Armies of Liberation

Dissappointing

An-Nida, translated by the YO:

Issue 96 - Wednesday March 28,
The corrupted committee
Two days ago there was an opportunity to discuss the existence of good intentions in favor of fighting corruption. The intention was not to realize the dangers of corruption, but rather a result of foreign pressures that linked assistance to Yemen with practical measures for fighting corruption and preventing it. For the past year our German friends have been sending their associates to help fight corruption, but have realized that the authorities do not wish to reform for the better. The Biddings law that was stopped by influential people in the parliament was praised by the Europeans, and the same law for fighting corruption was barely approved. Therefore the law of fighting corruption was issued as a result by international pressures. Last Sunday the Shura council nominated a list of 30 members from which the parliament had to elect 11 people to be members of the High Committee for Fighting Corruption. However the list that was presented shocked the majority of observers.

There is a confirmation of this being a sardonic game played by the authorities. The ruling system realizes that there is a defect in all joints of the system, but unfortunately they cannot be treated. By reading the list of nominees it will elucidate the absurdity of a clown being a role model for fighting against corruption. Also, it shows the absurdity of expecting a person to neglect the party that had nominated him to be a role model, in order to fight against corruption in the state institutions that had been giving him a very low income to live on. How can we talk about intentions to reform and fight corruption whilst there is a desire to consider that the state is the GPC and that the GPC is the state? When a person violates the modest bases of his profession and is highly praised for it how can he be trusted and be given the authorization to arrest and convict others? How can we convince the public that the ruling party is serious about fighting corruption? The good reputation and general trust of people is vital to help change this situation. Also to consider others as partners in developing the country are among the main factors for achieving national partnership, away from the political and partisan affiliation. To help change this situation it is upon the citizens of Yemen to support as well as represent the ruling party. Without this nothing can be improved.

Commission members implicated in corruption scandals

AS Yemeni politicians and citizens expressed disappointment after the Higher Anti-corruption Body was formed by the Shoura Council last Sunday.

They affirmed that the 30 elected persons would be capable to fight corruption, calling on the Shoura Council to reconsider the names.

The professor of political sciences in Sana’a University, Dr Abdullah al-Faqi called upon the parliament to amend the corruption laws and reconsider the elected names.

The senior leader of the Joint Meeting Parties, Ali al-Srari , criticized the elected board ,pointing out that it signified that majority of elected names are implicated in financial and political corruption .

Meanwhile, the assistant secretary general of Popular Forces Union, Mohammad al-Mutwakel wondered whether the government was serious to combat corruption.

He also considered forming a shadow body for combating corruption is advanced view.

MPs select 11 Shoura Council members for posts in the Anti-Corruption Authority

“The committee is partially biased and not formed within the national framework”, said the JMP press release.

Sana’a, NewsYemen

In a women session organized in Sana’a on Thursday by the Arab Sisters Forum for Human Rights (ASF) under the slogan “Activists Against Organized Violence”, Yemeni females have narrated their experiences with different forms of violence.

The researcher and author Arwa Othman, head of the Popular Heritage House, talked about violence of authorities, some sheikhs and people who mistreated her in the past. She said some people used to despise her for her unveiled face and because she shows some of her head hair.

Once, a 4-year girl told me “my sister in Islam veil your face”, said Arwa.

Othman also talked about her failed marriage experience and how some people used it a justification to abuse her. “No day passed without tears on my pillow,” said Othman. She said that her writings in opposition papers caused severe violence against her even by intellectuals as she called president Saleh, who was at that time touring the Arab countries to activate the Arab reform initiative, to start internal reform first.

“Violence of street is the most dangerous one that women face in Yemen, said Othman. “A madman once shouted at me to wear veil.”

She said that she also faced “electronic violence” as she received emails from Yemenis and Arabs attacking her. “They said that I was against Islam and veil,” she said.

Hanan al-Wadei, an employee in a Sweden organization near the Iranian embassy in Sana’a, narrated her story with the political security that arrested her days ago charging her of contacts with the Iranian embassy.

She confirmed that she has not any political interests, but she strongly blamed those people who stood watching “kidnappers” who drew her out of her car claiming they belong to political security and that they had orders to bring her, without any proof document.

Al-Wadei said she was taken by force to the Political Security Prison for no rational reason only for security claims that she had visited the Iranian embassy. “What is amazing is that the claims were denied by kidnappers themselves,” said al-Wadei, appealing to president Saleh to investigate her kidnapping.

The speakers in the meeting agreed that family violence is the first to be faced by women. Huda al-Attas, member of the Yemeni Intellectuals and Writers Union, described how her father wanted her to marry as she was still 12 years and then how she was assaulted by mosques’ preachers for writing an article in which she called “angels to play with children”.

Chairwoman of the Yemeni Female Journalists Without Chains, Tawakol Karman, said she could not find herself offended in “an offended country in general”. “ I have received many critical messages about alleged relations with American and about my parent’s remorse to get a girl like me” said Karman. “But many Yemeni men face more violence than women.”

She also reported the difficulties she faced when she tried to establish her organization. “An official in the Ministry of Information told me ‘we will not give you the permission just because you are Tawakol,” she said.

Head of the ASF, Amal Basha, said that some newspapers described her as “ woman of bad reputation, bad color and bad smell.”

She said that she suffered a lot since she started her education in Cairo in 1985. She criticized the anti-woman behavior of the Yemeni security organization.

AM: In another topic MP Mohammed al-Hazmi supported a call by MP Nabil Basha for postponing the festivities of bb governorate on the occasion of the unity days to the next year. MP Basha said his request comes because the sons of the governorate have not felt real accomplishments by the concerned ministries, adding that the ministers vista the governorate as tourists. Al-Hazmi said the executed projects are carried out the same way as preparation of quick meals.

Al-Jasheen is in Ibb. Speaking of al-Jasheen:

YT At last, the parliament could hit the nil on the head and come up with a very good fact-finding report on the plight of the al-Ja’ashin area in Ibb governorate. The area has been suffering at the hands of the oppressive influential council member Mohammed Ahmed Mansur.

The parliament report has caused controversy over the last few weeks, and some influential figures at parliament wanted to bury its clear condemnation of Mansur’s oppressive acts against his people. The report called for the firing of the Ibb governor who with Mansour, helped in the eviction and intimidation of more than 400 families in the Al-Ja’ashin district.

The parliament did a good job when it ordered the interior ministry, which has become very idle, to act swiftly to address the question of private jails that shame the history of modern Yemen. It is disgusting that in the 21st century some influential figures still have their own private jails, and it is also a clear infringement on the law and constitution.

The governor and local authority members of Ibb, as the parliament report pinpointed, should be held accountable for their failure to address the dilemma of the al-Ja’ashin people, being lenient with the influential Sheikh. Not only had they kept silent, they even stood by the oppressor and tried to justify his acts, for they considered the protest from the people of al-Ja’ashin in Sana’a a sort of politically motivated showdown.

Last Thursday, I read at the al-Motamar website that the governor of Ibb Ali al-Qaisi ordered that water supply to al-Ja’ashin which has been disrupted by Mansur to be returned. The man took this action just after the parliament report condemned his silence over the problem of al-Ja’ashin people. He previously said he knew about their problem just from the media and that no complaints have been addressed to him. Wow! Now, he knows and he admits that there is a problem. This is really ridiculous and he should be held accountable for these acts of irresponsibility. In fact, if our parliament functions as it should, a lot of mistakes and wrongdoings will be addressed.

Dr. Ali Mohammed Mujawar (Mugawwar) (Megwar)

Born in 1953 in Shabwah province in the former South Yemen

1981 BA in economic management from University of Algers, Algeria

1987 MS in economic management from Grenoble University France

1991 PhD in production management from Grenoble University France

Previous Posts

2001 Dean of Administrative sciences faculty, Aden university

- Dean of the faculty of economy, University of Aden.

- Member of the higher studies committee of Administrative sciences faculty, university of Aden.

1999 - 2000 Director general of Barah cement factory

1996 - 1999 Dean of the faculty of oil and minerals - Aden university

1994 - 1996 Head of business management section, faculty of economy, Aden university

1981 - 2006 Deputy general director of land transportation corporation in Shabwa

Government Ministerial Posts

1/2006 - 4/2007 Minister of Electricity

2003 - 2006 Minister of Fish Wealth.

Beyond his reputation of a self made academic and technocrat, and generally a decent and honest man, little known about his political views. His appointment may have been a bid to appease donors.

A JMP spokesman commented on the appointement, saying “We don’t expect that the new cabinet will make a difference because Yemeni cabinets don’t rule in the prevailing autocratic regime where all power is invested in the head of the state. The powers of cabinets in reality are limited, while cliques behind the scene who are close to the power centre have greater power and influence than formal cabinets and ministers”.

BaJammal remains in his capacity of Secretary General of the GPC:

“26sep.net”. H.E. President Ali Abdullah Saleh, issued today a republican decree to mandate Dr. Ali M. Mujawar for formation a new government portfolio posts.

President of the Republic posted a letter to Professor Abdul-Qader Ba-Jammal expressing his thanks and appreciation for his role in the leadership of the government and his presidency for the Cabinet lineup for three successive terms.

The letter pointed out to the nature and embarrassing period which Yemen lives in, the letter indicates to the urgent need for all efforts to face all challenges and to overcome the difficulties and obstacles which hinder Yemen progress.

Bajamal will be appointed as a general secretary of the General People Congress as the letter shows.

Reaction: (Read on …)

About 90% of suicide bombers in Iraq are foreigners with the vast majority from Yemen and North Africa. 90% of these foreign fighters go to Iraq via Syria. The State Department is warning…Syria. If Syria does close the borders, where are the Yemeni suicide bombers going to go? They won’t dissappear into thin air. It might be a good idea to start focusing on the souce of the suicide bombers, those in Yemen who facilitate their indocrination, training, documents, financing and transport, and later praise their deaths and the death of US troops.

Also more chlorine attacks in Iraq by “foreign fighters.” In 2005, the Yemeni military used chlorine gas as a weapon against Shiite rebels; in 2007, Yemeni jihaddists use chlorine gas in attacks in Iraq against US troops. Predictable. What are all the Salafi jihaddis currently networking in Sa’ada going to do after the Houthi rebellion is over, attack the Socialists? I don’t think so.

World Tribune:

WASHINGTON — A U.S. State Dept. official said about 90 percent of the suicide attackers in Iraq came from Syria.

“It has to stop,” said David Satterfield, the chief State Department adviser on Iraq.
Officials said that despite numerous appeals, Syria has failed to stop the flow of Sunni suicide bombers to Iraq. They said the lion’s share of suicide bombers were foreign Arab nationals who entered Syria and made their way to Iraq.

“They [suicide bombers] see Syria as a more accommodating country through which to transit across the border to come into Iraq to perpetrate their terror,” Satterfield.

Satterfield said the U.S. intelligence community has assessed that between 85 and 90 percent of suicide bombers in Iraq entered from Syria. In an address to the Washington Institute on March 27, Satterfield said 90 percent of suicide bombers in Iraq were foreigners.

Officials said North Africans and Yemenis comprised the largest element among the foreign suicide bombers. But they said Saudi nationals have become an increasing factor in the Sunni insurgency war in Iraq.

In his address, Satterfield again warned Syria to stop the flow of would-be suicide bombers and other insurgents to Iraq. He said Iraq and the United States have sought to stem the flow of insurgents from Syria to Iraq’s Al Anbar province.

“It has to stop,” Satterfield said. “It is not in Syria’s long term interests to let this violence continue. We and the Iraqi security forces have done our best. It is a long, long border.”

Over the last month, the Bush administration has resumed high-level contacts with the Syrian regime of President Bashar Assad. Officials said that during the March 10 meeting in Baghdad, the U.S. delegation accused Iran and Syria of interfering in Iraq. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was expected to attend the next meeting that included Syria in April.

“We would hope that the Syrian government understands as well that its rhetoric for a peaceful and stable Iraq has to be matched by actions,” Satterfield said.

In Iraq, foreign suicide bombers coming from Syria have increasingly used chlorine in their attacks. On Wednesday, at least 15 Iraqi and U.S. soldiers were injured when suicide bombers detonated explosives on trucks that contained chlorine in the Anbar province.

517 people killed in the last week in Iraq.

SANAA (Reuters) - Yemen’s President Ali Abdullah Saleh on Saturday asked the country’s electricity minister to form a new government, as international pressure builds on Yemen to introduce reforms, a government official said.

Saleh who issued a presidential decree asking Ali Mohammed Megawar to form a new cabinet, was re-elected in September.

“We expect new faces in the new cabinet,” an official told Reuters. “I do not think it would be announced before one week.”

It was not clear if the oil minister will remain in his post.

Analysts in Yemen said Saleh took this step to show the donors such as the World Bank that he was serious about political and economic reforms.

Yemen is a country facing substantial problems. It is one of the most undeveloped, poverty stricken countries globally. Basic services are scarce, and corruption is rampant. Half of Yemen’s 20 million citizens are under 15. High fertility rates and early marriage mean the population will double within decades. Oil, a mainstay of the economy, is rapidly depleting. Both illiteracy and unemployment are high. International donors and many within the Yemeni administration recognize the urgency of the issues facing the nation. However some governmental strategies are undermined from within the regime itself. Both water management and corruption mitigation efforts have been limited by the failure of ministries to coordinate among themselves.

Yemen is among the most water scarce nations globally. In rural areas where most Yemenis live, only 37% have access to clean water, and women often spend several hours daily procuring water. Potable water is available in 58% of urban areas, but supplies are erratic. Public water is piped into Taiz and some other urban centers once every forty days. Citizens pay for water from private wells, a burden considering the average annual income in Yemen is about only $500,

Water scarcity takes an enormous human toll. One in ten Yemeni children dies before their fifth birthday. Water borne diseases (diarrhea, typhoid and malaria) are the cause of half of those deaths. A 2005 Parliamentary report stated 75 percent of all Yemenis face health risks from dirty water. Water is also a flashpoint for violence. Taiz residents held street protests demanding water which resulted in clashes with security forces in 2006. A 2006 study by the Civic Democratic Initiatives Support Foundation found water related issues are a contributing factor in 80% of tribal disputes that result in violence.

As tragic as these figures are, the harsh reality is that water availability is diminishing at an exponential rate. Underground water levels are dropping by several meters each year. Contamination of ground water and haphazard well digging exacerbate the crisis. Water usage significantly exceeds replenishment of aquifers. Yemen may run out of water within decades. Urgent action is needed, and Yemen has devised an excellent water strategy. At a cost of $300 million dollars per year, donors include The World Bank, Germany and the Netherlands. However, the legislation has not been implemented since it was devised in 2005. Donors may withdraw financial support unless tangible results are forth coming.

One problem is the lack of coordination among governmental authorities. The seven percent of water used by households is controlled by the Water Ministry. 93% of all water is used for agriculture and its usage falls within the domain of the Ministry of Agriculture. In an interview with the Yemen Times, Yemen’s Minister of Water, Abdulrahman Alaryani, noted that the Ministry of Agriculture’s Investment Program for Public Management of Irrigation runs counter to the National Water Strategy, “They are still focusing on agricultural expansion and demand in land dependant on underground water and on building small dams whose economic potential is limited. Their concern with the rational usage of scarce water resources is rudimentary at best.” There are 80,000 artesian wells in Yemen, and the inability to effectively police the random digging of wells in Yemen was another issue Alaryani addressed.

Another urgent issue facing Yemen is rampant corruption. The Yemeni government has taken some important steps to combat corruption like signing on to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative as well as issuing a new law controlling government tenders. A cabinet reshuffle in 2006 was a good step in establishing discipline within some ministries. However, the Civil Service Ministry, like the Water Ministry, is unable to fully implement a progressive plan without intergovernmental cooperation.

The Civil Service Ministry identified thirty thousand civil servants who receive more than one government salary. It devised a matrix of structural and organizational reforms to eliminate these “double dippers” as well as “ghost workers”. Once payroll lists have been cleaned up, the Ministry will authorize overdue pay raises. Doctors are threatening to strike if the raises are not forthcoming immediately. The Health Ministry has said the reforms are complete. However, an audit found that the doctors’ payroll list still contains the names of dead people, retired people, and some who are out of the country. Doctors’ frustration is growing as the raises are well past due; however the obstacle to the raises is the Health Ministry’s lack of compliance with the reform measures.

Irrational and contradictory policies arising from weak institutions and fragmented authority limit the effectiveness of administrative reform in Yemen. Programs that have been instituted to work in the long term interests of the Yemeni public will necessarily undermine centers of profiteering that are often associated with public power derived from the ruling party, tribal authority, security forces, and the military. A counter-weight in favor of reform has been achieved through the collaborative effort of those reformers within the administration, civil society, parliament, political parties, the media, public, local bodies and donor community. These progressives have already harnessed sufficient momentum to enact some authentic reform initiatives. However overcoming resistance to reform in Yemen remains a daily and urgent challenge.

CR, Nasheri:

Rahim al-Nashiri. [Graham and Nussbaum, 2004, pp. 59] Al-Nashiri is one of al-Qaeda’s top field commanders and was involved in an arms smuggling plot (see 1997) and the East African embassy bombings (see August 22-25 1998), in which his cousin was martyred (see August 7, 1998). He also organized the attack against the USS Sullivans (see January 3, 2000), and will be involved in the attacks against the USS Cole (see October 12, 2000) and the Limburg (see October 6, 2002). He will be arrested in the United Arab Emirates in November 2002. An al-Qaeda operative had identified a photo of al-Nashiri for the FBI in late 1998 (see August 22-25 1998). [9/11 Commission, 7/24/2004, pp. 152-3]

WASHINGTON (CNN) — A suspect in the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole in Yemen said he was tortured into admitting responsibility for that attack and others, according to a hearing transcript the Pentagon released Friday.

Abd al Rahim Hussein Mohammed al Nashiri, a Saudi Arabian detainee held by the United States at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, denied participating in the Cole attack.

Al Nashiri said he “was tortured into confession, and once he made a confession his captors were happy and they stopped questioning him,” according to a statement read at his hearing. “Also, the detainee states that he made up stories during the torture in order to get [it] to stop.”

Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said the Defense Department would investigate al Nashiri’s torture allegation if the military was holding him at the time. If another agency was detaining him then, Whitman said that agency would be responsible for the investigation.

The transcript was the ninth the Pentagon has released since the combatant status review tribunals began this month for 14 detainees whom the CIA once secretly held.

The hearings will determine whether a detainee should be classified as an “enemy combatant.” If so, they then can be charged and tried under the military commissions law that President Bush signed in October.

Suicide bombers on a boat attacked the guided missile destroyer USS Cole on October 12, 2000, in the harbor at Aden, Yemen. Seventeen U.S. sailors were killed and 39 injured.

The U.S. military’s summary of evidence against al Nashiri said an FBI source identified him as an important person in al Qaeda and “heard” he helped arrange the Cole bombing.

The evidence said al Nashiri bought a boat and explosives used in the Cole attack with his own money.

Al Nashiri said he is not a member of al Qaeda, according to the transcript. However, he said he knew those who bombed the Cole because he had business dealings with them in the fishing industry.

“He did not even hear about the USS Cole bombing until many hours after it had occurred and was surprised by the incident,” according to the transcript.

In the name of God the Most Merciful the Most Gracious
His Majesty King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques-
King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Chairman of the Arab Summit held in Riyadh
esteemed
Your Majesties and Highnesses kings, Presidents and Emirs, Sultans and Sheikhs of Arab
States present at the Arab summit in Riyadh
Respectable Secretary General of the Arab League Mr Amr Mousa, the esteemed
gentlemen.

Peace be upon you
I would like to congratulate you on behalf of the Southern Democratic Assembly (TAJ); the
southern political organisation that struggles peacefully for liberation of South Yemen from the
occupation of the northern Yemen, and strives for achieving the self-determination of the Arab
people in the south on the road of building a free and independent state … I warmly salute the
president of the summit and all kings, presidents, princes, sultans senates and Arab delegations
who are participating in the Arab Summit that is held in Riyadh during the period (-28 - March
29, 2007).

We are pleased to put on your table a number of facts relating to our cause and we hope that it
will be accessible and have your support as follows:
• The South of Arabia was granted its independence from the British colony on 30th
November 1967 after an occupation lasted 129 years (19th January 1839 - 30th November
1967). The independent state was established on all the southern land, which is 338,000
squared km, bordered from the east Oman Sultanate, Saudi Arabia from the north, Arab
Republic of Yemen from the Northwest, the Red Sea from the West and the Aden Gulf
and Arabian Sea from the south. It has declared the city of Aden as its capital and gained
a full membership of all regional and international organisations including the United
Nations and the Arab League which lasted till 1990.

• The National Front that received the independent was a branch of the Arab Nationalist
Movement took the initiative to call the new state Peoples Republic of South Yemen
and amended it to the Peoples Democratic Republic of Yemen. It was the intention of
the new state to achieve the comprehensive Arab unification due to the adoption of the
national and revolutionary ideology that was very popular during the 50s and the 60s
of the last century.

• On the 22nd 1990 the unification was declared between Peoples Republic
Democratic of Yemen with population of nearly 2 million according to the 1988’
census and Arab Republic of Yemen, covering an area of 160,000 square km with
the population nearly 12 million (there was no accurate census) with Sana’a city
as its capital. Bearing in mind that there was no referendum was conducted
amongst the people of South Yemen regarding the future of their country which
was a clear breach to the Aden’s convention of 30th November 1989.

• The new unified state has encountered many obstacles and conflicts due to the
different cultures, visions and means of building the modern state between the two
different political leaderships of the two countries. Consequently the conflict has
escalated to an extent, which made the president of the >Arab Republic of Yemen;
the Marshal Ali Abdullah Saleh declare on 27th April 1994 the unfair war, which
lasted for 2 months against the South of Yemen, which ended with the fall of
Aden and the full military occupation of the South in July 1994.

• Since July 1994 the people of South Yemen has been living under the northern
tribal and military occupation causing lots of suffering and hardship to the people
in the South.
The northern occupying authority has not been satisfied with plundering the
wealth and implementing exclusion and depravation policy against the southerners
but also it continues to practice aggression such as committing serious killings of
children, men and women. It has also committed various actions to forge the
historical and geographical facts and to omit the identity of the South.

• The regime of the dictator Ali Abdullah Saleh that has been leading Yemen since
1978 and occupying the south for 12 years has no intention to establish a modern
constitutional state. Instead he continues to exert his effort by setting up a
repressive and corrupt regime that is heavily used to eliminate political opponents
and violate human rights and freedom. This regime is very well known to have
provided safe havens for terrorists, exports terrorism and smuggles arms to
neighboring countries which contribute to a large scale in creating instability in
those countries. This regime continues to wreck the already fragile Yemeni
economy by counterfeiting the Yemeni currency (Riyals) and the foreign
currencies of neighboring and others countries, besides to spread chaos and
instability in all the countries around it, which prompts us to warn concerned
officials from the Arab and foreign countries and international bodies and
organisations to the dangers posed by the system of Sana‘a for the future of their
peoples and to the security and stability of the island and the Gulf and the entire
world.

• The Southern Democratic Assembly (TAJ) calls on our brothers in the Gulf
Cooperation Council to understand and support the southerner’s peaceful struggle
for freedom and we would like to take this opportunity to advise them not to fall
into the trap that the south has fallen in by giving the corrupt dictatorship regime a
chance to mess up the situation and the people of the Gulf States.

• TAJ would like to remind all participants in the Arab summit that any support
offered to the dictatorship regime in Sana’a led by Ali Abdullah Saleh will only be
used to enhance corruption, repression and increase the poverty and instability. At
the same time the terrorists’ activities also will be increased and the suffering of
our people will be prolonged.

• During the last 15 years, the occupation regime has proved that it is interested
only of the south’s land and wealth and has made all efforts to expose southern
people to exclusion and deprivation. They have been brought to a stage where it
can not be tolerated or incurred, as it made our land and our people as war booty,
and everyone brought to the brink of collapse and death. As a result of the
occupation regime’s practice, the southerners inside and outside the country, had
determined to expel the brutal northern Yemeni occupation and to restore their
independent and sovereign state on the borders of the south before 22nd May 1990,
according to the documents of the South Arabia’s independence from Britain in
November 1967.
We call your summit and your gratitude states to stand by the people of South Yemen in their
right to self-determination, liberation, and in restoring full sovereignty of an independent state;
therefore we would like to bring to your attention the following:

1. We consider the so-called unity, were the southern people had not the chance to give their
opinion or to participate in a referendum; that unity was finished after the northern
Yemeni war of the summer 1994. That war had ended with the occupation of southern
Yemen of which was destroyed by using rockets, artillery and aviation and the unity had
buried under the treads of tanks and feet hordes of the occupying armies from the north in
modern war lasted 67 days and resulted in the colonial occupation of the south. So since
July 7, 1994 the South is an occupied country and should apply on it all the international
conventions relating to the peoples and countries under occupation.

2. We do not acknowledge the northern occupation authority as a result of the 1994
summer’s war and we do not accept the occupation of the south. This occupation
practicing on our land and against our people sorts of oppression and persecution. Our
people are subject to political, ethnic and tribal exclusion. Also they are excluded from all
areas of life, including work and health services. ((the number of the southerners who
were forced to retire illegally are almost half a million officials and the proportion of
retirees from the city of Aden, the capital of the south alone compared to retirees in the
north and south alike is 55%)).The occupiers also falsify the history of the south and
eradicate its identity. They loot the wealth and sale the land and the property of the
southerners without any rights. The occupiers exercise physical oppression and
psychological murder against our people, in fact they commit crimes against humanity.
That is why, we do not recognise this regime, and we do not accept this disgraceful
situation. On the contrary all its practices only increase our determination to uphold the
right to prosecute those who are involved in the illegal acts in the appropriate time and
place.

3. . We call you to compel the occupying regime to implement the Security Council’s
resolutions 924 and 931, and force it to withdraw its military troops and governmental
organisations from the south, also to leave our people to determine their own destiny, and
restore their usurped and occupied territory and get their sovereignty, independence and
rights to live in a peace like all other peoples of the world. TAJ would like to and bring to
your attention the decision of the foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council at its
51st session held on 4th – 5th June 1994 in Abha city in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,
which confirmed on “not imposing unity by force.”

4. We call you not to support the occupation regime in occupying our country and boycott it
economically and politically.

5. We inform all states, companies and investors to stop dealing with the northern Yemen
occupying regime as it has no rights to hold conventions, dispose of land and wealth of
south Yemen. Any dealing with Sana’a Regime only consecrates the occupation and
supports illegal contribution in looting the property and the wealth of the south. The
southerners will not be bound in implementating any agreements made by the northern
occupation regime.

6. . We call you to recognise the Southern Democratic Assembly (TAJ), which struggles
peacefully for ending the occupation. Our country undoubtedly is important geo-strategic
depth for the Arab States and the world. Our independent state will empower the security
and stability in the region in particular for Gulf Stets and the Arab League as well.
We appreciate your role in standing by the southern people and our occupied country, and we
will not forget your noble brotherly attitude towards our rightful cause and struggling for selfdetermination,
freedom and independence.

Our people are keen for freedom; they appeal and invite you to send a fact-finding commission to
verify of the situation directly and independently there.
At the end we would like to congratulate your summit, which is held on the blessing land of the
Two Holy Mosques, and wish you positive outcomes for the interests of the Gulf States people in
particular, our cause in the South, and the Arab world in general. God grants you success in
serving the nation.

WebPages: www.tajaden.org and www.soutalgnoub.com

Gulf News:

Sanaa: A group of relatively emancipated Yemeni women have said their rights are mainly violated by three groups in the society: extremists, conservative tribal shaikhs armed with old traditions and customs and security officials.

The group met on Thursday in Sanaa to make their sufferings public hoping to get at least moral help from the local and international supporters of women.

About seven women spoke at the meeting about harassment, abuses and violations they recently faced. Such abuses included defamation, death threats, insults and kidnapping.

The gathering came after the alleged violations against women’s rights reached a climax last week when an extremist accused a human rights woman activist of renouncing Islam. Such an accusation is risky to the woman, as some extremists do not refer to courts when they hear such accusations.

Backwardness

The women activists, who look forward to having full emancipation in a country where illiteracy among women is higher than 70 per cent, explained in the meeting the harassment they face in the street, job, university and schools from the people, including women, who still think it is shameful for women to get out of home.

Observers, however, attribute the violations of women’s rights to public life, illiteracy and backwardness rather than to religious and ideological views.

The women participants in the Thursday meeting blamed what they called “the official prevailing culture” for preventing them from effective participation in the development process. This culture obstructs women’s emancipation, they think.

“The official prevailing culture dictates that if a woman wants to write, she must only write on cooking and the kitchen affairs and cosmetics, etc, but she cannot express her opinion on political and social issues, - that’s a red line because that’s only for men not women,” said Arwa Othman in her presentation for the meeting which was organised by the Arab Sisters’ Forum for Human Rights, a women NGO concerned with women’s issues and human rights.

Othman, chairwoman of the Yemeni House of Folklore, a local NGO, said that the women who challenge the familiar traditions and customs are subjected to the vilest kind of violence in the streets.

“Violence of the streets is the worst kind of any violence. Every time we get out, we hear curses, bad words and some times they spit on us - the spittle of qat from a qat-high drunk driver or a religiously jealous man,” she said.

“The sexual harassment in public transportation cars are also very common, and if a woman raises her voice to defend herself, people will say: why you got out from home, you deserve it and even worse, they may accuse the woman of molesting the man!” she added.

Interference

“There have been some writers who support us, but they are unfortunately influenced by the same culture of decency and honour. Yes, we need advocacy, we need help, but as human beings, as citizens whose rights are violated; and their supporters should not interfere in my privacy whether I’m decent or not,” said Araw Othman, who is known for her liberal and critical writings that call for women’s emancipation.

In her lengthy presentation, Othman pointed out to an organised violence against women in Yemen.

“The reading and writing and believing in my issue are the only things that make me continue my life in such tough circumstances of organised violence,” she concluded.

The women activists whose rights were violated, in different degrees and different forms are : Hanan Al Wadi’e (human rights activist), Rahma Hujaira (journalist) Arwa Othman (writer) Intalk Al Mutwakel, Afra Hariri (lawyer) Rashida Al Qaili (writer), Radhia Shamshir, Samia Al Aghbari (journalist), Mahasen Al Hawati (journalist), Taqakul Karman (journalist) and Amal Basha (human rights activist).

Dialog is a good thing.

Article from the Yemen Observer:

The General People’s Congress and the opposition parties have at last agreed to sit down together and draw up an agenda for political dialogue. The meeting last Thursday was chaired by Prime Minister Abdul-Qadir Ba Jammal, who is also the secretary general of the GPC, and attended by the leaders of the opposition parties that have representation in the parliament.

The groups agreed on the agenda for a political dialogue, the mechanisms for such a dialogue, and a timeline for these talks. The first phase of the dialogue, they concluded together, will concern: the intended constitutional amendments for dividing the parliament system into two elected legislative bodies, a senate and a parliament; how to amend the local councils law in a way that ensures the election of the governors of the governorates and the directors of districts; and how to improve the electoral system, based on the recommendations offered in the report of the European Union’s commission for monitoring the presidential and local elections.

The first phase of the political dialogue will also include discussions on the situation of human rights and freedoms, as well as the situations of the syndicates and civil society organizations. Amendments to the law of journalism and publications are also expected to be discussed. The political dialogue was initiated by the ruling GPC, and the opposition parties responded to the call. At their first meeting last week, the two sides formed a joint committee comprised of the Secretary General of the Socialist party, Yasin Saeed Nu’man; and the Assistant Secretary General of the GPC, Sultan al-Barakani; and Dr. Abdul Wahab Mahmoud, the Secretary General of the Ba’ath Socialist party.

This committee was in charge of preparing the agenda and timeline of the political dialogue. At the first meeting, the GPC demanded to focus the dialogue on the intended constitutional amendments to develop the parliament into a senate and parliament, and to amend the local councils system. It also demanded to discuss amendments of the journalism and publications law. However, the JMP representatives said that the GPC should not impose their own agenda on discussions, adding that they had their own demands and issues that should be included. The two sides then agreed on forming the aforementioned joint committee to prepare the agenda of the dialogue.

The spokesperson of the JMP, Mohammed al-Sabri, said that the two sides agreed on five main issues to be discussed. “The main issue was to discuss and agree on the recommendations of the EU elections commission,” said al-Sabri. The other issues are proper ways to develop the parliament system, develop the electoral system, and improve the situations of the syndicates and civil society organizations, amendments of the journalism law.

“The fifth issue is to discuss national economic policies, neutralizing the public job, the policy of wages and salaries and the transparency of the state general budget,” said al-Sabri. Al-Sabri added that the two sides agreed to hold two meetings every week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays. “The two sides also agreed on the restrictions and principles of the dialogue and on the restrictions of the media,” said al-Sabri.

However, following the agreement between the two sides on the agenda and the restrictions and principles, the al-Thawri newspaper, the mouthpiece of the socialist party, stated that a wing of the GPC has been rejecting dialogue with the opposition parties. It also alleged that Ba Jammal had conflicts with the president, and asked him to appoint the president’s spokesperson in his place as a secretary general for the GPC.

Last Saturday, Ba Jammal responded to the allegations of al-Thawri, dismissing them as untrue, and describing these allegations as part of the sick trends of the socialist party that resorts to creating conflicts whenever progress is achieved for conducting constructive dialogue.

In a statement published by the 26 of September website, Ba Jammal described the allegations of the al-Thawri newspaper as a cheap act and said that these allegations published at the time the political parties are conducting a political dialogue aimed at foiling the dialogue. “These publications at this particular time do not serve the political dialogue and won’t help to consolidate the required bridges of trust among the sides of the dialogue,” said Ba Jammal.

Then there is the GPC version from al-Motamar:

In an interview to almotamar.net conducted lately sheikh sultan al-Barakani the subject of dialogue was a decision the GPC general secretariat had taken before the travel of the secretary general abroad for treatment. After he was back home he was approached about it as he is entrusted with managing the dialogue with the parties represented at the parliament and the first meeting of the dialogue committee was held on 19 of this month and the atmosphere was good and normal as there is an almost common desire among all parties about the dialogue about the main issues on table. A branch committee was set up to prepare agenda of the dialogue and on 20th of this month we finished the proposal on the agenda and mechanism of administrative and information work. There has been accord on enlisting proposals on the agenda of coming meetings. The major steps will be started with regard to serious dialogue on issues related to amendments, bi-cameral parliamentary system, the local authority and development of the local system through election of its heads, as well as the law of press and publications. The meeting also tackled report of the European Union the Yemeni parties had signed it as a foundation in dealing with the suggestions and recommendations mentioned in it as the European Union had overseen and monitored the latest process of presidential and local elections. He said the present process of dialogue is better than previous ones as there is sure and common desire to develop the political process and to reach to positive results serving the general interest and enhance the democratic process and political partnership.

On progress of dialogue and the reason why the GPC proposed it at this stage al-Barakani said the GPC has always been calling for dialogue whether collective or bilateral. Its proposal of dialogue at this stage comes after President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s initiative and his announcement last Ramadan on developing the local authority system, election of local councils and the issues mentioned in the president’s election platform regarding development of then democratic action through development of issues of freedoms.
It is sure that we and our partners in the political action to be present to discuss those issues although we have a parliamentary majority and we are able to vote on them but it is a must that the partners in the political life be present with us and to listen to their ideas and remarks and may benefit from them. Our partners have to be present with us in discussing the very important issues freedoms and the local authority and trade unions and to come out with results we agree on and respect.
He said there is intention of benefiting from others experiments especially regarding the rep [ort of the European Union on monitoring the presidential and local elections. The report has given us some issues that we should have dialogue on although it obtained them mistakenly as information reached it wrongly. Some remarks in the report are already included in the laws and some of them are associated with constitutional procedures while other some already exist and need no dialogue. Dialogue is originally the rule even if we take time and differ in opinion. Our agreement that we are partners in the political process we have to look for the best ways to develop this process. The report presented by the branch committee entrusted with dialogue agenda, conditions and guarantees we have to sign it as parties confirming we are going ahead in the process to the end.

Commenting in response to a question on the stance of the YSP secretary general Yassin Saeed Nouman with respect to the events of Saada and whether the situation in Saada is object of dialogue, Sheikh al-Barakani the subject of Saada does not need dialogue. The constitutional establishments and the popular will have given their opinion on the matter as being an issue of rebellion and sedition and resistance of authorities. Thus the government duty is to practice its tasks also the armed forces are found for defending the countries and their sovereignty, stability and security. They are not decoration. The issue of al-Houthi received enough concessions and opportunities. It was proposed on them to form a political party and there is no objection about that. We told them to establish recognizable organisations and not to consider them a state inside a state and promote slogans advocating sectarian allegations. We have never differed in the sectarian aspect in the past or the present and will not in future. In Yemen there is full coexistence and sectarian differences are nit felt absolutely. If there was a stand of some parties towards this question they have been blamed for it and it is not an issue put for dialogue. On sidelines meetings we can listen to various viewpoints and blame each other. As for the main issue we are all in agreement. In the meeting of Tuesday the 20th of this month we talked about it and all agreed that what is happening in Saada is not in agreement with principles of the constitution and the law and has nothing to justify it because up until now those rebels did not say what they originally want. To tell the truth, Dr Yassin Saeed Nouman was the first one who asked in this regard about who are they and what they want. Maybe such little mistakes happen out of political wrangles and irritations but they will not harm the dialogue or to say that the political process will stop at this limit.
Sheikh al-Barakani said recently there was a difference in points of view between his part the GOC and parties of the JMP concerning the question of Al-Haq Party. He said maybe the brothers in the JMP were not having full information about that party when they were informed that Al-Haq party has no organisation to take an excuse that they did not take the decision of dissolution.
That party has only a religious reference. There is no political bureau or permanent committee or general committee or party conference. The Haq party has not convened a party conference in 16 years since its foundation. It has no reference body to say it possesses the solution it is only the religious reference that established the party and asked the parties committee to take the decision of dissolution. As for arguing that head of al-Haq head of the political office is present with the JMP it is fact not a question of appeasing this one at the expense of an absent legal right. This situation we will overstep it as long as we are all in agreement on developing the political life and that dialogues are the ones removing the gap and clearing stances as well as correcting wrong concepts.

On the necessity that some parties in the JMP to stop writings and statements bearing implied support for Saada events sheikh al-Barakani said Saada is a national issue and supposed that all deal with it out of that. It does not mean the GPC or the ruling authority alone. Upon this basis the Islah party stands because the issue of homelands cannot be subject to bourse of willing or not willing. It is a national issue and all of us as Yemenis have to live to our responsibilities by taking the correct decision and defend the homeland and its sovereignty, security and stability. The homeland is the life boat for all of us.

With respect to the implied side maybe some newspapers and some persons are shrill under the influence of the dialectic theory that where the right is I am against. “I may have something in nay soul I want to pass on through this disquieting stance against others. But out of the clear concept the issue of Saada or any problems occurs in any country’s the responsibility of all of its sons, neither the GPC or the parliament or the present government. All organisations and political parties in the first place as fully responsible as partners in the political life and must be having a clear and open stance,” sheikh al-Barakani commented. In the past those parties used to say they did not possess a clear picture of what is going on or the problem concerning Saada. At this time there had been a meeting with those parties and were presented with a full report presented to the Defence Higher Council with all details. The request in that meeting was to take a collective stand in this regard but that was not done and parties have taken individual stances of their own. At present we find that there is the right stance in the Islah press and media. Irritating writings are now absent in most of the press of the parties and I think the exceptions here and there will disappear because the national issue is bigger than to wrangle in it. The whole country is responsible in this regard and we cannot abandon the democratic regime which is the essence in arbitration when there is variance in viewpoints. The issue of Saada has never been one unknown to the parities.

In the question of Saada there is a politicized trend in the first place. It is a backward direction and a will contradictory to our constitutional, legal and political concept in this country about which the electors expressed in the elections that have been lately held. So where are those rebels in Sadda with regard to the people\s will that approved the constitution, the political practice and political pluralism through the political parties and the parliamentary, presidential and local elections?

On what he comments on some western media considering what is happening in Saada as a Shiite rebellion, al-Barakani said “First of all the governorate of Saada is not a Shiite area and the Houthis are originally not the Zaidis or the Shiite. Zaidi affiliates are in more than five governorates and here are Zaidis in all governorate of Yemen and the Sunnis are present in all governorates as well and even in Saada. The Sunnis and Zaidi Shiites in Yemen have never differed throughout ages. A Zaidi would lead prayers and the Sunni prays and vice-versa and that is normal and has no influence. If Saada were for the Zaidis alone we would have said there is a sect wanting to eliminate another sect”

Al-Barakani said the governorates of Yemen cannot be divided into this sect or that and to say Saada is the place of this sect and others in other governorates are its adversaries “this is illogical.” He has further said there may be external parties wafted to send a message to their rivals as the United States of America, the international community and the Arab countries around and say “we are able with our fingers to move in more than one place some issues in order to know that we are a figure that cannot be overlooked,” and have found a group of stupid and reckless people who have responded to them. “ If we are to ask Zaidi sect affiliates in Yemen about any close relationship with the Jaafari or even the Shiite sect we would find difference in this stance..” Probably the clearer this in this regard is the Iranian constitution that grants the Arabs, the ZZaidis and the Jews their right just in personal status, which means the Zaidis are not part of the sect of the state, al-Barakani, says. But in Yemen and since the dawn of history to date we have not differed in sectarian matters it is probable that many of Yemenis have forgotten about sects leaders and have known more about Marx and Lenin and many of the leaders of human changes. The whole issue in this regard is a kind of ignorance about this aspect or a kind of exaggeration. What is happening in Saada is not among the question of freedoms that can be exercised. Raising arms in the face of the state and leading rebellion and disruption of local security are not an act part of practicing freedoms.

Mar 29 ,2007 - The Yemeni Congregation for Reform (Islah Party)concluded its fourth local conference in the capital, Sana’a, on Thursday.

It denounced, in its final statement, arbitrary imprisonments practiced in Sana’a by the political and national apparatuses against citizens. It further affirmed that such violations are clear-cut infringements to the state constitution which reads to not imprison any citizen whiteout issuing judicial rulings against.

The Islah Party also stressed ,in its final statement, the importance of widening public awareness thorough all possible means and peaceful struggle in order to obtain rights and freedoms and communicating citizens closely .

It also recommend to realize all objectives aiming at political reforms in all fields ,appreciating at the same time Islah’s members efforts who had vividly struggled in the past local and presidential elections .

The final statement also called on to broaden dialogue circles among all political and ideological forces in frame of Yemeni revolution , the state constitution and the Comprehensive National Political Agenda in order to achieve positive results which could solve the growing problems in the country .

Additionally, It denounced the detention of Sheikh Mohammad al-Moayad and Mohammad Zayed by U.S. administration and suffers they are experiencing in U.S. after they were lured by an American agent to Germany. It also demanded to immediately release all Yemeni Guantanumo detainees.

Moreover, it condemned violations occupied in the past elections, expressing sorrow of economy deterioration,increasing poverty and widespread unemployment.

Yesterday it was Iranian drone. Today its a US drone.

Mar 29 ,2007 - A senior Yemeni official affirmed to Alayam Paper Thursday that the drone shot down In Hadromout province was an American unmanned plane.

He said that fishermen in Hadrmout reported to a close military unit that they found the drone, and then the unit moved to the site.

On the other hand, the Defence Ministry declined to comment on the incident or affirm the nationality of the drone, whether an American, a French or an Iranian.

Woops, back to being Iranian. Also Iranian spies to go with the drone:

CAIRO [MENL] — Iran has been conducting reconnaissance missions in Yemen.

Yemeni sources said the Iranian military has been conducting reconnaissance missions on military and strategic targets. They said Teheran also employed Shi’ite operatives to spy in Yemen.

“It’s not clear why Iran would conduct reconnaissance missions on Yemen when the two have friendly relations,” a Yemeni source said. “It could be Iranian fear that Yemen has been harboring U.S. forces that could be used in an attack on Teheran.”

On Wednesday, Yemen reported that the military shot down an Iranian unmanned aerial vehicle. Officials said the Iranian UAV flew over the Arabian Sea and conducted reconnaissance missions deep in southeastern Yemen.

SANA’A, March 26 — A parliamentary fact-finding committee on Sunday called for investigating officials in Ibb governorate who connived with Sheikh Mohammed Ahmed Mansour, accused of evicting and intimidating more than 400 families in Al-Ja’ashen district.

In its report, the committee recommended firing Ibb Governor Ali Al-Qaisi for not fulfilling his duty to stop Sheikh Al-Mansour’s violations against the residents, as well as for hampering the fact-finding committee’s activities in the area.

The parliamentary committee was formed Feb. 12 following reports that approximately 70 families from Ra’ash and Al-Soufa villages in Al-Ja’ashen district were displaced by their local Sheikh Mansour, who controls the entire area.

Earlier this month, the villagers returned home with the committee, but the latter was prevented from entering the area. The residents said they were insulted and harassed by Sheikh Mansour’s soldiers upon their return.

Committee members reported that Governor Al-Qaisi advised them not to visit Ra’ash and Al-Soufa lest they be subjected to risks by Sheikh Mansour’s escorts.

Thus, the committee prepared its report, including accounts by some villagers, and submitted it March 19 for inclusion on Parliament’s discussion agenda. However, several parties and influential individuals attempted to prevent its distribution to members of Parliament. MP Sakhr Al-Wajeeh, the committee’s reporter, confirmed that Parliament agreed to include the report on its agenda for later discussion.

In the report, the committee demanded investigating chief of Thi Sufal district and replacing him with someone else not conniving with Sheikh Mansour.

The report pointed out that the Yemeni government should enforce the state’s authority in Al-Ja’ashen district, since it is part of Yemeni lands, noting that no individual – no matter who he is – may conduct himself outside of the Yemeni Constitution and effective laws.

The committee further called for destroying all of Sheikh Mansour’s prisons in the area and criminalizing such behavior, along with punishing any individual detaining citizens outside of effective Yemeni laws.

Moreover, the report stressed the importance of quickly investigating the issues of Al-Soufa and Ra’ash villagers and judging them according to law and further requested the Yemeni government provide the area with basic services.

The committee also slammed local authorities for their leniency with Sheikh Mansour and trying to protect his dignity under the pretext of deferring to him in order for the area not to fall out from under his sway.

According to the report, the villagers’ demands were just and fair, as they simply had requested their basic rights and demanded correcting the wrongs imposed upon them. The committee reported that various checkpoints affiliated with Sheikh Mansour were established along the main road leading to Ra’ash and Al-Soufa, further noting that most villagers were abused and checked upon their return to their homes.

It spoke at length about the villagers’ suffering and barriers hindering the committee from doing its job, including misbehavior of local and official authorities in the governorate who insisted on backing Sheikh Mansour against the villagers.

In related news, Parliament halted its session Tuesday after a majority of MPs withdrew in protest of hiding the committee’s report and preventing its distribution among MPs.

The deputy speaker of Parliament justified the move, saying MPs want to discuss the committee report with the heads of political blocs (a move considered to violate parliamentary bylaws), particularly after it was approved by a majority for discussion.

In its Wednesday’s session, Parliament demanded Ministry of Interior to shut up unofficial prisons and punishing all those people responsible for setting up private prisons and criminalizing such acts.

(Read on …)

almotamar.net - A local official in the governorate of Mareb that criminal elements assassinated director general of criminal investigation in the governorate Wednesday evening and injured two of his bodyguards in an ambush they set for him.

The official added to almotamar.net that Col. Ali Mahmoud Qaseelah died a martyr with shots of an unidentified person at the crossroads of Mareb Dam at about 7:30 Wednesday evening during his return from a field duty.

The source quoted the injured as mentioning that the gunmen carried out intensive shooting of fire on the Colonel’s car that was with two if his bodyguards resulted in his death at once and seriously wounded the two companions. He added that security authorities have started large-scale investigations for pursuing the criminals who fled the area.

Drug Gangs

SANA’A, April 1 — Chief of Mareb’s Investigation Department Col. Ali Hamoud Qusailah was killed while two of his bodyguards were badly injured last Wednesday when returning from an assignment outside the city. The murders trapped Qusailah in the main road leading to the Mareb Dam, some 2km from Mareb city.

According to Mareb Press, based in Mareb, the operation was implemented at night and unknown parties trapped Qusailah and his guards when he was returning to the city. The murderers were without a car, hiding in a thick wood. After shooting Qusailah, they fled the scene; their whereabouts are still unknown. Some sources say drug gangs are behind the incident.

Mareb security apparatuses formed a committee later on to conduct invesigate the incident and hunt the murderers.

The People and Issue Supplement issued by the official Al-Thawrah Newspaper published an interview with Quasilah on Sunday, wherein he mentioned that Mareb security apparatuses managed to put a limit to highway robbery and further crack down on gangs, particularly those positioning on the highways between Sana’a and Hadramout.

Qusailah further noted that Mareb suffers tribal revenge and the absence of justice and solutions to the people’s problems, coupled with poor citizens education. However, he asserted that they managed to arrest many monument-pieces and hand them over to the Monuments Authority.

He stressed as well that drug crimes pose a great concern to the security apparatuses, especially since the governorates have turned out to be a link between Yemen and neighboring countries, explaining that such crimes require greater efforts in order to be eliminated.

The other angle: (Read on …)

The Saada war just goes on and on.

Yemen Times: SANA’A, March 28 — Tribal sources said Wednesday that bloody clashes between the Yemeni army and Houthi loyalists are continuing on various fronts in Sa’ada. Army forces retreated from Dhahian city, a Houthi stronghold, after facing severe resistance there. Meanwhile, material and human losses are increasing.

Aleshteraki.net reported informed sources in Sa’ada as saying, “Army forces and hundreds of tribal volunteers managed to penetrate many streets of Dhahian after deadly confrontations with Houthi loyalists waged since last Tuesday afternoon.”

Eyewitnesses declared, “The Yemeni army is employing a new method in its war on Dhahian, as many units are allowed to enter the city for some time and then withdraw and resume other attacks. Dozens of tanks and armored vehicles are positioned on all streets and outlets leading to Dhahian in order to prevent any infiltration to and from the city.”

Sa’ada Governor Yahya Al-Shami assured that government forces are laying siege around Dhahian city to prevent losses among women and children.

“Governorate, security and military leaders decided to lay siege around the city in order to save citizens’ lives, especially women and children. Many citizens fled the city to nearby areas, while others moved to their relatives’ homes in safer locations,” Al-Shami explained.

The governor further noted that 12 Houthis surrendered to army forces this week, adding that, “Authorities have provided food and shelter and equipped temporary camps to receive those displaced residents with no relatives outside Dhahian city.”

Confrontations in Dhahian, which accommodates 25,000 inhabitants in 5,000 homes, have destroyed more than 60 homes and civil facilities. Further, a historic mosque also was destroyed, while water, electricity and other basic services have been cut for two weeks.

Army personnel and volunteers had vacated some Dhahian streets by the middle of this week after four days of fierce fighting, leaving dozens killed or injured on both sides.

Additionally, some areas of Bani Salem in Kittaf district witnessed confrontations on Monday evening and Tuesday, but the results are unclear to date.

Al-Madani killing unclear

Meanwhile, news about killing senior Houthi leader Al-Madani was contradicted. Some sources reported that Yemeni soldiers captured him, while others said the army killed him Tuesday while attacking a Houthi position in Bani Salem’s Braash; however, official sources neither confirmed nor denied such reports.

Al-Najjar killing sparks anger

In related news, more than 3,000 citizens of Kharf, a sub-group of Hashed tribe, last Saturday expressed their anger at the way their relative, Muqbil Al-Najjar, was killed at the hands of some army personnel last Thursday. During his funeral in his home area of Kharf, more than 3,000 citizens expressed their resentment and anger over his death, noting that he was killed via deception and betrayal.

Al-Najjar was killed last Thursday when his house was destroyed by army forces using tank shells while attempting to infiltrate Dhahian on the pretext of searching for Houthi loyalists. Al-Najjar and several others from his area were living in Dhahian because they operate fruit farms and businesses in Sa’ada.

Press reports mentioned that hundreds of Hashed tribesmen are volunteering with army and Sulfi groups to fight against Houthis. Such volunteers mainly are from Uther, Al-Osimat and Habour Dhulimah.

However, Kharf tribal leaders have refused to fight, alleging that the authority didn’t do justice to those who participated in the first and second Sa’ada wars. The tribe’s sons complain about the authority’s negligence, particularly toward those who were killed or injured and in need of medical attention.

One observer commented on Al-Najjar’s death, saying, “The way Al-Najjar was killed in Dhahian proves the futility of war and how it affects the national peace, whereby the killer and the killed are from one tribe and the same family. This is the case with civil war.”

Students killed in Dammaj

The identity of one victim in a Houthi attack targeting a checkpoint near the Dammaj Center for Hadith and Jurisprudence located in Al-Safara district’s Dammaj area south of Sa’ada remains unknown.

Local sources mentioned the killing of two students, one a French student of Algerian origin, and injuring another French student, while the identity of the second victim hasn’t been determined. The same sources added that the French student was buried by his friends in Dammaj Cemetery, while the injured party still is being treated at Al-Salam Hospital in Sa’ada.

Supported by Saudi Arabia, the Dammaj Center was established in the 1980s to teach Sulfi doctrine. The center accommodated students from more than 30 countries before the Sept. 11, 2001 events; however, that number has diminished over the past few years.

Al-Qaddafi hints at mediation

In other Houthi news, Libyan President Moammar Al-Qaddafi pointed out that President Ali Abdullah Saleh requested he invite Member of Parliament Yahya Al-Houthi, who currently is living in Germany, to Libya and mediate between him and President Saleh to stop the war in Sa’ada.

In a live interview with Al-Jazeera satellite channel, Al-Qaddafi recounted, “President Saleh telephoned me and said, ‘Yahya Al-Houthi is abroad. I beg you to call him and invite him to Libya to end this war.’ Before this call, we didn’t know anything about Al-Houthi.”

He added that he summoned the Yemeni MP to Libya, telling him Yemen wanted to end the war in Sa’ada, and Al-Houthi indicated his readiness to do so, but with certain conditions. He maintained that Saleh accepted some conditions, such as releasing detainees, but didn’t accept others. Thus, the war ended and Houthis were happy, Al-Qaddafi noted, referring to the second Sa’ada war.

The Libyan president noted that he was surprised at the war’s resumption due to the intervention of foreign parties. He denied any tension in Yemeni-Libyan relations as evidenced by the recent visit of Libya’s foreign minister to Yemen, as well as a telephone call he had with President Saleh.

He went on to allege that it is the hired newspapers that are claiming his nation’s involvement in the Sa’ada events, not the Yemeni government or President Saleh, further asserting that Libya has no interest in a remote Yemeni area.

“It’s unreasonable. We don’t have any relation with Zaidi doctrine and we have no interest in Yemen’s war,” Al-Qaddafi assured.

He further revealed that Yahya Al-Houthi sent him a new letter requesting he mediate to end the war, adding that he sent the letter to President Saleh and hinted that he would intervene again if Saleh accepts.

In an interview three weeks ago with Al-Hiwar satellite channel, Yahya Al-Houthi referenced Al-Qaddafi’s remarks; however, official media denied such information, harshly attacking him and accusing Al-Hiwar of being a hired channel.

From the very beginning of the war, official media have persisted in alleging Libyan involvement in what’s happening in Sa’ada, accusing Al-Qaddafi of providing military, financial and political support to Houthis. At its first meeting, the Yemeni National Security Council pointed out that it will reconsider relations with any nation supporting Houthis, hinting at Libya and Iran.

An unauthorized trip

JP MK Muhammad Barakei tested Israel’s policy against visiting enemy countries once again this week, taking an unapproved trip to Yemen.

Attorney-General Menahem Mazuz announced Monday that he would open an investigation into the Hadash MK’s trip, amid calls by right-wing MKs for Mazuz to “once and for all punish” Barakei.

Barakei’s trip was the latest in unauthorized forays by Arab MKs into enemy territory. In September, Balad MKs Azmi Bishara, Jamal Zahalka and Wasal Taha were questioned by the police’s International and Serious Crimes Unit for their diplomatic visit to Syria and Lebanon.

Barakei has already been investigated for a 2001 trip to Syria.

Knesset protocols require MKs to receive authorization from the Knesset Ethics Committee for all trips abroad. A number of bills were introduced in the past Knesset to ban MKs from taking trips to enemy countries, but none of the bills passed a second reading.

“We have not asked for permission for this trip because it is clear to us that his travel there was in keeping with his position as an MK,” said a spokesman for Barakei. According to the spokesman, Barakei will be the keynote speaker in a conference on the rights of Palestinian refugees in Iraq. He will return to Israel on Thursday in time for Land Day.

The Jewish community in Yemen has been steadily declining as reports of anti-Semitic activity increase. In February, the Yemenite government had to relocate 45 Jews to the capital from their native town of Saada after they were harassed by locals there.

Why are they calling him Ali Mohsen Saleh instead of Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar? In any event,

• Official source denies Bahraini newspaper’s reports saying Germany refused to hand over the terrorist Yahya Al-Houthi to Yemen

The official daily reported that a well-informed source denied reports by the Bahraini Al-Wasat newspaper saying that Germany rejected Yemen’s official request to extradite the wanted terrorist Yahya Al-Houthi, who is currently residing in the European country. Also, the source denied the Bahraini paper’s writings that Brig. Ali Muhsen Saleh, Commander of the Northwest Military Flank, has recently flown to Germany with an official letter from his government.

According to the source, such allegations are baseless and incorrect, pointing out that the military commander hasn’t visited Germany and that he is available in the restive governorate of Sa’ada performing his duty as Commander of the Northwest Military Flank. The source added that Saleh is supervising the military operations against the rebel groups that fuel sectarian and ethnical seditions.

The second largest city in Saada, about 30,000 residents usually, completely decimated:

AS:

Local sources in Saada affirmed Saturday that the army entirely dominated Dahian district which is considered the most significant position for al-Houthi followers.

“The government forces could take over Dahian after a violent clashes and street war lasted two days which 6 troops were killed and 30 others were wounded in ” the source added .

Dahian is considered the best haven for the rebels, but the source said that the military’s cost in Dahian was fewer than it was expected, pointing out that the rest of rebels escaped to Dahian.

On the other hand, there are no statistics of the rebel’s costs, but the sources expected that fewer than 50 rebels lost their lives.

It is worth reclaiming that confrontations are still going on in many Saada districts.

almotamar.net - The governor of Saada governorate brigadier general Yahya al-Shami said Wednesday armed forces and security are presently preparing for purging the last strongholds of terrorists in areas of AlSalem, Natarah, al-Naqaa and Thard.

He revealed in statement to almotamar.net the surrender of 12 terrorist elements in the pat two days.

On the destiny of remaining terrorists in Dhahyan area al-Shami said the governorate leaderships and military and security commands have decided to lay siege to their places out of keenness on safety of the citizens especially children and women in the area.

The governor also told almotamar.net that many residents left Dhahyan for neighbouring areas and some have moved to live with their relatives in other areas where there are no terrorists. He also pointed out that authorities provided them with requirements of food and residence and supplied them with makeshift camps especially for those who have no relatives in other areas.