Armies of Liberation

This is a good article from al-Hayat except that it lumps together the terrorist attacks on tourists in Egypt and Saudi Arabia with the recent tourist kidnappings in Yemen, which were wholely unrelated to terrorism and were, for the most part, a bid to force the regime to release official hostages, in one case a 12 year old.

The Medina Incident, A New Kind of Terror
Daoud Shirian Al-Hayat - 28/02/07//

Last Sunday, a number of European expatriates (17 Belgians and 9 French) among which were women and children, were on a touristic trip to the Madain Saleh north of the holy city of Medina, an area attracting tourists from Saudi Arabia and abroad.

This particular expedition, however, was reminiscent of similar incidents involving foreign tourists that took place in Yemen and Egypt since the French convoy was surrounded and attacked by masked gunmen, killing two and seriously injuring two others who quickly succumbed to their wounds and died in the hospital.

The heinous attack broke the silence of terrorism in Saudi Arabia that had been stopped since Last August, and was unexpected in both location and method of execution. The attack was executed in a desert area and targeted. It was carried out with conventional weapons, making it appear as though its perpetrators wanted to send a message that terrorism will target the tourists in the coming stage, and confirms the fact that a number of hardliners are principally opposed to foreign tourism in Saudi Arabia and beyond. Moreover, the attack could disrupt efforts to promote domestic tourism among foreigners and intimidate the western expatriate society in Saudi Arabia and restrict movement of its members and their visits to areas beyond the city limits.

It would not be wise to attempt to discuss the possible affiliation of the perpetrators of this terrorist act before security authorities work out the details of what exactly happened, since rushing to conclusions could stand in the way of the correct interpretation of the attack.

While it is true that al-Qaeda have carried out operations against tourists in a number of Arab countries, the Mesada incident was the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia and was executed in a way that indicates a lack of organizational abilities, as could be seen from the fact that there were no plans for the tourists convoy to remain in the scene of the attack at the end of the trip. It had split into two groups on the way back, with one heading along the Qasim area highway, while the other took the Medina road to perform the ‘lesser pilgrimage’, Umrah.

Therefore, the incident deserves a fresh look at the re-emergence of terrorism in Saudi Arabia, since it carries with it new indications and points to a need that our religious discourse be reviewed with respect to terrorism, its legitimacy and our relationship with foreign expatriates residing in our country, since it is quite possible that the perpetrators of this criminal act were victims of a religious edict permitting the killing of tourists rather than being connected to a terrorist organization.

Surely, calls by the mufti of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Abul Aziz Al Sheikh, to Saudi citizens to condemn the attack constituted a significant and timely action. The mufti’s call, however, should have also included religious clerics and preachers, and should have acknowledged the fact that those involved in Islamic and ‘da’wa’ work in confronting the emergence of terrorism are still unsatisfactory.

Many observers believe that writers, intellectuals and the public are the most outspoken opponents of terrorism, while the voices of preachers and religious students, mosque preachers and religious councilors remain muffled, and sometimes, even nonexistent, despite their importance and influences.

Terrorism has been cloaking itself behind religion and using religion as a pretext to kill innocent people. Therefore, confronting this phenomenon should start at the mosques and their platforms. Otherwise, the intellectual battle with terrorism will never meet its objectives, so long as those involved in religious work perceive terrorism as a political issue with which they have little relation.

1) the 45 Jews are in a hotel, these 400 villagers are sleeping in a field
2) the UN, as bad as it is, at least gives some status to Somali refugees in Yemen
3) these internally displaced persons have no official status as Ibb officials are blocking the investigation
4) thousands of refugees in Saada who fled their homes to avoid the violence are also internal refugees

from al-Shawa: The executive director of HOOD Organization, Khalid al-Ansi threatened to raise the case of al-Jaashin displaced people to UN.

“As a result of authorities’ absence toward al-Jaashin displaced case, we will resort to all legal means guaranteed by the constitution and international conventions approved by the Yemeni government” added al-Ansi .

“We may be enforced to complain to UN” He said in a statement to Alsahwa

He warned of pushing the displaced people to demand the UNHCR political asylum.

Al-Anisi considered al-Jaashin events as evidence that the country powers are very weak.

He also expressed sorrow of parliament committee’s failure formed to investigate the case. For his part, the parliamentarian, Sakhr al-Wajeh affirmed that the reasons behind the failure of the committee are that the local authorities of Ibb governorate rejected cooperation with the committee as well as other reasons .

Meanwhile the parliament witnessed yesterday talk tensions between some parliament’s members and the head of the committee ,Sheikh Mohammad al-Shaif as he attacked some parliamentarians.

They will get up to USD 76,000 as compensation for being in detention unfairly.

from NZZ Online: A court in southern Switzerland has cleared seven defendants of links to al:Qaeda, in the first trial of its kind in the country.

The citizens of Yemen, Somalia and Iraq had been accused of belonging to and supporting a criminal organisation. But experts had pointed out the lack of firm evidence in the case.

The prosecution had demanded prison sentences of up to four:and:a:half years. The seven were alleged to have belonged to a criminal organisation run by the principal defendant. Two were further accused of maintaining contacts with al:Qaeda.

But in its ruling on Wednesday, the federal criminal court rejected the prosecution’s case, even though the main defendant admitted having contact with al:Qaeda member, Abdullah el Rimi.

But he was found not guilty of the charge of offering to procure a passport for el Rimi, who was involved in the attacks on the American naval destroyer, USS Cole, in 2000 and in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh in 2003.

The group was also accused of smuggling several dozen Yemenis into Switzerland between 1998 and 2004.

The defendants will receive up to SFr93,000 ($76,000) to compensate for time they spent in investigative custody.

Experts on terrorism were not surprised by the verdict.

Vague concept
“The concept of al:Queda still remains very vague. It is difficult to define the contours of the threat, therefore knowing what one should be looking for. Therefore, the verdict reflects the uncertainty surrounding the threat.” Swiss specialist, Jacques Baud, told swissinfo.

Lawyers had criticised the lack of evidence, which largely consisted of SMS messages and telephone calls.

“Without a precise definition of al:Queda and its network people are often suspicious of what are quite often innocent activities,” Baud added.

However, the court did find six of the seven guilty of violating the law on foreign residents, and handed down conditional sentences of up to 11 months.

The trial, which opened last month in Lugano, was the first of its kind for the federal prosecutor. It is estimated to have cost SFr1 million ($820,000) to stage.

The defendants were arrested in January 2004.

HOOD is bring a lawsuit for the illegal detention of a person for six years. Maybe if the Yemeni regime had to pay compensation for improper detention, the way Sweden does, there’d be less of an issue regarding hostages, children in prison, people in prison after their term ends, people in prison and never charged, ect:

from hoodonline:
The First Civil Division in the Capital Appeal Court commissioned yesterday the President of the Republic to attend the Saturday Session March 5th, 2007 to respond to the presented appeal by Allawo Corp. for Advocacy and Legal Consultancies representing Ahmed Bin Muailly who is in the Central Prison for more than six years.

Allawo filed a case before the southwest Capital Court of civil compensation for the period of illegal detention of Muailly. However, the Primary Court decided not to accept the petition. It is scheduled that the Appeal Court will start with the appeal from Saturday, March 5th.

from al-Sahwa:

The Shora Council of Islah Party continued its regular round to elect the supreme board members on Wednesday.

However, the following names won the membership of Islah supreme board:

1-Sheikh Abdul-Majed al-Zindani, 84 votes.

2-Yassin Abudl-Aziz, 82 votes.

3-Ahmed al-Qomairi , 82 votes .

4-Mohammad Hassan Damaj , 62 votes.

5-Mohammad Qahtan,62 votes .

6-Ali Alawadi ,58 votes .

7-Hamid al-Ahmer,57votes .

8- Hamoud Hashim,56 votes .

9-Ghalib al-Ajda’a, 52 votes .

10-Mahfoodh Shammakh .

On the other hand, Abdul-Wahab al-Ansi, took the oath as the secretary general of the party.

Misuse of funds is common, and its hard to believe anyone will pay any consequences. The ones who pay the price are for the villagers who were supposed to get the new news and pumping stations.

fromNews Yemen: The Yemeni Parliament states it will summon ministers of planning and international cooperation and agriculture and irrigation for questioning over a complaint raised by the committee of agriculture, fisheries and water resources in the Parliament.

The Parliament’s committee recommended the Parliament, in its report it finished by mid of 2005, to call the two ministers for questioning as they restructured the project of Rural Development in Hadhramout, Shabwa, Abyan and Lahj and expended the project’s amounts on other future projects and training courses for local councils violating the project’s goals and the Parliament recommendations when it has approved the project’s grant agreement with IFAD, according to the committee.

The committee said the total cost of the project was USD 45.8 million, $24.7 million funded by IFAD and the rest was funded by the government and beneficiaries. It said the project was to target 23 rural families to develop their living standards through reforming 9300 fadans in Hadhramout, Shabwa, Abyan and Lahj as well as digging out 215 water wells and fixing 227 pumping units and stretching 280-miter-long of plastic pipes.

The committee confirmed the funds had been allocated for other projects of rural roads, drinking water, education, health and sanitation and training staffs of local councils. The main project did get only $1.200, 5% of the funds, said the committee.

Statement On The Withholding Of “Al-Shoura Net” And The Continuation Of The Burglary On Al-Shoura Newspaper And “Sout Al-Shoura”.

A continuation of the policy of repression and targeting of media and press freedoms in the country, on Sunday evening, February 24, 2007 the authorities withhold “Al-Shoura Net” electronic website after a series of official threats against the website and the staff; Most recently in the words of an official source on the 26th of September militarism press.

The official withholding is new violation added to the series of formal targeting pain phases of the media Issued by the Yemeni forces Union Party. It is targeting our electronic website after it had targeted “Al-Shoura” press and “Voice of the Al-Shoura” because we are criticizing corruption, the prejudices of Rights and Freedoms, and our continuing need for political and cultural reforms And good governance, It also targeting our party after the political authorities approval. On contrast side, full freedom inside their newspapers.
Moreover, they adopted many official suppression patterns towards our media freedoms, we can observe most here:
 On September 5, 2004 a court ruling against the chief editor of “Al-Shoura” weekly newspaper, Abdul Karim Khaiwani, judged and incarcerated for a year with the force, stopping the newspaper for seven months; Al-khaiwani was incarcerated immediately after the court sentence and was prevented from the right of appeal.
 This penalty came when the newspaper issued important topics on the press, until that moment in the official taboo; the most prominent file was the “hereditary rule” in the country. And the “oil corruption” and the phenomenon of collecting government officials among their official positions and the practice of Trade.
 At the end of March 2005 in response to the pressures and demands of local organizations and the Arabs and international Concerned on press freedoms, Authorities released the chief editor of “Al-Shoura” Under an amnesty by the President of the Republic. Then “Al-Shoura” newspaper is being resumed its publication in April of the same year, But it soon became under suppression again where an armed gang, supported by elements of security, storming the headquarters of the newspaper and Expelled workers, occupation and control of all properties including the monthly “Voice of Al-Shoura“properties. Although we recourse to the security agencies, but they refrained from taking any legal step against the robbery gang, the adjudication also refused to consider a court case in this regard, With the oral promises of the President of the Republic to return the pending press and buildings until now.
 The authorities took additional steps in this repression prevented the National press of printing “Al-Shoura”, while the Ministry of Information granted licenses to armed gang enabled it to the issuance of our “Al-Shoura” press as a faked and reproduced press. Until now it still issued in fake format funded by the governor party with full official facilities as the printing of the newspaper reproduced in the “Al-thorah governmental press.
 The “Voice of Al-Shoura,” political, intellectual, press that is published monthly, is also banned from publication and the confiscation of their properties beside “Al-Shoura” press properties. Also Mr. Abdallah Sabri Editor-in-chief of “Al-Shoura” is subjected of the trial continues two years ago in a lawsuit brought by Undersecretary of The Ministry of the Interior and Security Council because of the issue of the publication.
 Authorities withhold “Al-Shoura Net” website on the polling day of presidential and local elections, in September 2006, however, we were enable to re-launch the website. Again, authorities have obscured attempts collusion between The Ministry of Communications, the only operator of the Internet in the country and Local mediator of the hosting company on the net that caused creating number of technical obstacles led to Consecutive changes in the links and the address of the site.
 The chief editor was arbitrary prevented from traveling outside of the country where he was detained in 18 / 11 / 2006 in Sana’a Airport. As he was preparing to travel to Morocco to participate in the effectiveness of human rights, he was transferred to the Ministry of the Interior and detained there for two hours without receiving an explanation of the reason for this action against him.
 Before the latest withholding, the chief editor of the website has forced to attend court hearings on the subject of a lawsuit brought by the Ministry of Defense related the issue of the publication, The trial, which coincides with another trial are subject the editor in a similar lawsuit brought by the Chief of the Doctrine of the armed forces because the issue of the publication too.
 The inflammatory campaign against the website remained rise along the last period in the government newspapers, military and media of the ruling party.

What we are exposed to come in regards of official comportment against the press, in general can be described as an oppression, repression and the confiscation of the rights and freedoms. This comportment is reached us and extended to another presses and journalists all over the country.

We urgently call upon all organizations, press and rightly institutions to solidarity with the “Al-Shoura Net” website, “Al-Shoura” press and “Voice of Al-Shoura”; stating that this solidarity practically by forcing the Yemeni government to unlock the ban of the website and two newspapers and stop the repression, violations and Commitment to the provisions of the Constitution, international covenant and the pledges made before the donors and supporters for the freedoms of democracy in Yemen.
By: Al-Shoura Stuff
Sana’a Feb 27,2007

The regime says it has documents that show which external forces are supporting the Houthi rebellion, yet doesn’t disclose who or share the documents publically.

almotamar.net - Staff Brigadier Mutahar Rashad al-Masri, the deputy interior, minister announced Tuesday that security apparatuses seized documents that were in possession of some terrorists involved in the Saada sedition events disclosing the sides standing behind it and those financing it and its foreign connections.

Al-Masri said those documents reveal dangerous dimensions of this sedition and schemes hostile to the homeland and the citizen.
In a large meeting in Saada on Tuesday with number of military commands, sheikhs and notables and citizens from the governorate he clarified,” Dimensions and goals of these Houthi terrorist elements and the acts of sabotage and crimes they are carrying out against the country and the governorate of Saada in particular and its sons come in implementation of foreign plans intending to settle their own accounts on the Yemeni land and at the expense of the Yemeni homeland and the people.” He indicated that those terrorists endeavoured to spill out their evil poisons inside our society but our people and their armed forces and security are confronting them.

The deputy interior minister affirmed that the political and military leaderships are intent to eliminate the evil of these terrorist elements and purge the country of them as well as to protect security and stability of the country especially after they have exhausted all peaceful measures. He expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the courageous national stand of the sons of the governorate who have supported the armed forces and security in standing up to those terrorists that did not learn their lessons from previous confrontations and did not benefit from the opportunities granted to them many times by the political leadership represented by president Ali Abdullah Saleh to return to the right path and they have not benefited from the general pardon decision.

Sheikhs and notable of the governorate have on their part vowed their support for the strict measures the state and its armed forces and security are carrying out in repelling this terrorist group that is instructed by foreign forces to damage the country’s interests, security and stability.

Does that mean his 17 year old son, who was recently arrested, doesn’t have immunity any more either?

almotamar.net - Yemen parliament approved Wednesday a move lifting MP Yahya al-Houthi’s immunity with sweeping majority. The September.net website quoted parliamentary source as saying that the number of MPs accepted the move amounted to 194 out of 220 parliament members who attended the session while four MP abstained from voting.

Not even commenting on if any of the following charges against al-Houthi are true, what I find striking about the list is that these offenses are perpetrated every day in Yemen by those with a different fundamentalist ideology, ie, what they are accusing Yahya of is spreading an idea by teaching young people and talking to the media.

Also the regime (which is hotly crying about foreign interference and support of the Houthis) is bizarrely hypocritical when you consider it’s stance toward Iraq: the Yemeni regime undermines the legitimacy of the duly elected Iraqi government, praises those who use violence to attack and destabalize Iraq, gives a platform to those (like al-Dhari) to forment sedition against the Iraqi regime, finds it legal fior Yemenis to murder Iraqis, hosts the Iraqi Baathist resistance leaders, and some officials utilize the power of the Yemeni state provide material support for those who are trying to destabilize Iraq. Yes, when people elect a government, the elected government should have a monoply on the use of force and outsiders who disagree have no place in destabilizing the government. Saleh claims Yemen’s soverignty is being violated by meddling foreign forces and then he praises the Iraqi reisistance, kisses al-Dahari and turns a blind eye to the Yemenia flights filled with teenagers bent on murder.

Back to Yahya:

Almotamar.net - Report by the Yemeni parliamentary committee of constitutional and legal affairs issued about the proposal of lifting parliamentary immunity from Yahya Badrudin al-Houthi mentioned he is one of the members of the leadership of a Safavite terrorist organisation established in 1999 and started its activity hostile to the state through polarization of young persons and educating them with organizational, intellectual and political lessons. The organisation also instigates them against the republican system and the call for Caliphate as exclusive right to certain families. It also directs them to lower the national flag from flag posts of some public schools to raise instead of it the yellow-coloured flag of the organisation, to abandon the greeting to the national flag and to have the organisation slogan instead.

The organisation also urges to not pay the zakat to the state as it is illegitimate, as they say and formation of armed militias the report mentioned that Yahya al-Houthi used his house in the capital Sana’a for holding meetings of the leadership of the organisation with foreign delegations as well as for television and radio and press interviews in which he made accusations against the state and he then left the country while continued his contacts with foreign countries and parties with the aim of internationalization of the sedition in Saada in addition to his contacts with those who call themselves the opposition outside.

The report reviewed before the parliament on Monday added that al-Houthi has become active in the leadership of the Safavite organisation in the call for the imamate rule by using all possible means and the adoption of the Faqih sovereign, fomenting mutiny against the ruler, dissemination the spirit of sectarianism by taking advantage of the Zaidi sect as an umbrella for the promotion for those ideas, also the instigation of citizens against the state measures and the spread of rumours offending the national regime in order to create a social resentment against the situations in Yemen.

At the end of the report the constitutional committee called on the parliament to accept lifting the parliamentary immunity from MP al-Houthi so that the judicial sides are able to complete their measures.

What a bunch of rubbish.

from Almotamar.net - The Special Penal Court fixed next Sunday a date for beginning to try 35 persons on charge of forming an armed gang to attack oil and tourist facilities and political personalities and foreigners living in Yemen.
A judicial source told almotamar.net that the 35 persons will stand trial before the court on charge of attacking oil installations in Hadramout and Mareb and among them is the bodyguard the Joint Meeting Parties for latest presidential elections candidate.

The source said among the charges against the defendants is that of hiding three escapees from the political security prison, namely Fawaz al-Rabie convicted on blasting the French oil tanker Limburg and was later killed in an engagement with security men, Ibrahim al-Huwaidi and Hamza al-Qaatabi in addition to resisting authority men charged with arresting them and possession of weapons and explosives, communication devices, vehicles and houses used for carrying out their operations.

Oil installations in al-Dhabba in Hadramout and Safir in Mareb were exposed to two terror attacks last September by car bombs causing damage to the two installations and the killing of a gate guard of Dhabba installation. The ministry interior had then announced names of implementers of the operations after seizing a terrorist group in Sana’a where it was revealed they had relations with the two suicide groups that carried out the two operations.

(Read on …)

from the Yemen Times: ADEN

Locals complain of injustice

Feb. 24 — Residents of Dar Sa’ad Area in Aden appealed to Aden Governor Mohamed Ahmad Al-Kuhlani and the Local Council Secretary-General Abdulkarim Shayef to cancel the fees levied on them to pay under the pretext of contributing to the sanitation project. Every household was asked to pay YR 150,000. The locals were shocked at the government policies levying on them large sums of money at a time they can hardly meet their basic needs.

Similiar to the residents of Aljasheen, illegal taxes are imposed on residents.

ABYAN

Education workers to stage strike

Feb. 24 — Teachers and Educational Careers Syndicate’s branch in Abyan called on all the education workers in the governorate to stage an open strike this week until the government meets all their demands. “The branch of your syndicate in Abyan is claiming all your entitlements including the hardship allowance. The massive strike will reflect your awareness about your noble message,” the syndicate’s branch said in a statement. The syndicate praised the efforts of the Education Office in the governorate with regard to preparing the hardship allowance payrolls and submitting them to the Ministry of Education earlier.

26 Septemper News

The Penal court sentenced on Sunday to release Khalid al-Halilah, the second suspect of attempting to kill former US ambassador to Yemen Edmond Hull in 2004, in trade insurance.

In Sunday’s hearing, chaired by Judge Najib al-Kaderi, the court ordered that the first suspects with this same charge, Hizam al-Mas,
should be tested by a psychologist immediately and a report on his case must be given to the court.

The court asked to enable the two suspects and their lawyers to reply on evidence presented by prosecution in coming session.

Saba

However, the denial of MCC qualification was a major motivating factor in reforms. But the MCC funding is not assured until the board makes its decision later in the year. Probably, the regimes current actions censoring news websites and threatening journalists, including Abdulkarim al-Khaiwani, will be taken into account, as will the performance of the reforms and the implementation of those “intended reforms.”

from the Center for Global Development In somewhat of a surpise move, the Millennium Challenge Corporation Board of Directors reinstated Yemen’s eligiblity to apply for Threshold Program finance. Recall that in a bold move in 2005, clearly distinguishing the MCC from other donor agencies, Yemen’s eligibility was suspended due to massive slippages in policy performance against the 16 MCA eligibility indicators.

Yemen truly has shown remarkable and demonstrable effort in undertaking many policy reforms and, based on meetings I had with Yemeni officials it is quite apparent they care deeply about regaining the MCC “seal of approval” — substantially more than The Gambia (whose eligibility was suspended in 2006). And, importantly, they believe (as do I) that the MCC’s suspension from eligibility was THE motivating factor in the series of subsequent reform actions. “MCA Effect” in action.

“The proposed reform program designed for the MCA country plan as well as the process that ensued helped pave the way for the current reform momentum.”
There is no doubt in my mind that Yemen should be congratulated for its tremendous reform efforts, even rewarded as was done by multiple donors with $4.7 billion in pledges last November at the Consultative Group meeting. Yet the timing of the MCC’s decision puzzles me — Why now? Why not wait until the FY08 indicator run is done where hopefully the reform actions will show up in the data, bringing Yemen closer to its other Threshold colleagues?

This is a situation when the transparency of decisionmaking based on objective performance indicators — something that distinguishes the MCC from all other donors — becomes problematic. Based on the FY2007 indicator run (latest publicly available), we see upward trends on political rights, corruption, immunizations, girls primary completion (not a steep trend, but still upward). That said, it also shows downward trends on fiscal policy, voice and accountability, and civil liberties. It fails a total of 13 of the 16 indicators, 4 more than the next lowest ranking eligible Threshold country. We still don’t know whether the reforms will move any of those indicators in the next round. Technically, the indicators don’t matter in a case of reinstatement; the MCC’s Suspension and Termination Policy states only that:

“The Board may reinstate assistance or eligibility for a country that was subject to a suspension or termination upon the recommendation of the CEO, in full consultation with Board Members and agencies, that the country or entity has taken corrective action or has demonstrated a sufficient commitment to correcting each condition for which assistance was suspended or terminated.”

Both President Saleh and Sheik al-Ahmar said they wouldn’t nominate themselves but accepted the nominations of their parties and eventually retained their leadership posts.

almotamar.net - Results of the opposition Yemeni Congregation for Reform (Islah) Party’s Shoura Council elections on Tuesday revealed the victory of Mohammed Ali Ajlan as chairman of the Shoura Council, Abdulrahman al-Immad and Dr Ghalib al-Qarshi as two vice chairmen and Saleh al-Dhubyani as secretary.

The Shoura Council has elected Abdulwahab al-A’nisi as secretary general of the Islah. Al-A’nisi was the first secretary general of the Islah (1990-1994) then he assumed the post of assistant secretary general for the period 1994-2006. Mohammed al-Saadi, head of planning office, was elected assistant secretary general and assistant to al-A’minsi in supervising the Islah political action since the 3rd general conference.

Thus the Islah’s Shoura Council has by the end of its first meeting elected the former chairmanship except for chairman AbdulMajid al-Zandani who as replaced by his deputy Mohammed Ajlan.

(Read on …)

Krajeski remarks may inflame already heightened tensions:

from Arab Monitor: Yemenite government embarks on civil war as Zaidite rebellion widens

Sanaa, 26 February - What was announced as a limited military campaign by the government of Yemen, aimed at restoring law and order in the mountainous region to the northwest of Sa’ada, is now going on for a month, extending to the mountains of Al-Talh, Al-Awairah, Al-Salem and Sahar. At least two hundred soldiers have been wounded and over 70 of them killed, while the government-imposed blackout on all news from Sa’ada province makes it impossible to count the number of killed and wounded among the targeted followers of Al-Houthi and to assess the damage waged by military aircraft against the villages of the Yemenite Zaidites. Many houses are reported to have been destroyed or damaged by the Yemenite armed forces’ artillery attacks, prompting local tribal leaders, who never adhered to Al-Houthi’s movement in the past, to consider supporting the targeted movement. This situation has been created as the armed forces’ move, to cut off several villages in the area from food-supplies unless the villagers engage against the al-Houthi movement, clearly backfired. Meanwhile, dozens of Zaidites have been arrested in the capital and in other parts of the country, prompting Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the leader of the movement, to accuse the government of trying to create a rift between the Shitte Zaidites and the mainstream Sunni Shafites in Yemen. The declarations from Thomas C. Krajeski, US ambassador to Sanaa, that the US fully supports what is growing into a war against the Zaidites in Yemen, are likely to widen the rebellion into a civil war.

Washington, Asharq Al-Awsat- Yemeni Parliamentary Deputy Yahya Badr al Din al Houthi told Asharq Al-Awsat that he had left for Libya before the clashes erupted again in the Saada Province in northern Yemen. He stated that his visit was prompted by an invitation by the Libyan leader, Muammar Qaddafi. Al Houthi added that Qaddafi was seeking to mediate between the al Houthists [followers of the deceased rebel preacher Hussein al-Houthi] and the Yemeni government. Furthermore, he said that this came following a personal request form the Yemeni President, Ali Abdallah Saleh.

Yahya is the deceased Hussein Badr al Din al Houthi’s brother the latter of whom was the founder of the Youthful Believers organization and who was killed in one of the confrontations with security forces in September 2004. Yahya al Houthi is responsible for triggering a diplomatic crisis between Sanaa, which wants him extradited, and Tripoli. Yahya’s brother, Abd al Malik al Houthi who is cleric Badr al Din al Houthi’s third son, is the leader of present rebellion in Saada which has left dozens dead, and the clashes remain ongoing. Sanaa is accusing Yahya al Houthi of orchestrating the rebellion from abroad.

Last Saturday in a telephone interview from Germany, Yahya al Houthi’s place of residence, he pointed out that the Libyan mediation attempt has failed because the Yemeni government did not fulfill its pledges. He added that the Yemeni military forces “have found in war a source to make them wealthy and a means to trade weapons. The Yemeni government regards the war as a means to draw foreign aid. This is why it has shirked from its obligations to mediators from Yemen and other foreign countries.”

Al Houthi said, “I met with members of my family in Libya after a long period in which we were not in contact. I have now returned to my place of residence in Europe. The president himself [Ali Abdallah Saleh] met with Qaddafi and they have discussed our issue. He requested that he [Qaddafi] intervene to settle the problem. Qaddafi only interceded to fulfill the president’s wish.”

Yahya al Houthi accused the Yemeni government of deluding international parties into believing that the al Houthists pose a danger to them as well as to Israel and the US. He pointed out that Yemeni Jews in the Saada province are not targeted in the ongoing clashes but that the Yemeni government was using them to serve its interest.

Al Houthi warned that the clashes could spread to other provinces, noting that his supporters had in fact opened up new fronts in Khulan Amer in the Saada province. He stressed that he cannot rule out the possibility of the confrontations spreading beyond the Saada Province. He denied that the Yemeni security forces, backed by Yemeni Army units, have succeeded in recapturing the locations, as the Yemeni media outlets have reported.

In response to the question as to his stand regarding the requests demanding that he be dismissed from the elected Yemeni parliament and revoking his parliamentary immunity, al Huthi said, “These threats are part of the psychological warfare. They do not scare me as I currently have international immunity after having obtained political asylum. I have European documents that prove that I have been subjected to persecution.” Commenting on the Yemeni government’s demand to the International Interpol to hand him over to Yemeni authorities, he said, “This talk also stems from the psychological warfare. The European countries know my status well, and such talk does not affect me.”

Al Houthi said that the Yemeni authorities arrested his son, Olwi, in Sanaa even though he holds a diplomatic passport, and detained him from leaving the capital. Other Yemeni nationals who were also arrested after having been formerly guaranteed safety by the authorities. He added, “I have received information that the Yemeni authorities torture prisoners in all the prisons, seeking the help of the so-called Muslim Brotherhood, the Egyptians, Syrians and the Iraqi Baathists.”

Discussing US Ambassador to Yemen, Thomas Krajeski’s, statement supporting the Yemeni government’s confrontation of the rebellion, al Houthi said “If this statement were in fact true, it will be of little use to the Yemeni authorities in the arena because the US aid can be represented in supplying the regime with some weapons, and much of these weapons have fallen into the hands of our supporters. Previously, our supporters did not have heavy- or medium-caliber weapons, but now they have a lot.”

Regarding the US ambassador’s call to al Houthists to lay down their arms, al Houthi said that it is a matter to be resolved between them as Yemenis. He said: When our brothers can be sure that their lives are safe and that it is no longer necessary to bear arms, naturally, they will disarm. The US ambassador should fulfill his diplomatic duties rather than go to the markets to buy arms; it is a mission that we do not believe is part of his duties.

And a Fisking

The article (which is inside the boxes) is from the Yemen Times and outside the lines that’s me, as per usual.

SA’ADA, Feb. 25 — Bloody clashes which broke out a month ago between the Yemeni army and Al-Houthi-led rebels in Sa’ada governorate, located 245 km. north of Sana’a, have grown fiercer. The fighting killed dozens on both sides, provoking controversy and an exchange of accusations between the opposition and the ruling party.

“Government forces used all kinds of land and air weapons in the fierce clashes that erupted last Monday and continued until Friday,” Sa’ada sources reported, adding, “Hundreds on both sides were killed or injured in the fighting. Up to 71 soldiers were killed and 202 others injured, but Al-Houthi casualties haven’t been reported because relatives can’t transfer victims to the city hospital while the government is imposing a media blackout.”

Blocking medical treatment again, like in 2005 when doctors were arrested for treating wounded Houthis and civilians in general were left without medical care for injuries sustained in the war, usually by bombs dropped by the Yemeni government.

According to the same sources, the Yemeni army has launched military operations against Al-Houthi supporters on the outskirts of Sa’ada and confrontations have shifted to the nearby mountains in Al-Talh, Al-Awairah, Al-Salem and Sahar.

Spreading, we knew it would spread. The more brutal the response, the further its going to go.

Media sources reported that dozens of Al-Houthi loyalists donned military uniforms similar to those of military soldiers, assaulted a military site near the city of Sahar and clashed with government troops for hours, killing or injuring dozens on both sides. Government air forces carried out offensives in some villages and areas, thus paving the way for advancing troops toward Al-Houthi positions.

Two days ago, security authorities stopped a car loaded with military uniforms, similar to those of the Yemeni army, headed for Al-Houthi followers and confiscated them. However, authorities didn’t mention who had sent the uniforms.

The tactics of the Iraqi insurgents and other terrorists before them have eroded the norms of war generally. When the same tactics of disguise by uniform or civilian clothing are applied against US troops, there’s little condemnation.

Local sources revealed that Al-Talh locals are enraged over the killing of prominent tribesman Jarallah Fardan and one of his daughters last Tuesday in a mortar attack by government troops positioned on the road connecting Sa’ada city to the market. Al-Talh tribal leaders met late last week to discuss the repeated army strikes which damaged 26 homes in one of Sa’ada’s most important markets.

Several sheikhs warned that locals may begin supporting the rebels and engaging in the war against government troops if artillery strikes and mortar attacks continue on the villages and homes of those who don’t back Al-Houthi. They demanded authorities determine Al-Houthi positions exactly in order to limit the fight with the loyalists to specific areas in the restive governorate.

2005 all over again. Bombing villages, their own citizens. Maybe its not intentional just very poor warfare, but the judgement call was made to take the risk- ie, killing Houthis is a higher priority than keeping Yemenis alive. And this is not an enemy population, just regular Yemenis.

Member of Parliament Yahya Badraddin Al-Houthi, who currently resides in Germany, distributed a Feb. 24 statement, a copy of which the Yemen Times obtained, alleging, “Such confrontations are an aggressive war!” and further accusing Yemeni authorities of foiling all peaceful mediation efforts.

“The Yemeni army is striking villages in such a way that violates basic human rights and the authorities cut off all telecommunications in the governorate so that nobody can see what’s happening,” the statement added.

Yahya = not a terrorist. All he does is write to the media and try to end the violence through mediation.

In a recent statement, Abdulmalik Al-Houthi, leader of the rebellion, welcomed the Joint Meeting Parties’ initiative to tackle the issue peacefully. He denied any relations with Iran or Libya, as authorities allege, confirming that he’s ready for any peaceful solution to the crisis to ensure his tribesmen their constitutional rights to express themselves.

Al-Houthi’s statement continued, “Government efforts in this regard are unacceptable behavior because it paves the way for foreign interference at the expense of Yemenis and their blood, as well as the nation’s security and stability.”

Good point. Its not an internationalized conflict now, but it could become one.

The statement, which was distributed to the media, warned of the official media’s addresses regarding sectarianism. “We reject the authorities’ attempts to spark sectarian sedition between Zaidis and Shafis. We affirm that we are brothers who love each other without any difference between Zaidis and Shafis,” the statement clarified.

On behalf of Al-Houthis, the statement criticized official media for using language regarding blasphemy against Zaidis and other Islamic sects.

Yes the offical media and government officals have tried to turn this into a sectarian conflict when the only side making that claim is the government. Zaidis and Shaifis have no problem with each other and frankly are a regional model of pluralistic religious co-existance.

Regarding his attitude toward President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s call for Al-Houthis to form a political party, abandon their mountain positions and surrender their heavy arms, the rebel leader responded, “We welcome any peaceful solution that ensures us citizenship rights and freedom of expression in conformity with the Yemeni Constitution. We accept the president’s call for us to form a political party according to the Political Parties and Organizations Law.”

Stop the presses. They accept the regimes offer to stop fighting and form a party assuming they have equal citizenship rights. Also note he didn’t reject the idea of the democratic process, so maybe he’s not a monarchist after all. Ok we know all along he’s not a monarchist but has a domestic agenda that does not include re-instating the Imaminate but does include chanting Death to America.

I dont think in the US people are allowed to congregate and chant slogans advocating genocide. And this stupid thing with the slogan seems to have been instrumental in re-igniting the conflict at various points. Is this what the deaths, the destruction, the billions in losses is all about, they want to chant the slogan? Otherwise I dont know what they want, and havent seen any good other explanation of the Houthi agenda either.

Abdulmalik said he accepts the regime offer. So everybody should find a way to stop the whole thing now, a temporary cease fire even, to see if they mean it. Everyday people are killed, soldiers, houthis and civilians. The priority has to be immediately ending the cycle of violence.

The JMP renewed its rejection of any foreign interference in the Sa’ada rebellion, but it urged rebels to surrender their arms and continue the struggle in a peaceful manner. Deputy JMP spokesman Mohammed Al-Sabri told the Emirati Al-Bayaan newspaper, “The opposition emphasizes the necessity of suggesting solutions to all national issues.”

He pointed out that the JMP opposed the Yemeni government’s manner of dealing with the issue from the very beginning, but declared that they are ready to participate in any peaceful efforts to end the crisis.

The opposition parties affirmed that peaceful democratic options are the only means to express political and social demands, thoughts and opinions. They called upon all to continue the peaceful struggle in order to embody such an option in the nation’s political life because it’s the only correct way toward a new Yemen.

The JMP got trashed for this statement by that GPC media dog. Also the regime is missing the opportunity to get the advice of the JMP in ending the fighting (which is one of the largest threats to Yemeni stability, foreign investment and economic development.) Instead the regime is villifying the JMP, but that’s nothing new.

Yemeni authorities are hunting and arresting anyone suspected of links with Al-Houthi in several governorates, including Dhamar, where local sources reported that as many as 10 individuals were arrested last week. In the capital, authorities arrested five students enrolled at Badr Religious Center, which is run by Zaidi imam Al-Murtadha Zaid Al-Muhatwari.

Additionally, the arrest campaigns targeted those who studied at the Great Mosque in Sana’a, others who belong to Al-Haq and the Popular Forces Union Party, as well as several individuals suffering mental disorders, such as Amiraddin Badraddin Al-Houthi, who is psychologically ill.

Arbitrary arrests again, like 2005, politicized arrests and targeting the parties, the mentally ill and anyone else.

Local Sa’ada authorities have announced that dialogue with Al-Houthi loyalists has reached an impasse. “Dialogue and negotiations with the terrorist elements have reached a deadlock. Al-Houthi supporters don’t understand anything except force,” September.net quoted a Sa’ada source as saying last Thursday, more than a week after mediation efforts were halted.

Other sources report that residents of Khawlan area in Sa’ada are experiencing harsh living conditions because they can’t obtain foodstuffs. The same sources added that locals refuse to engage in clashes against Al-Houthi aides in order for them to get foodstuffs.

No water, no food. Some people call it Yemen’s Darfur in that the regimes actions in cutting off the roads without providing the basic provisions is in essence targeting the population. Like during the first and second wars.

An official source threatened that tough measures are due to be taken against the Popular Forces Union Party-affiliated Shoura.net for publishing incorrect stories alleging that new jihadist groups have joined the rebellion to fight the Yemeni army.

The source described the story as a fabrication, noting that it’s strange for Shoura.net to publish such news because it’s known to back terrorism since the very beginning of the Sa’ada rebellion. He added that firm action should be taken against the web site for fabricating facts and harming the reputation of the nation, its army and security forces.

“That threat represents a series of official conducts targeting press freedom,” an official at Shoura.net reacted, pointing out that the official source can only deny the story’s authenticity without using language of intimidation or terrorism against the press.

He claims Shoura.net depended upon more than a local source in Abyan governorate when publishing news about the jihadist groups, adding that the web site welcomes any military or civilian comment on the story after its publication. The staff member affirmed that official sources must provide information to members of the press.

a) even i know that the jihaddis are there and I’m in the US and I didn’t hear it from al-Khaiwani either. b) the appropriate way to dispute an article is to issue a statement rebutting it. c) they should lay off al-Khaiwani, just saying.

U.S. Ambassador to Yemen Thomas C. Krajeski ascertained that his government would support Yemen in quelling the rebellion. “We are ready to hear and welcome Yemen’s request for support,” he declared in an interview with 26 September newspaper, “We neither back nor accept any armed rebellion against President Saleh’s government. We hope the rebels surrender their arms and end the crisis.”

Krajeski went on to say, “We’ve worked hard with the military and security forces in Yemen for about five years and I think this cooperation is due to last for some time,” concluding, “The Sa’ada issue is very difficult for the Yemeni government, which we back.”

It’s the first time the U.S. officially has declared its support for the Yemeni government regarding the Sa’ada rebellion. U.S. State Department reports have criticized the fighting in Sa’ada, in addition to Zaidi thoughts.

I liked Khoury’s statement much much better. Khoury says the US will not interfere, is concerned for the civilians, prefers a peaceful settlement, and doesnt buy the garbage about it all being a foreign conspiracy. Obviously they are speaking to two different audiences. A firm statement on humanitarian issues would be nice now that the US has finally broached the subject, also something about civil liberties would be good. Suggest a humanitarian truce perhaps.

Mikalla, Feb 24th — The Hadramout local council has decided to take legal action against Hungarian oil company MOL for polluting the area of Al-Dhaliha district, located 270 kilometers west of Mukalla. The local council decided to bring the issue to court after many reports and appeals from area residents alarmed the council of the grave consequences of polluting materials.

In a meeting in Mukalla last week, the council pointed fingers at MOL for causing environmental hazards that detrimentally affected citizens. It also promised to call for an international environmental think-tank to oversee oil firms and determine their compliance in terms of environmental safety.

(Read on …)

much much much better

1- US non-intervention
2- Foreign support of Houthis not at significant levels
3- Civilians may be in jeopardy
4- Peaceful resolution desired

Sana’a, Feb. 25 — In a live interview with Al-Jazeera television, Nabeel Khoury, the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Sana’a, has stated that the Al-Houthi problem is an internal affair in which the United States does not interfere. He further explained that in 2004 at when the first war began, the American government advised the Yemeni regime to initiate a peaceful dialogue with the Al-Houthi group. He also added Yemeni authorities did its best to avoid an armed conflict with the Houthis, through presenting the Houthi group with different options including forming their own political party and presenting their requests legally.

Khouri also stated that there is external financial and moral support from selected countries to Al-Houthi group, however, he indicated that this support is minor and does not represent a threat to the regime in Yemen in any way.

He also indicated that there might be a risk of Human Rights violations in Saada as a result of the current clashes between Yemeni government forces and Al-Houthi group, however he also stated that Yemen has had an improving track with regards to human rights, and that although human rights in the world became victims of the war against terrorism, There is opposition between the nation’s freedom and their safety, which contributed to limiting freedoms of many nations…” Khouri added.

It doesnt match exactly what Krajeski is saying but its much better than nothing at all.

This one of course

Al-Shoura

Adennews

Tajaden

Soutalgnoub

al-Majalis

If there’s more let me know at ccbklyn@aol.com
Somebody should be keeping a list

An interesting little article from al-Motamar that doesnt name the organzation that is denouncing the JMP, and the article also states the Houthi rebellion is in favor of colonialist powers. There might be some shred of credibility if the regime picked one external villain and stuck to it, instead of blaming a new foreign power, organization, nation, conspiracy every week

almotamar.net - Members of the Yemeni organization that is anti plucking courage from outside against the homeland expressed their strong condemnation and denunciation against the acts of the stray group in some districts of the governorate of Saada of acts of sabotage in favour of colonialist powers. A statement of the organization said those powers seek to dominate the Arab nation’s riches, wealth and history.

The organization called on the parties of the JMP in Yemen to reconsider their stand towards the events of Saada and to express with a national responsible stance in to bury whatever may provoke sedition and destabilization of the homeland.

from Al-Sahwa:

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Hossain al-Ahmer was reelected today, Sunday as the head of Islah Pary by over 4,000 representatives attending the party’s fourth general congress held at Apollo Hall in Sana’a.

The representatives of Islah also elected Mohammad al-Yadomi as the deputy of the Supreme Board of the Party and Solaiman al-Ahdal as the head of Judicial Board of the party .

They will also elect 130 members of the Shoura Council .Over 250 candidates compete for the positions, most are youths.

The fourth conference had discussed in its past session the report presented regarding Islah’s performances in the last two years .

They notified that Islah media don’t fit its leverage as the Yemen’s main opposition Party.

On the other hand, the congress referred a letter raised by the Shoura council regarding the false accusations issued against Sheikh Abdul-Majid al-Zandani by US.

More from Al-Sahwa: (Read on …)

The US has issued a statement of support for the military campaign in Saada. And yes I understand that people shouldn’t take up arms against their own governments. Generally speaking, law and order should prevail and the government should have a monopoly on the use of force.

There are certain issues here that make the issue less black and white:

1- Who provoked, attacked and profits from the violence?

2- Are civilians being targeted by the military, judiciary or media? Has the conflict been publically framed in religious terms? Who are the people arrested? Why has the regime excluded journalists from traveling to Saada and cut the phone lines? What medical facilities are available to the wounded with the roads blocked? How are they eating in Saada? Do the citizens have water?

3- What happened after the election to destroy the relative calm?

4- Why was the amnesty promised yet never fully implemented?

5- Considering there are a variety of Salafi jihaddist groups fighting on the side of the Yemeni state in a conflict that has been framed as a jihad (similar to the 1994 events), does the US offer of support mean that the US is actively allied with terrorists in Yemen? Make my head explode please. Against a Shiite civilian population no less. As part of an ongoing campaign to decimate a culture that includes destroying and burning mainstream religious literature, closing religious schools, and replacing moderate Zaidia preachers with Salafis. And as part of an ongoing campaign to promote a culture which includes President Saleh’s very vocal support and legitimization of “resistance fighters” everywhere, and the Yemeni state’s material support of terrorists including the killers of US troops. I understand its complicated. I understand its like Pakistan. I understand instability in strategically located Yemen is a bad thing and the alternative is everybody fighting everybody else and wider blood shed. Still, its repugnant. Wasn’t there some lesson learned from Afghanistan in the 80’s? Aw well, maybe they’ll find Elbanegh and Badawi up there.

News Yemen: The new development in Saada war is the US official statement its support for the Yemeni army in confrontations against al-Houthi group.
“We support the government efforts to counter such armed group. We are ready to hear and take into consideration a request by the government to offer assistance” said US ambassador to Sana’a, Tomas Krajeski.
We do not support or recognize any armed rebellion against the government of president Saleh,” said Krajeski in an interview with the Army 26 September newspaper, confirming that America is so worried about events in Saada.
We understand that the situation in Saada is extremely bad and that Saada is a very poor part of Yemen. We are ready to support the government’s efforts to improve investment in Saada to develop its economy and give inhabitants some hopes, said Krajeski.
Krajeski expressed hope that fighting in Saada stop soon and that the government could convince “terrorists to put down arms and solve the crisis peacefully”.
Krajeski said that security and military cooperation between Yemen and the United States started five years ago and it would continue as Yemen still wants that.

The Houthis are terrorists according to Krajeski? I thought terrorists employed the tactic of terrorizing civilian populations. I thought terrorists had a global reach. The Houthis are a domestic rebel group. They should stop fighting the government. However, the regime has promised to destroy them completely. The US apparently supports that posture and will assist. I guess the US has a few unicorns of its own.

Even with US military help, things may spiral out of control. Historically, a tide of rising expectations (as created by the election) can turn to increased fustration when those expectations fall short. Hope is itself a dangerous thing:

NY: The followers of al-Houthi in Saada provinces threatened to expand confrontations with the government forces to include other provinces.
Other provinces will also be involved in confrontations with the army troops and more areas of Saaad will also witness confrontations,” a source close to the Shiites leader in Saada, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, told NewsYemen.
More than ten areas of Saada including Al Saifi, Al-Talah, Al Ghabeer, Abkoor, Methab, Al-Jamalah, Al Salim, Al Sofian and Azel of Haidan, according to the source, are witnessing violent clashes.
The source said that Mage planes and helicopters joint last two days in air strikes on many regions of Saada. He said that strikes left “uncountable casualties.”
Despite the source said that many troops were killed, military sources said “the Army is about to put end for the rebellion and encircle the rest of rebels”.
Armed forces could kill many terrorists and arrest many others. Many Houthis also surrendered,” said the military source. “Those who surrendered have admitted that foreign organizations support them to escalate such a mutiny.”

In 2005, President Saleh said he had proof, proof, that the Houthis were supported by a foreign government and he was going to reveal it shortly. Still waiting on the big reveal, maybe its coming soon. Hard to believe its Iran though, considering Yemen’s unwavering support of the Iranian nuclear file and the growing cooperation between the two states.

Wasn’t Jarallah Omar shot during am Islah conference in 2002? The regime is playing its games again.

from From News Yemen: The opposition Islah party held the second session of its 4th conference in an open area after it disagreed with the security authorities over security measures.
We held the second session outside the room to protest the misconducts of security apparatuses which did not do their duty properly, said the deputy chairman of information circle of Islah, Adnan al-Odaini.
The Islah party accused security apparatuses of refusing to protect the conference room. Security authorities said they were not allowed to enter the room to make some security measures.
“They did not give us names of representatives and attendees in the conference and did not allow security forces to enter the room so we decided to protect the room from outside only,” said a security source.

The Houthis are not entirely blameless in this war but a seperate reality is that the the following is all regime propaganda.

The false opposition coalition that is allied with the GPC called the National Council for Opposition (not to be confused with the JMP) and Baath together condemn the Houthis. according to al-Motamar. And al-Motamar is so tricky, tricky that they include the phrase “joint meeting” several times in the article, just to be confusing. (The real opposition coalition, the Joint Meeting Parties, called for mediation and a peaceful resolution, and was roundly denounced by the regime.)

The Yemeni Jews condemn the Houthis according to al-Motamar. (When the 45 Jewish Yemenis got kicked out of their homes, they got put in a hotel, the US called the Yemeni Ambassador to the State Department, and the story was in every Western newspaper. But when the 400 poor villagers in Alja’asheen are thrown out of their homes by a member of the Shoura coucil, they are sleeping tents outside with no one on their side but Allow and HOOD.)

The Union of Popular Forces condemns the Houthis according to 26 September. (This must be the cloned party of the security guard who took over the party’s building in May of 2005 and continues to publish a cloned version of al-Khaiwani’s newspaper.)

This is why I call President Saleh “The King of Spin.” He’s really very good at making a false reality look real.

An article from News Yemen tells the news that the regime hasn’t lived up to its promises to sea captains in Aden. The sea captains’ grievence is the same as the teachers and the doctors and pharmacists: empty promises for more pay dating back to the news wages law “enacted” after the fuel protests in 2005. Bus drivers also held a strike recently.

Also in Aden is the ongoing protests over the digging up of bodies in order to steal a cemetery’s land, a truely low, despicable practice. But land theft is common by powerful people in Yemen. They steal from the living, the dead and the yet to be born.

From News Yemen; Almost 14 Yemeni captains threatened to organize protests to the government’s delay to better their financial status quo and give them legal allowances delayed for along time.
The captains, who are marine guides in Aden harbor, warned they would start frequent strikes next two weeks until the government respond to their requests.
“You know duties we burden and risks we face in our mission, marine guidance, which is the backbone service in Aden harbor to guide ships coming to the harbor everyday,” said the captains in a letter to minister of transportation, Omer Hassan
al-Amodi.
They asked for professional allowances special for marine guides as well as apartments, vehicles and insurances.

From the 26 Septemper News comes the news that Parliament has refered lifting immunity of Yahya Al-Houthi to constitutional committee. This is the same garbage they tried to pull with Hamid in the dispute with al-Shater.

I’ve been reading the statements by Yahya al-Houthi for two years whenever they are published. He’s made accusations against the regime but I dont remember that he ever publically advocated violence or rebellion. Usually he calls for dialog and for the regime to live up to its committments on the amnesty.

They are calling him a “fugitive terrorist” while reports are that real terrorists are fighting for the regime, just like in 1994. But then the regime calls its political opposition “terrorists” all the time to try to impress the West and the US in particular.

This is the article from 26 Sept:

Yemeni parliament has approved the demand of Justice’s Minister pertain to lift the parliamentary immunity on Yahya Badr Al-Din Al-Houthi, a member in the parliamentarians council, and referred it into the committee of constitutional and legal affairs so as to take the fundamentals of this demand.

The Minister of Justice, Ghazi Shayf Al-Aghbari has called the presidency of the House of Representatives to lift the immunity of the fugitive terrorist, Yahya Al-Houthi so that the public prosecution could take legally the necessary measures against him, judicial sources told ” 26sep.net”.

The fugitive terrorist, Yahya Al-Houthi has been charged over forming an armed gang and rousing armed insurrection to not compel bylaw and inviting rebellion on the existing regime and supporting the terrorist acts on some Sa’dah districts, in addition to play a significant role to out of constitution and communicate with foreign countries, the sources pointed out.

The procedures of lifting immunity on Yahya Al-Houthi based on the article (82) of the constitution and article (205) of the internal panel of the House of Representatives.

In the US, if you call a Yemeni a terrorist and yell insults, you get arrested for hate speech, as recently occurred in Seattle. The charge carries a potential jail term of nine months.

However, in Yemen if you call a Yemeni a terrorist and yell insults, then you must be President Saleh.

HE added “It is revealed to what those ignorant and obscurantist were instilled the terrorist and racist ideas which are obsolete and timeworn not believe in democracy, freedom and people’s right in the self-rule. They are quislings sold themselves to Satan in order to damage to the nation and its interests.”

The official media is going wild against the Shiites in general, not just the Houthis.

Armies of Liberation blocked in Yemen

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