJoint efforts are being made to help previous convicts build a new life

By Nawal Salem

The programme is being executed under the theme ‘Knowledge is a for-tune’. Officials at the Reformative and Punitive Establishments in Al Wathba said the programme enables prison inmates to obtain a degree by pursuing their studies. They can later

join the job market after the comple-tion of their jail terms.Colonel Mohammed Saif Al Zaabi, Director General of the Reformative and Punitive Establishments, said the programme was aimed at Emirati con-victs.

“It is a scientific programme put to-gether by the Higher College of Tech-nology to enable prison inmates to obtain a degree and get a decent job after leaving the prison. The two-year study is divided into four terms, with 25 hours of study weekly”, he said.Col. Al Zaabi said a high school certif-icate was not a condition for inmates to join the programme. If prison in-mates are released before completing the study, they could continue to study at the Higher College of Technology in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. The de-gree they get will not mention that they served jail terms. “They will also be given certificates of good conduct as well”, he added.Those enrolled in the programme should be UAE nationals, convicted and serving a jail term and the remain-ing period of the imprisonment term should not be less than six months or exceed three years. A medical fitness certificate is also required to get ap-plicants accepted in the programme.“The programme is two-fold: aca-demic and professional on the one hand, where the contents focus on the requirements of the public and private sectors, and they include English, business administration, mathematics and computer skills including ICDL. On the other hand, the programme

concentrates on personal and psycho-logical rehabilitation”.Abdul Qadir Mustafa, in-charge of the Computer Section, said the Work Rehabilitation Programme (WRP) provides many skills to the inmates to enable them to integrate in society and to facilitate their employment. “The inmates follow a learning sys-tem similar to that adopted at the Higher College of Technology in the country. The only difference is that applicants do not need to have a high school certificate as a prerequisite to be enrolled”, explained Mustafa.The curriculum includes Arabic, English, mathematics and work skills. “There are teaching halls equipped with advanced facilities to catch up with the latest in the learning process”, he stressed.Inmates interviewed by 999 showed that they have the will to change for the better. An inmate identified as A. H., 27, said: “I joined the pro-gramme to be able to get a prop-er job when I am released from jail. I benefitted a lot from the pro-gramme especially that I have a pre-paratory school diploma and worked in the past in a government body. “I will continue my study after leav-ing prison to be able to get promoted. I am also planning to pursue higher

studies outside the UAE”, he said. Inmate A.Q, 39, said: “I graduated two years ago but I am still in jail because I could not pay back my debts. I thank all the teachers for their great efforts”, he said.He added: “We do not feel that we are imprisoned: we study in the same way other students of the Higher College of Technology study. After my re-lease, I will look for a job and I do not feel like pursuing higher studies as life is tough and I would like to pay back debts”.Another inmate, H. M., 36, said: “This programme demonstrates the commitment of the government to as-sist individuals serving prison terms at the Reformative and Punitive Estab-lishments. We hope that society’s look at previous convicts should change… all humans err, and the biggest error is to continue in the same bad way. We here exert efforts to reform our-selves through the programme.“I wait impatiently for teaching class-es… my sons ask me about my per-formance in the study and I tell them that my learning is changing my life. I will pursue more studies when I am release from prison, and there are no issues with waiting. I am deter-mined to finish what I have started”, he underlined.

Col. Mohammed Saif Al Zaabi

Abdul Qadir Mustafa

Inmates in the classroom.

It is a programme put together by the HCT to enable prison inmates to obtain a degree and get a decent job after leaving the prison

Applicants do not need to have a high school certificate as a prerequisite to be enrolled in this programme


38

Speeding Traffic

I recall the first time I taught police officers in Abu Dhabi. It was in the summer of 2005, and I was teaching on a Warrant Officers’ Leadership & Management course at the Police College. It was my first time in Abu Dhabi,

and like many a man, (and particularly ‘police man’), I was impressed by the high quality multi-lane freeways serving the city, and of course by the many shiny fast cars roaring up and down! I thought: “Here is freedom afforded to road builders by the vast expanses of empty desert. Here is the opportunity to build a bespoke road network to service the transport needs of the people and link the developing cities. Here is the advantage of being able to research and learn from the ‘groaning, heaving, sweating monsters’ that are road systems in major cities around the world. And here is the golden chance to get it right!” As a former traffic police officer however, I quickly shed the initial admiration of this exciting prospect once I learned of the hideous accidents that seemed all too common on these surging highways. Yes the vehicles are exciting, exhilarating even, but this euphoria does not compensate the widow, the orphan, the bereft family and friends.On 31st July this year traffic patrols of Abu Dhabi Police announced that they had impounded 12 cars and 10 trucks in the last month for speeding and dangerous overtaking. On the same day, according to Abu Dhabi Police Traffic and Patrols Department, motorists travelling from and to Abu Dhabi were warned not to drive fast and to pay attention during fog, lest further hideous collisions should occur.There is no doubt that men, and women, (although more so men I would suggest), get a kick out of driving fast. To drive the biggest, fastest, shiniest car on the street kindles desire in many a male breast, and it is easy to forget that whilst the car has evolved over the last 100 years or so to become a welcome and beloved part of our lives, it is still a lethal weapon in the wrong hands! As an extension of the male psyche, fuelled by testosterone, that propensity that we men have to ‘strut our stuff’ can instantly turn the seemingly benign ‘horseless (car)riage’ into an instrument of death and destruction! Young men in particular have a dreadful record when it comes to safe driving, and why is this? My friends, it is a natural animal behaviour, and a natural human trait. Male falcons display their colourful plumage to impress the females, male elephants fight their rivals to become herd bull and enjoy the pick of the cows, and human males will display their cars and their driving skills both to impress females, and to win dominance over their male counterparts. A ‘mating ritual’ as old as time, and yet performed in the 21st Century at the wheel of a contemporary machine. So, given that this practice of driving speeding vehicles on Abu Dhabi’s highways is dangerous, yet entirely explicable and probably inevitable, what are the solutions available to the police?Enforcement of speed limits by radar or camera or simple observation can have some effect, but is generally seen as more of a revenue generator than a proactive safety measure, and therefore neither enhances the standing of the police as an integral component of the community, nor notably reduces collisions.We know that cars are only going to get faster, that roads will continue to be built, that fuel will last at least for our lifetimes, and that there will always be drivers looking for thrills.So what is the answer to this seemingly impossible situation?Education, education, education...we must educate the drivers, as they learn to drive, before they take to the roads, and when they transgress.Only then may we see a lessening of this carnage on the roads!

Tim Maycock*

Tim's Corner

* Mr Maycock is an independent training consultant based in the UK.

http://www.moi.gov.ae/en/News/description.aspx?MenuID=153&CatID=0&SubcatID=0&mnu=&News_ID=4841&IsArchive=N&Type=LT




4140

People

Having made a fundamental and abrupt change in her career by moving away from education

to the police field, First Lieutenant Khadija Al Shamsi surprised many people, but the step she took was a ‘calculated adventure’ as her new work raised the bar on her ambitions.She holds an MA degree in education from Cairo University. 1st Lt. Khadija describes herself as an avid reader and is proud of her library that has more than 3,000 books. “Joining the General Headquarters of Abu Dhabi Police was a quantum leap towards success and excellence”, said 1st Lt. Khadija.After having worked with the Minis-try of Education for 12 years, 1st Lt. Khadija moved to the police field to join the anti-narcotics division. “I joined this field because of my deep commitment to social issues and spe-cialisation in sociology and philoso-phy. I wanted to combat the menace of drugs and through my work at the anti-narcotics division, I learnt a lot about the fight against narcot-ics”, said 1st Lt. Khadija who was a social researcher. She later joined the Policewomen School as a trainer. She taught criminal psychology, and was appointed head of the police division

First Lieutenant Khadija Al Shamsi has made a major change in her career path

By Nawal Salem

Quantum leap

in charge of women’s Prison at Al Wathba. In 2007, 1st Lt. Khadija attended a special course for university gradu-ates, after which she was transferred to the General Department of Guards and Special Tasks as manager of the Strategy Division. She attended a course in the United States on how to negotiate with hostage-takers. She was the only officer from Abu Dhabi Police at that course.Having moved to police work did not mean 1st Lt. Khadija neglected the ed-ucational field. She was able to author four books in her field of work which will be taught to police personnel af-ter being endorsed by the Training Department. She also held a number of training courses and workshops, in addition to participation in the 2nd Security Education at the Women’s

Higher Colleges of Technology.“One of the major challenges I had was the abrupt move to military life”, she said. 1st Lt. Khadija said her move to work in the police was not opposed by her family. She said women joining all work fields had become accepted in UAE society thanks to the unlimited support given to women by the politi-cal leadership and Emirati women’s empowerment programmes. She said she has been able to create a balance between her professional duties and home responsibilities, highlighting the support she has from her husband who extends all help to enable her to achieve success on all fronts. 1st Lt. Khadija intends to pursue high-er studies to obtain Ph. D. degree in a specialisation that serves her work.

One of the major challenges I had was the abrupt move to military life


4342

People

He was 20 years old when he graduated from Police Col-lege in 1988. He immediately

joined field work and learnt fast to be patient, precise and working under extreme pressure. That has helped him a lot in embellishing his talent and knowing exactly what it takes to come up with the right decision.One of the very important things Brig-adier Sultan Yousuf Abdul Rahman Al Nuaimi, Director General of the Resi-dency and Foreigners Affairs Depart-ment in Ras Al Khaimah, has attained is his excellent interaction with the public under all circumstances. He was one of the government em-ployees honoured by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in the Sheikh Khalifa Govern-ment Excellence Awards. He received the Medal of the Prime Minister for his outstanding performance in the su-pervisory field.“The honouring in the Sheikh Khalifa Government Excellence Awards is a great accolade for me and all the teams in which I have been a member. Winning the award gives us the driv-ing force to exert all efforts to achieve higher standards of excellence”, he said.He added: “One’s ambitions do not stop at any given limit. If there are higher achievements, we should work hard to climb to the top”.He joined the Ministry of Interior in 1986. Two years later, he graduated from the Police College and joined

Brig. Sultan Al Nuaimi sees no finish line in the race to excellence

By Amani Al Yafei

Climbing to the top

the Criminal Investigation Depart-ment (CID) of Abu Dhabi Police Gen-eral Headquarters. He later worked in the Capital Police (Investigation Divi-sion) for 10 years.In 2000, he went to Britain for further study. Upon his return, he joined the Strategic Management Department at the office of the Police Commander, and worked as a member in the qual-ity team. During his work, he visited many Asian and European countries to get to know the latest in quality systems and programmes. He was ap-pointed as director of the Human Re-sources Administration in 2004. In 2007, he started working at the Resi-dency and Foreigners Affairs Depart-ment and was appointed director of the department in Ras Al Khaimah.He said: “I have learnt a lot from His Highness Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Inte-rior. When I was working at Capital Police, His Highness Lt Gen Sheikh Saif was the deputy chief of Capital Police, and during our daily work, I learnt from his great leadership and the keen interest in solving the prob-lems of the public amicably before

resorting to refer simple cases to ju-dicial authorities. I learnt from him skillful discipline, encouragement of efficient employees and excellent lis-tening to the opinions of others before taking a decision”.He said he was lucky to be from a generation of officers who worked under the leadership of His High-ness Lt Gen Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan. “He is a strategic planner of a very distinguished personality, who follows up the implementation of plans in the best way.

Brigadier Sultan Yousuf Abdul Rahman Al Nuaimi Born: October 3, 1968. Married, and has five children. Holds MA degree in police sci-

ences and Information Systems from the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom. Attended around 60 courses in

police and administrative fields. Likes travelling in the desert and

visiting countries around the world.

Profile

By Lara Al Zarasi

He is 24 years old, but he talks the language of older people, and converses with the wi-

sdom of men above 40. He is Corpo-ral Abdullah Mohammed Salem Al Jabri of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Border Security in Al Ain.Abdullah is a poet of exceptional ta-lent. He became very famous in the country and in the Arab world after qualifying to the ‘third phase’ finals in ‘The Million Poet’, a programme on pan-Arab Abu Dhabi Television Chan-nel. That phase included the most ta-lented 24 poets in the Arab world.Abdullah joined the law enforcement agency three years ago, and he is cur-rently readying himself for university

The wordsmith Abdullah Al Jabri is a young poet, but his poetic creativity transcends his young age

study. He will study law, he said, “to have a deeper understanding and a stronger sense of commitment to the profession that I have”.He likes reading and his main focus is on philosophy. Novels and stories, he said, are just “snacks” for him, but “the heavy meals of knowledge are philosophy books”.He said: “I have been writing poet-ry for the last five years. There is no secret in my success as a poet, apart from a natural instinct that made me play with words creatively. I write po-etry whenever I see something special or live an experience worth of recor-ding in a poetic language”.The poetry of emotions is what Ab-dullah lives most. He also loves rea-

ding the poetry of various poets.He also loves reciting poetry on spe-cial occasions, and poetic inspiration takes him to new realms of love and imagination. He said Colonel Fawaz Khalil Badran, Director of the Secu-rity Media Department had honoured him for his exceptional poetic contri-butions at functions organised by the General Headquarters of Abu Dhabi Police.Abdullah said he had postponed plans to bring out his first collection of po-ems. He said: “I want my first collec-tion of poems to be a melting pot of my varied creative output. I have been careful about taking this step, waiting to feel that I am ready for that impor-tant creative move”.


44

People

Abla Sawayeh Al Kaabi, a visually impaired woman aged 39, sees the world with an insight in

a way normal people cannot. She is confident that her ambitions will all be fulfilled one day.Abla suffers from a visual weakness of 60/6 because of hereditary factors. Despite the fact that she lived a normal childhood, her vision was nor normal at night. That worried her parents, and as her father was preparing to take her to India for treatment, he died. She was raised by her mother who dedicated her life to look after Abla and her three siblings. Special attention was given to Abla and a brother who has the same condition.Abla, in her first years at school, suffered a lot because of darkness and lighting. The problem remained till she went to university and she could not achieve exceptional scores because some teachers did not understand her condition. Her use of the computer for

long hours worsened her condition.She successfully obtained her BA degree in education, but her job application to work as a teacher was turned down because of being visually impaired. She joined a computer institute to learn typing for three months, and she succeeded in learning that in 2003. She did not have any advanced software to help her read what she writes.She was later employed by a private company. Though she faced some difficulties as colleagues did not understand her condition and did not give her the tasks that suit her, Abla was able to defeat challenges.Joining a Centre for People with Special Needs run by the Ministry of Interior, Abla learnt communications and came first in the course. She found in herself the energy to undergo a computer course as well. One of her happiest moments in life was when she received her certificate from His Highness Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan,

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior. She thanked Sheikh Saif for his continuous support for people with special needs.She said: “I am proud that I am one of few Emiratis who handle big tasks in the company, proving the capability of Emiratis”. The work environment has helped her learn a lot on computers and dealing with employees and clients. “Work has given me self-confidence and the sense of responsibility inside and outside the office, enhancing my cooperation with colleagues”, she added.Abla is a customer service clerk at Kanoo Group, Quality Department, in Dubai. She said it was important for private companies and government departments to look at the physically challenged individuals as active members of the community.She likes writing articles and has published some of them in local newspapers. Her hobbies include playing chess.

By Nawal Salem

A visually impaired visionary Abla, a visually impaired customer service clerk, says she is overwhelmingly proud when she executes big tasks


4746

History

On August 14, 1507, residents of Khuriya Muriya Islands of Oman saw three giant ships of

a bizarre shape, with many cannons on their decks and flags with the cross on them. Men in shields and full military gear descended on the islands and burnt down 40 Omani ships anchored there.Afterwards, the three ships set sail along the Omani coast and reached the town of Qalhat which they bombarded. They also attacked Qurayyat whose

Imam Nasser bin Murshed Al Yaarubi was 21 years old when he became a leader, establishing the Yaarubi State in Oman

Founder of the Yaarubi Statein Oman

population tried to defend it but in vain. The force later reached Muscat and occupied it. That military campaign was led by Portuguese commander Afonso de Albuquerque, representing the beginning of the Portuguese occupation of Oman that ended in 1650.During that period, the Portuguese had already controlled India and built their capital there, Goa, on the Western coast of India. To secure their control on maritime routes to India, they

closed the two Arab ‘water arms’ – the Red Sea and La porte des Pleurs or Bab-Al-Mandab. They also closed the Arabian Gulf through Hormuz Strait. They occupied the island of Suqatra and the city of Aden to control the Red Sea, and Hormuz Island and the city of Muscat to close the gates of the Gulf.Their protectorates were spread along the Omani coast in the cities of Sohar, Qurayyat, Khor Fakkan, Julfar and others. Oman was under the rule of

Al Nabhan who could not do anything to save the country that was in a state of chaos and disintegration with 14 different small governments.In 1600, Muscat, Sahar, Sur, Qurayyat, Matrah and Khor Fakkan were under Portuguese rule. Julfar was under Persian and Portuguese control, while the cities and ports of the coast of

Musandam, as well as mountain tips, were controlled by the Portuguese. The city of Bahla was ruled by Saif bin Mohammed Al Hanai; the city of Samael was ruled by Mana bin Sinan Al Umairi; cities of Al Dhahira region were under Al Jaboor rule; Samad Al Shan under the rule of Ali bin Qatan Al Hilali.

The regions of Al Ghabbi, Abri and Dhank were ruled by leaders of Bani Hilal. The city of Abra was ruled by Mohammad bin Jabr Al Jabri. The Manah region was ruled by Al Nabahna. The town of Azka was under the rule of a group called ‘Ahl Al Fikr’ (The People of Thought), while the city of

Dr. Faleh Hanzal


48

Al Nakhil was ruled by Sultan bin Abi Al Arab Al Yaarubi. Al Rustaq city was ruled by Malik bin Abi Al Arab Al Yaarubi, while scattered castles were controlled by different groups.Oman remained in this state of affairs till the emergence of Imam Al Hammam Al Amjad Naser bin Murshed.From the city of Al Rustaq emerged Naser bin Murshed Al Yaarubi to unify the nation. He was 21 years old, and known as a pious person. He comes from a district called Qasr. Oman leaders found in him the hope of unity, and this was the view of Sheikh Khamis bin Naser Al Shaqsi, a main advocate of national unity. He and other scholars formed a team to study the state of affairs in Oman and decided that Naser bin Murshed Al Yaarubi was the right choice. They asked him to lead the nation.Historians say Naser bin Murshed Al Yaarubi’s answer was positive but he hesitated before giving his final confirmation. He chose a new flag and formed military units comprising tribesmen of various regions. The accession of Naser bin Murshed Al Yaarubi in 1624 the beginning of Al Yaarubi State.The responsibilities of Naser bin Murshed Al Yaarubi were not trivial. His title was Imam, which is equivalent to King or Sultan. According to the Ibadi doctrine of Islam, he had to fulfill two prerequisites: unifying the country and liberating it from the Portuguese.Despite the scholars’ agreement regarding the leadership of Naser bin Murshed Al Yaarubi, the rulers of various cities and regions revolted against him. He intensified his efforts to end the problem of multi leaderships. In his capital, Al Rustaq, he defeated his political opponents one after the other. The problem was that some leaders supported him first, and then revolted against him. The first six of his rule were focused on fortifying the national front, while later years were dedicated to liberating Oman from Portuguese and Persian presence.According to a Portuguese historian, Naser bin Murshed Al Yaarubi made himself the strongest ruler in the

Arabian Peninsula within seven years. He was based in Nazwa and had 15,000 men in arms under his command.Oman manuscripts show that Julfar, now a city in the UAE emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, was the first Omani city to be liberated. It had two bastions: one Portuguese and the other Persian. The battle took place in 1630. Omani army then occupied Dibba where the Portuguese forces surrendered. The forces of Naser bin Murshed Al Yaarubi then approached Sahar, a strong Portuguese stronghold. His plan was to build a castle there and then attached the Portuguese fort. He

ordered one of his commanders, Hafez bin Saif, to carry out the plan. The two sides fought a battle in which the Portuguese were forced to withdraw to inside the fort which was besieged.Naser bin Murshed Al Yaarubi’s forces also attacked Qurayyat and liberated it, but one fort remained in Portuguese hands. The Imam ordered the formation of an army under the command of Khamis bin Saeed Al Shaqsi to fight the Portuguese forces in the city of Muscat. The new army was seven miles away from the city when it stopped to re-group. Al Shaqsi sent some troops to the city of Matrah to fight the Portuguese, who sent a delegation to negotiate with Al Shaqsi. Omani manuscripts say Al Shaqsi agreed to have a treaty with the Portuguese ruler on the conditions that the Portuguese would vacate the lands and buildings in Sahar city, while the Portuguese could retain their presence in Muscat and Matrah, and that the Portuguese should pay Jizya (per capita tax) to Imam Naser bin Murshed Al Yaarubi.The treaty was mentioned in Portuguese historical documents which say Arab Omani forces commanded by Saeed bin Khalifa besieged Muscat and battles started on August 16, 1648 and ended on September 11, 1648 when the Portuguese ruler agreed to engage in negotiations with the Omanis. They say the Omanis demanded the surrender of Portuguese bastions and that forts and the fence of Muscat should be demolished. If these demands were met, then the Imam would pay a compensation for war damage to the Portuguese. However, Lisbon refused these conditions. The Portuguese governor, nevertheless, engaged in negotiations with the Omanis on October 31, 1648 as the Portuguese was unable to fight the Omanis.Following the treaty, the Portuguese in 1649 controlled only Muscat and the base at Khasb. In the same year, Imam Naser bin Murshed Al Yaarubi died, without seeing the last Portuguese soldier leaving his country. His death on April 24, 1649, Omanis chose his cousin Sultan bin Saif Al Yaarubi to Oman.

History

A traffic policeman giving safety tips to a young cyclist in Abu Dhabi.

Driving licence aspirants using simulators to acquire

proper skills.

Abu Dhabi Police personnel receiving early morning instruc-tions from an officer before going on their assignments.

Flashback


50

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Maysa RashidMember of the UAE Federal

National [email protected]

Curtains were down on the elections of the Federal National Council (FNC), held on September 24, 2011, following the second round in the history of the UAE. Twenty representatives were elected to the Parliament of the young

nation, to join their nominated members as part of the political empowerment programme launched by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan in 2005.Statistics are very important for this significant development in the political life of the UAE. The election college has been expanded to include over 129,000 Emiratis – much higher than the number of the voters in the 2006 elections, which was around 7,000.The organising committee said 28 per cent at the UAE level cast their votes for more than 450 candidates in all the emirates. It is a low turnout compared to the numbers of those included in the election authorities and to the expectation levels following the messages of Their Highnesses the President, the Vice-President and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. Voter numbers were not as expected in the second phase of the political empowerment programme.The low turnout at the polling stations across the country poses significant questions. Does it have to do with the categories of the voters, mediocre interest in the electoral process or the failure to assimilate the responsibilities of the FNC as a legislative and supervisory institution in the country? No matter what the reasons behind the low turnout are, they should be scrutinised and analysed as we move ahead to have expanded elections and to grant more powers to the FNC.There is no denying that the second round of the FNC elections had some shortcomings, particularly the synchronisation of the all roles played by various institutions, which should have been tackled by the Ministry of FNC Affairs since 2005. The experience of the previous elected FNC members could have been examined by those who voted for them to evaluate their performance and roles. The previous round had gone leaving no trace, and the evidence of this is the low turnout in the second round of elections, coupled with weak electoral programmes, absence of political education among the general public regarding the roles and responsibilities of the FNC. For some, the FNC appeared as if it were an institution that brings material gains to the citizens, not a legislative and supervisory institution whose role transcends services offered to the people. Gossips spread about what the previous FNC members had gained from a job any employee could do in the government or the private sector. That alienated the topic and kept it out of context.What we are aiming at is the election law to regulate the experience of the UAE after the 2006 and 2011 FNC elections. There is a need for such a law that would serve as a roadmap for a new generation. This is a feasible move considering the 40-year experience of the UAE federation and the expertise of Emiratis who dedicated their life for the study of political sciences and learning from the experience of other counties.The current phase of the political empowerment process needs to be analysed with transparency and frankness, and in a way that makes us accept criticism with our commitment to making necessary corrections. We need to move with confident steps to create a new generation that has its own features which should be taken into consideration when we plan for it, starting from membership conditions!

Food for thought on FNC polls

Former Member of the Federal National Council (FNC)

Issue (490) October 2011 · has officially inaugurated Dubai Metro’s Green Line, the second and...

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