Armies of Liberation

AM

almotamar.net – Al-Utaibah & Rawas Emirates Group intends to construct investment projects in Yemen in areas pf electricity, water desalination, petrochemicals and communications at a cost estimated at $ one billion.

The Utaibah Group’s Board of Directors Chairman Sheikh Abdulsallam al-Rawas said “We have come to Yemen for investment in energy through building a power generating station with capacity of 300 MEGAWATT according to BOT system or that of BOO, in addition to investment in the area of water desalination.”

He said his group has conducted feasibility study and hope to make other studies either individually or in cooperation with the state. He said a foreign company had previously conducted a study of feasibility for this project but its results are not compatible with results of the study we conducted as European companies operate in a different system not similar to the American systems. That necessitates giving opportunity to our company to study what is convenient with the nature of its work and capabilities.

Saba news agency also quoted al-Rawas as saying that they have learnt that the Yemeni government has the intention to produce 1400 MEGAWATT of electric power and putting g 200 MEGAWATT to investment and that they are ready to produce the total power, i.e. production of 3400 MEGAWATT with specifications the government requires, whether through gas stations or stations operated by solar energy.

Regarding investment in water desalination al-Rawas said they presented to government officials an offer for investment in this field under the system of BOB included all information, capabilities and equipment the group possesses in this regard and they are waiting for the re[ply.

Diverting assets, mismanagement, favoritism, outdated materials

SANA’A, March 24 – Yemeni members of Parliament criticized the government for neglecting higher education and pushing Yemenis to emigrate outside the country. They requested actual financial dependence in Yemeni universities, along with reconsidering scholarships and admission policies.

Discussing a report by Parliament’s Higher Education Committee following field visits to Aden, Ibb and Taiz Universities, MP Sultan Al-Atwani noted that the universities are run from the outside, hinting at security leaders. He demanded the Higher Education Ministry not operate cultural attachés with a security mindset.

Al-Atwani criticized Yemen’s parallel education system, maintaining that it deepens class division, is done at the risk of the poor and runs counter to Yemeni Revolution goals, which called for eliminating the gap between classes.

MP Shawqi Al-Qadhi further criticized forced pensioning of university professors when their experience increases, calling on the Yemeni government to find responsible and carefully studied resolutions. He requested assisting such teachers to remain in their homeland and serve their nation, in addition to designating internal scholarships for talented students who don’t have the opportunity to study abroad.

Similarly, MPs Ali Al-Ansi and Abdu Al-Hudhaifi demanded the presence of Yemen’s prime minister, along with the ministers of finance, civil service and higher education, to discuss Yemeni higher education, noting that such an issue requires the attendance of all ministers, not just university rectors.

At a Feb. 25 session, the deputy minister of higher education requested making Yemeni universities independent. He complained about the shortage of resources allocated for universities in general and scientific research in particular, noting that each university receives only YR 5 million for scientific purposes.

Parliament assigned its Higher Education Committee to sit with finance, planning and civil service ministers and representatives to look into the MPs’ recommendations and how to treat the dysfunctions in Yemeni higher education.

In its report to Parliament, the committee mentioned that university curricula are outdated and don’t meet the needs of the labor market. It also pointed out that students have difficulty accessing the latest and modern journals and sources, further noting the absence of means enabling students to develop their capabilities.

The report referred to the problem of crowded halls, as well as shortcomings in staff knowledge of English and computers, together with limited participation in symposiums and scientific conferences.

It also revealed a shortage of financial allocations dedicated to scientific use, including libraries, laboratories, equipment, etc. Moreover, the report noted the absence of bylaws regulating enrollment, as there are different systems for joining universities, including the regular system and the parallel system (both in Yemeni currency) and the self-funding system (in U.S. dollars). It further noted that parallel system revenues are spent on items that don’t serve the universities.

According to the report, the higher education department lacks a clear strategy to develop higher education. Further, it doesn’t send students to study abroad except to replace those who already have returned. This limits the number of staff, especially those with rare specializations.

It also noticed the absence of budgets to be spent on scientific research while some university staff aren’t registered. Staff members accumulate at university headquarters and facilities in major cities, but are scarce in branch faculties while some departments suffer lack of staff in certain specializations.

The committee found that it’s possible for universities to benefit from Yemeni staff to cover the existing shortage, thus saving huge sums of money spent on foreigners. It further assured that the Finance Ministry’s routine of paying entitlements is discouraging, noting that such conduct leaves a bad effect on university professors.

Concluding its report, the Higher Education Committee revealed that, except for some courses at some locations, the universities didn’t benefit from loans by the International Development Association.

Dar al-Salam is a good organization that has been working for years to end tribal revenge incidents.

YO: A peace activist was reported killed and another injured while they were trying to mediate a revenge case in Anis district last Wednesday. Sheikh Ahmad Bin Yahya Atef, a member of the Dar al-Salam organization, which works to fight revenge crimes and violence, and to spread a culture of tolerance, was killed. Another member, Sheikh Jabal Bin Hussein Jabal, was injured, in the Jabal al-Sharq region of Anis district, said the Chairman of the Dar al-Salam Organization, Abdulrahman al-Marwani.

The two activists were killed while they were taking part in a mediation group, said al-Marwani. The group took several bulls to the Jabal al-Sharq tribe, in an attempt to persuade a family to peacefully solve the killing one of its members, called Abdul Razaq al-Hayee, according to the tribal traditions. Al-Hayee was reported killed by people from the Guraimah family of the Bani Khalid tribe, which killed him in one of their qat farms at night, taking him to be a thief, a week prior to the killing of the mediator.

Al-Marawani said that a group of peace activists, including Sheikhs from the two disputing tribes, Bani Muath and Jabal al-Sharq, headed with the bulls to the Jabal al-Sharq tribe and particularly to the al-Hayee family. They were shocked when the brother of the victim refused their mediation, and grabbed his Kalshinkov and fired at the mediation group, killing Sheikh Ahmad Yahya Atef, who is one of the sheikhs of Jabal al-Sharq, the tribe of the victim. “The aim of the peace group was to solve the problem peacefully, so as to avoid a revenge war breaking out between the two tribes,” said al-Marwani.

“The group aimed to solve the problem, or refer it to the judiciary channels, away of the language of revenge and violence that mostly harvest the souls of tens and hundreds of innocent people,” said al-Marwani. The security office of Dhamar governorate reportedly sent a number of police escorts and arrested the killer of Sheikh Atef and the man accused of killing al-Hayee, along with other persons from both sides, who all are reportedly detained in Dhamar security prison in preparation to refer them to justice.

Al-Marwani said that the Dar al-Salam organization is still exerting extensive efforts to solve the problem peacefully and through the social and tribal traditions. Dar al-Salam issued a statement in which it condemned the murder of one of its members and the injury of another. The organization said that this savage crime contradicted the Yemeni tribal traditions and habits that respect the peace activists and mediators that are usually welcomed and respected.

The statement called this act a shame on the perpetrators, and a dangerous violation that contradicts the traditions that consider any third person not involved in the dispute as a mediator who can intervene to solve the dispute. The statement also called on the sheiks of all tribes in Yemen to condemn the killing of the peace activists, so as to not repeat what had happened to the mediators. Al-Marwani said that 15 members of the Dar al-Salam organization were killed and injured in the past nine years while performing their humanitarian mission.

Well at least the other members withdrew:

Mar 27, 2007 -The parliament stopped its session today, Tuesday, as most members withdrew; protesting refusal of parliament presidency to discuss a report of al-Jaashin displaced people.

They regarded the refusal as support for tyranny, persecution and a kind of postponement.

The Member of Parliament, Mansour al-Zindi said that the withdrawal came as some tried to alter the case into a political one.

The deputy speaker of parliament, Yahya al-Rai promised to discuss the report tomorrow after holding a meeting with the leaders of Parliamentary blocs.

For his part, the member of the committee authorized to investigate the case, Abdul –Aziz Jbari , expressed sorrow as the parliament could not defend the citizens’ rights, stressing that the committee would strongly grasp the recommendations of the report .

Al-Jaashin’s case had erupted 3 months ago as an influential Sheikh banished over 400 citizens from their homes after they rejected to pay him illegal taxes and duties.

It is worth reclaiming that al-Jaashin’s citizens accuse the sheikh of practicing brutal persecution and infringements against them.

how tiresome

almotamar.net - Undersecretary of Social Affairs ands Labour of Yemen admitted Wednesday that the ministry is suffering many shortcomings and failures and non-development of performance.

Undersecretary Ali Saleh Abdullah revealed about the government tendencies for conducting amendments on laws of civil society organisations to keep pace with the developments the Yemeni arena is witnessing.

In a ceremony of opening a workshop on applications of the law of private societies and establishments organized by the Made Foundation on 27-28 of this month he said the existing problem between the government and organisations is due to the organisations’ foreign funding and their not informing the about their financing sources.

He also said the Yemeni legislator managed to summarize this problematic through finding a balanced formula of texts, adding that those texts were still in need of amendments in order to curb restraints presented to private societies and establishments.

Mr. Abdullah described partisan work as corrupting the good intentions and that when partisan work enters into organisations and societies it will deprive them of the serious works and communicates to them partisan ills. He confirmed the importance of the existence of private action void of diseases in order to establish effective and active civil action.

On the other hand MP Nail Bash said the constitutional amendments are not owned by the ruling party but come within national dialogue among all political forces. He added it was time to reconsider laws of societies under the increasing role of those organisations as they are considered major partner with the rest of the state establishments. MP Basha expressed resentment upon formation of the higher committee on fighting corruption and said we have been disappointed at the parliament with some of the candidates for the committee but he said nomination of personalities from the civil society as better than the personalities that have been nominated.

Odd.

Almotamar.net – SANAA, March 28 – Yemeni Defence Ministry announced today bringing down a foreign drone flying over the south of coasts of Hadramout governorate, east of Yemen. and local media reported that the aircraft was Iranian. The Defence Ministry website quoted an official military source his confirmation that anti-aircraft forces of Yemen were able to shoot down the drone Tuesday after watching it entering the Yemeni airspace.
“Yes, a drone was brought down,” a government official told Reuters. He said the drone was downed on Tuesday but declined to give more details about the incident.

Raynews website reported on Tuesday that the drone plane that was downed over the area of Hadrampout governorate belongs to the Islamic Republic of Iran but the official source did not disclose its identity.
The site had quoted security sources there as mentioning that the drone plane was carrying out spying tasks over the coast of the Arabian Sea and that the anti-aircraft defences were able to shoot it down about a week ago.

A day after reports on downing the plane the parliament on Wednesday supported a proposal put forward by deputy speaker of parliament Yahya al-Raee on summoning concerned government authorities to clarify the truth of what local media have published on downing a drone plane over Hadramout, claimed to be Iranian that violated the Yemeni space days ago.

That came after the subject was aroused by MP Nabil Basha and his demanding of MPs to seriously stand versus violation of the country’s sovereignty and to be certain about correctness of the published information “so that the media would not be the side running Yemen’s foreign policy.”

My head is going to explode. What the activists said at the symposium was that no one should take arms against the state, the civilians should be protected and the underlying causes of the war in Sa’ada should be explored.

The situation in Sa’ada is state sponsored internal terrorism in that the state of Yemen is bombing the civilians and denying them foood and medicine, tactics similiar to Khartoum’s in Darfur. So President Ali Abdullah Saleh is the actual terrorists’ defender in more ways than one or six. Did I mention a variety of terrorists are fighting on behalf of the Yemeni regime?

Al-Balagh via YT:

– Ruling party denounces a symposium entitled “Together against the war”, accuses participants of backing terrorism

According to the independent weekly, a ruling party official source strongly denounced the symposium held under the slogan “Role of Civil Community Organizations in Ending Sa’ada War”. The source noted that the symposium was supposed to discuss the role of civil community organizations in establishing and maintaining the rule of law and order. He added that these organizations shouldn’t defend the terrorist elements who kill and intimidate citizens, attack military and security soldiers, loot public and private property and exercise highway activities.

The source expressed curiosity about the symposium where JMP members only were given a chance to speak in a way backing terrorists and the acts of vandalism in the northern governorate of Sa’ada. He confirmed that history will have no mercy on those who attempt to harm the nation by their support for terrorists and the acts of terrorism.

YT, al-Tajammu

– Influential persons plunder investors’ lands

The newspaper reported that many gunmen with military uniforms were usually citied to plunder agricultural lands belonging to investors in Al-Emad district, Aden governorate. The weekly quoted reliable sources as saying that civilians in charge of guarding the lands were attacked by policemen last week. The assailants damaged pumps and other agricultural equipment and confiscated some of them.

Eyewitnesses said that several agricultural investors had been detained in Da’ar Sa’ad Police Station, as they were filing complaints against policemen who grabbed their lands. The investors complained that they were subjected to torture and mistreatment during their detention. Deputy Chief of Aden Security Department Najib Mughalles ordered the concerned parties to take legal and firm procedures against the plunderers and investigate the incident.

Its astounding the way land ownership is systematically accomplished by brute force in Yemen, notably in the South, resulting in an increasing concentration. The “influential persons” stole a grave yard recently.

The paper also estimates over 25,000 internal refugees in Sa’ada.

14 lawsuits, I think that beats Khalid Salman of al-Thawry’s record.

YT:

– Authorities escalate war against journalism

The weekly reported that its chief editor Ali Al-Saqqaf stood trial on Sunday at the Capital’s Appeal Court while the paper’s managing editor Ahmad Sa’eed along with Muadh Al-Maqtari, and other reporters, represented the UUPO-affiliated weekly before the Press and Publications Prosecution. Al-Saqqaf is tried over an article published by the newspaper about disputes between citizens in Al-Sadda district, Ibb governorate.

The other two staff members stood trial over a publication lawsuit filed by the commander of the Republican Guards Camp in Al-Orkoub, who accused the weekly newspaper of insulting the most important national institutions including some military units. The newspaper’s articles, which disclosed the kidnapping and killing of citizens by a 15-member group, fuelled tension and rage of some government parities and officials. Also, Al-Wahdawi weekly is facing another 14 lawsuits in different courts, and such conducts, according to the newspaper’s reporters, are aimed at intimidating journalists and restricting press freedom.

AS

Hundreds of workers protested Sunday before the French Gas Company after a French had desecrated Koran (the holy Muslim Book ) in Shabwa.

The correspondent of Alsahwanet said that the protesters set a helicopter, belonging to the company, on fire and destroyed the company’s facilities as well as several cars belonging to the company.

Some eyewitnesses affirmed to Alsahwanet that the security forces had intervened to calm the violence and evacuated the French engineer from the centre of the riot. They also said that the police had shot fire and that one protester was seriously injured ant taken immediately to hospital.

More: The violence began when a French employee at a natural gas liquefaction plant being constructed by Yemen LNG in the coastal city of Balhaf threw a copy of the Koran, Islam’s holy book, on the ground, a move that angered Yemeni workers at the plant site. The enraged Yemenis reacted by attacking the French employee and setting fire to a helicopter and a large number of vehicles inside the plant site, the officials said.

Related: Yemenia Promoting French Tourism

Sunday 25 March 2007

26 Septemper News

SANA’A March 25(26sep.net) Yemen Airways in French capital, Paris had organized an evaluation meeting for the French tourist market with the participation of travel and tourism agencies Yemeni market.

In the meeting which was held yesterday evening, Yemeni ambassador in France Ameer Al-Aiddarous had confirmed the importance of organizing this meeting to study French tourist market and the promotion of the features of tourist attractions in Yemen to enhance attracting the French tourists, as France has became on the tops of European countries that export tourism to Yemen.

More on the riot:

YO: riot broke out among 1,000 or so workers of the Yemeni LNG Company working in Balhalf at around 2 p.m. on Sunday, following a dispute between a French worker and a Yemeni worker. Press reports have suggested that the fights erupted after the French worker, who worked for a subcontractor involved with constructing the plant facilities, and whose name has not been released, desecrated the Holy Quran, outraging the Yemenis. (Read on …)

Dammaj is a famous Salafi Islamic Institute in Saada. As usual, there are at least two versions of the story.

First version from the ruling party, a French student walking down the street gets killed by Houthis.

almotamar.net – Sources said the killing incident took place when students were walking in a street when some terrorist elements attacked them.

The sources pointed out that two students were killed Monday in Saada, one of them a French citizen living in Yemen to study Arabic language at Damaj Institute in the governorate. The attack also resulted in injury of other students.

The second version of the story comes from al-Estraki.net, the YSP’s website, which says three foreign students at Dammaj were killed. The school had been provided arms by the government, and the enthusiastic students established a checkpoint. In a shootout at the checkpoint with Houthi fighters, three Dammaaj students were killled: one Frenchman, one American, and one unidentified foreigner.

OK, the third version is from Islah’s paper, al-Sahwa: Houthis assualt Dammaj school. One British, a French and an Algerian killed.

al-Sahwa: Local sources affirmed Monday that British and French students who were studding at Dmaj Centre for Islamic studies were killed. They also said that an Algerian was wounded in an assault that targeted the centre.

The source cited that the centre was subjected to a similar assault last Wednesday in Saada by a Shiite rebel group, al-Houthi rebels.

On the other hand ,some sources said that al-Houthi followers could kidnap two soldiers in an abrupt assault in the area which had been controlled by the government forces .

They also asserted that three volunteers who were fighting with the government were killed by al-Houthi rebels.

Version four, the BBC:

SANAA (AFP) – A French and a British student, both Muslims, were killed in an attack by Shiite rebels on a Sunni Islamic college in a restive region of Yemen, a tribal source said Monday.

An Algerian student was also wounded in the attack which took place on Sunday, in the northern province of Saada, where Zaidi minority rebels are fighting government forces, the source told AFP requesting anonymity.

He said that the students were part of a group who were guarding the school at night.

The British and French embassies in Sanaa were not immediately available for comment.

Dozens of foreign students attend the school for Islamic studies at Dammaj, which is run by a Sunni Salafist group, the source added.

Sunni Salifists consider Shiite Muslims as heretics.

The Zaidis are an offshoot of Shiite Islam dominant in northwestern Yemen but form a minority in the mainly Sunni country. They began fighting government forces in 2004, since when hundreds have been killed.

The rebellion — which the government claimed to have crushed in April 2005 — flared up again in January following a presidential ultimatum for the rebels to disarm.

The rebels reject as illegitimate the current Yemeni authorities who seized power in a 1962 coup known as the September 26 revolution, overthrowing a Zaidi imamate.

mmmm, no I dont think the rebels see the republican regime as illegitimate, considering Hussain al-Houthi was a member of Parliament, as is Yahya al-Houthi.

So did the students attack the Houthis at a check-point the Dammaj students created, or did the Houthis attack the institute at Dammaaj? Yemen, land of a thousand realities. Over the last years, the Houthis have restricted themselves to military targets, unlike the regime.

Update: al-Tagheer quotes the al-Estraki story that the students set up a check point and also notes the 26 Sept says the Houthis attacked the school.

The Scotsman says there are about a dozen international students, but the source of the story is the regime. The previous AFP/BBC article says dozens of international students.

SANAA (Reuters) – A French student and a Yemeni man were killed and another Frenchman was wounded on Monday when Shi’ite rebels attacked an Islamic college in a volatile area in northern Yemen, a government official said. Earlier the official said two foreigners were killed in the attack.

A Frenchman, identified by the official only as Patrick, was killed, and a French student of Algerian origin was wounded. The attack, in which a Yemeni man was also killed, took place in the province of Saada where government forces have been battling Shi’ite rebels since the beginning of this year.

Residents said about a dozen international students attended the Dammaj Institute for Islamic studies. Many had feared such attacks because of the clashes in the region.

Yemen said on Friday 15 Shi’ite rebels were killed in a battle with Yemeni soldiers.

Government officials say at least 290 rebels and 132 soldiers have been killed in the clashes. The rebels have denied those numbers but given none of their own.

YO: Walking or guarding the school, or walking while guarding the school:

Two students, one of them French, of a Salafi institute in Sa’ada were killed in an attack carried out by al-Houthi followers, said officials Monday. “Elements of the terrorists Abdul Malek al-Houthi and Abdullah al-Ruzami attacked today a number of students of the Damaj institute in Sa’ada province.

While some students were walking on a road, the terrorists attacked them, killing two of them, one Yemeni and one French, who were studying Arabic language at the institute,” said the Defense Ministry website, 26sep.net, quoting an unidentified security source. The official also said that several other students were injured. The source said the students were part of a group guarding the Sunni religious school at night. Dozens of foreign students attend the Damaj school, the source added.

The Damaj institute is run by Salafis, who are in disagreement with the al-Houthis. Meanwhile, official sources said that Yahya al-Khodhair had died after he was injured in battle with the government troops three days ago in al-Salem. Al-Khodhair, leader of the al-Houthi followers in al-Salem, was the one who threatened the 45 Yemeni Jews of al-Salem, triggering the war. Local sources said that the rebels are resorting to using motorcycles for carrying out their operations against the troops.

IHT

SAN’A, Yemen: Members of a Shiite rebel group attacked students enrolled in a fundamentalist Sunni Muslim religious school Monday, killing a Frenchman and a Briton and wounding several others, according to Yemeni provincial officials.

But tribesmen said the students were fighting alongside government forces and tribal volunteers against “the Young Faithful Believers.” The Shiite Muslim group is led by Abdel-Malek al-Hawthi.

The tribesmen reported clashes Monday in al-Khanajer Mountains, which is several kilometers (miles) north of Saada, where the students’ Dammaj School is located. The tribesmen spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

The Saada governor’s office issued a statement saying that “terrorist members of the al-Hawthi group attacked a group of students enrolled in Dammaj School, killing two students.”

The statement did not say where the attack occurred. It said the students were studying Arabic at the school, one of the biggest religious learning centers in Yemen.

From a blog

Two Students killed in Dar al-Hadith by Followers of Al-Houthi.
- Dammaj, Yemen

Just like the last round of sad news, it seems two foreign Stuents of Knowledge were killed in Yemen.

The following is my brief translation of this Arabic Article published yesterday. I came across it last night.

According to official sources, two foreign students –on of them of French nationality– were killed today in an attack on students of the Dar al-Hadith institute in the village of Dammaj. This attack, the first of it’s kind, was carried out by followers of al-Houthi, a local Shiitie Rebel Leader.

According to some local Yemeni websites:

The encounter took place when some of al-Houthi’s followers attacked a group of students from the Salafi institute.
The students “were standing guard, which was a newly enforced measure” after the Government had reportedly “armed them and a groupd of students from the Salafi institute to confront the followers of al-Houti.”
The encounter took place “during the passing of a patrol of al-Houthi’s followers in the area”.

Some sources in San`aa’, close to the Administration of the institute reaffirmed, “The Institute commonly stays under tight security measures.” He also negated the “possibility of suporters of the Institute taking part in any armed confrontation with al-Houthi’s followers in the Sa`dah region.” Saying, “Our task is one of Da`wah (Islamic Propagation), not a Military one. We don’t take part in any armed struggle against that Rafidhi (Shiite) Rebellion which is present in the villages around the city of Sa`dah.” The source also mentioned his sorrow on hearing news of the institute in Dammaj coming under armed attack. He went on to say, “The Institute was established by Shaikh Muqbil bin Haadee al-Waadi`ee –rahimahullah (may Allah have mercy on him)– more than two decades ago and the people of the area have never known it to be anything other than a peaceful institution which calls to Allah through speech and intellect. Leaving ‘Da`wah by hand’ (using forecul measures) to the Authorities.”

He added that, “Despite the fact that Shaikh Muqbil and his followers would openly call to Allah and denouncing Shirk (Polytheism), Bid`ah (Innovation in religious matters) and Rafdh (Being of Shiite methodology), the School has never been associated with any armed encounter.” He then reaffirmed that, “The Center will continue the task of Shaikh Muqbil by defending the Sunnah (teachings of Prophet Muhammad) and defense of the Companions of the Prophet –sallallaahi `alaihi wa sallam (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him)– and the correct teachings of Islam, regardless of how many attempts there are to hamper it.”

The source, who asked to remain anonymous, also fiercely refuted the notion that al-Houthi’s followers conceal hatred for the Salafi Da`wah.”
He found it strange that, “Some people are trying to make this a sectarian conflict. This (al-Houthi’s followers) is an oppressive group that has rebelled against the Government. It is the Government, now, who strives to execute its authority in the region, keen on the service of its citizens”, as he put it.

Well, thats good I guess. Also a program on ending child labor.

American team trains Yemenis on exposing counterfeit
Monday, 26-March-2007
almotamar.net – More than 20 Yemeni employees from the ministry of interior and security apparatuses have taken part in a training course on discovering forfeiting of travel documents.

A press release issued by the American embassy in Sana’a the almotamar.net received a copy of it mentioned that the training course sponsored by regional security bureau at the embassy was carried out by office assistance for combating terror affiliate of the American department of State.

The American ambassador to Yemen who distributed certificate among the participants indicated the ability to discover and verify travel documents fraud is an essential thing in stopping criminals and terrorists in all parts of the world. He added he was looking forward to more of cooperation with the ministry of interior and more of opportunities for holding similar training courses in Yemen.

The course included ways and means of pre inspection of documents and discovery of forfeit in international documents as well as training participants on correct methods on how to secure evidence on criminal trials and facilitation of exchange of information on activation of the role of the law.

Another statement of ht American embassy mentioned that a team from Labour Department has lately visited Yemen to monitor two programmes on the worst forms of child labour in Yemen. The team visited Sana’a, Seyoun, Ibb, Aden and Lahj before the evaluation program that aims at evaluation of the success of the programme until now.

According to the statement the programme was prepared to target working children in agriculture and fish sectors and street children and those children exposed to smuggling.

The American Labour Department works in cooperation with the international programme for ending child labour for ending the worst forms of child labour in Yemen.

The last one of the eight foreigners; the other seven were released without charge. Earlier news was the seven confessed. The name below is supposed to read Fawaz Al-Rabie.

almotamar.net – The Specialised Penal Court has retained the case of defendants charged with hiding Eawaz al-Rabie and Qassim al-Raimi the escapees from the political security prison and trafficking weapons ands explosives for smuggling them to Somalia for issuing verdict on 19 April 2007.

At the beginning of the sitting chaired by Judge Najib al-Qaderi the prosecution presented the final presentation and asked to hold the case for judgment.

The first defendant Abdullah Awadh Abdullah al-Masri abstained from replying when the Judge asked him on the final presentation. The second defendant Idi Uthman Souli, having a Somali nationality answered the Judge question through a translator that he did not come to Yemen to trade with weapons but to inform about prices of weapons and whether there is possibility for him to bring his family to Yemen and asked to be allowed to call his family and return the sums of money seized with him.

The prosecution faced the first defendant al-Masri with charges of weapon smuggling and trafficking and hiding escapee prisoner from the p0o; itical security prison. It also directed to the second defendant Souli the charge of attempting to purchasing anti-aircraft weapons, snipers and personal weapons for smuggling to Somalia.

There was such a big splash when the case first hit and it dwindles down to this: the Somali wants his money back.

SANA’A, March 26 (Saba)- The Primary Special Penal Court determined 9th of April as date for issuing a sentence in case of two suspects,
a Yemeni and a Danish of Somali origin, who are accused of trying to purchase weapons then to smuggle them to Somalia.

The two suspects are also accused of hiding three prisoners who escaped from Political Security Jail.

In its Monday hearing, the court decided to close arguments after listening to the final argument on the case.

The second suspect, the Somali,confessed that his role was only to send money of four kinds of weapons to a person named Qarbab, who is
mediator between him and Islamic Court in Somalia. He also asked the court to carry out its decision to allow him to contact his family
and to get back his money that has been taken when the police arrested him on 13th October, 2006.

The first suspect, the Yemeni, remained silent and did not reply on the accusation against him during three sessions.

City of Dhahian (second largest in Saada) destroyed from bombardment, dead bodies in the streets.

3000 Hashid and Bakil tribesmen supporting military efforts.

Air raids on Dhahian destroy a mosque, homes and a gas station. The city of 25,000 is largely evacuated. Dhahan is one of the centers of Zaidism dating hundreds of years.

Since onset January 17 according to Al-Ayyam, there were 416 soldiers killed and over 500 wounded; 12 tanks destroyed. 136 Houthis killed. In the last week, approximately 150 more from each side killed. Government sources place figure of Houthis killed at 300, with another 200 captured.

Media blackout remains in effect.

Military statement says Badraddine al-Houthi (the father of Hussain, Abdelmalik and Yahya) is dead. Houthis soucrces deny.

Houthis cited in area of Dammaj, home of the famous Salafi religious institute, however residents say they will defend themselves. Dozens from Dammaj took up weapons and offensive positions.

Additonal military continues to arrive in Saada. Houthis moving from mountains to citys and villages.

Governor of Saada denies any tribesmen are fighting, just lots of new military enlistees.

The PSO is conducting am ongoing campaign of arrests of teachers (yes teachers), accused of inciting student to fight. The campaign of arrests of Zaidi preachers was ongoing over the last few weeks throughout the entire country.

Food, medicine and oil shipments into Saada have been prohibited for over two months and confescated when found. There are no provisions in place to provide medical care to wounded civilians, the hospitals are overflowing with military. There is no food.

SA’ADA, March 25 — Tribal sources assured on Sunday that confrontations are still aflame between the Yemeni army and Al-Houthi loyalists on numerous fronts in Sa’ada governorate, leaving hundreds dead or injured. Further, dozens of homes were destroyed in Dhahian city, which witnessed the fiercest clashes between the two warring sides.

Supported by approximately 3,000 tribesmen from the Hashed and Bakil tribes, the Yemeni army conducted a sweeping offensive last Thursday afternoon on Dhahian, located some 8 km. from the governorate’s capital city of Sa’ada. On Friday, the offensive developed into a street war employing all types of weaponry. The number of victims is increasing and threatening a human catastrophe in the area.

The same tribal sources told the Yemen Times that army units and tribesmen drew back Friday evening after facing harsh resistance in many zones they occupied previously.

The bodies of victims from both sides are still amassed in the city’s streets and under the destroyed homes, as the fierce fighting has prevented their transport to hospitals. Eighteen army personnel were killed and 96 others injured and rushed to nearby hospitals, while some were transferred to Sana’a. According to sources, Houthi losses remain unknown due to the imposed media blackout.

Al-Ayyam daily reported Saturday that since the war erupted Jan. 17, 416 army soldiers and volunteers have been killed and more than 500 others injured. It added that approximately 136 Houthis have been killed and 12 tanks have been destroyed.

According to officials and medical sources the newspaper quoted, last weekend’s confrontations felled more than 150 victims from both sides in Dhahian city and Souq Al-Talh, which witnesses continuous confrontations after Houthis attacked it to reduce pressure on their militants in Dhahian.

A military statement attributed the army’s drawing back to giving Houthi leaders one final chance to surrender; otherwise, they will “meet the same fate as Hussein Badraddin Al-Houthi and his father.” It’s the second time official sources have spoken of killing Badraddin Al-Houthi, as the chief of Haydan district mentioned the incident in a statement five months ago; however, a source close to Badraddin Al-Houthi denied the information.

Sa’ada Governor Yahya Al-Shami told Al-Motamar.net last Friday that 300 Houthis have been killed and another 200 are captives. He added that 30 Houthi supporters surrendered in Dhahian, noting that others still may seize the opportunity to turn in themselves and their arms. He further assured that Houthi leader Sheikh Yahya Sa’ad Al-Khudhair has been injured, but neither Houthis nor neutral sources have confirmed such news.

The war is continuing on all fronts between the Yemeni army and supporting tribesmen on one hand and Houthi loyalists on the other. The most violent confrontations took place Friday afternoon and evening in Al-Qaithi farms located between Sa’ada and Dhahian cities, leaving hundreds dead or injured.

Further, Al-Salem, Al-Talh, Bani Muath and Gharabah military site occupied by Houthis now witness continuous and fierce attacks. Likewise, Houthi attacks are also constant upon Qahrat Al-Nasr and Kuhlan camps.

Media sources mentioned that the army attack on Al-Talh was as fierce as that upon Dhahian and aimed to release dozens of military and tribesmen blockaded by Houthi snipers in the security department building, while government forces halted attacking Dhahian due to bad weather.

Dozens of Houthis were seen last Friday on Al-Hanajer Mountain in Al-Safara district’s Dammaj area. Their presence caused leaders to put soldiers on high alert; however, Dammaj and nearby dignitaries and sheikhs met with military leaders, requesting they leave the matter for locals to defend and guard their areas against Houthis without army interference. Dozens of Dammaj locals carried arms and spread out in the nearby mountains.

Houthi loyalists still are taking positions and many locals expect the coming days to witness wild confrontations between both sides.

Media sources reported that Saqeen district is witnessing clashes from time to time, the last of which occurred last Wednesday in Al-Sha’f and nearby areas, causing dozens of deaths and injuries among military and supporting tribesmen, as well as Houthis.

Clashes took place for several long hours Friday night in various areas of Bani Muath, Al-Saifi, Al-And, Al-Khamarat, Sahar and other areas neighboring Sa’ada city. However, a security source clarified that they simply were searching for Houthi loyalists in different areas. The search resulted in arresting eight Houthi supporters.

Numerous military, armored and foot soldier units reached Sa’ada Friday and Saturday afternoon, their numbers surpassing those that arrived last week. Sources added that more military forces are due to arrive in coming days.

Some observers commented that Houthis have abandoned occupying the mountains and have begun spreading to cities and villages, thus turning the offensive-defensive war into guerrilla warfare.

Fighter planes resumed their participation in the war last Thursday to support army forces after a two-week halt following the crash of two MIG-29 fighters. Sukhoi fighters implemented air raids upon various Houthi sites in Dhahian, destroying dozens of homes, a mosque and a fuel station.

In further news, an official source denied allegations and information Aleshteraki.net reported regarding the Sa’ada events, noting that the number of deaths and injuries among military personnel, as well as guerrilla warfare between Houthis and the Yemeni army, are unauthentic.

The same source further denied any participation of Dhahian citizens against Yemeni army and security forces, declaring, “On the contrary, Dhahian locals are fighting with their brothers in security and army against Houthis.”

Dhahian city is the second largest city in Sa’ada, with approximately 25,000 residents and more than 5,000 houses and civil facilities. Large numbers of residents evacuated the city after a weeklong attack by the Yemeni army using heavy weaponry, including fighters, mortars, tanks and Katyusha missiles fired from Kuhlan Camp in the north, Kuhrat Al-Nas in the south and from the main road.

The city is considered one of Yemen’s Islamic science centers and dates back to the second century Hijra. Among its scholars are Abdullah Yahya Al-Sa’adi, Abdulwahab Al-Moyyad and Badraddin Al-Houthi, along with dozens of other well-known scholars and social personalities.

Governor Al-Shami denied the presence of any tribal personnel supporting the Yemeni army in its war against Houthi loyalists, pointing out that a Defense Ministry committee registered new enlistees to cover the shortage in some military units.

Interviewed by private newspaper Al-Wasat in last Wednesday’s issue, the governor noted that what’s happening in Sa’ada is a guerrilla war, as Houthis are waging offensives in small groups and thus, inflicting more losses upon military personnel.

He further noted that Abdullah Al-Ruzami, whom he considers the Faithful Youth Organization’s top man, refuses to answer his telephone; thus, the authority was left with few options.

“If he doesn’t accept dialogue or even answer the phone, then how can we dialogue with him?” Al-Shami asked, adding that Al-Ruzami has refused to meet with any individual or sheikh, including mediation committee members.

The Sa’ada governor added, “Although we released his son from prison, I haven’t met him or heard from him since I came to Sa’ada. He doesn’t accept anything, so how can we deal with such a person?”

Local sources in Sa’ada reveal that the area’s Political Security Department has been waging an arrest campaign since last Sunday and 50 citizens have been arrested so far, mostly school headmasters and teachers. The sources explained that the individuals were arrested due to accusations of mobilizing school students to fight with Houthi loyalists against the authorities.

Update: No one knows what the Houthis want, also true:

YO: It’s been nearly two months now since the war between Yemeni government troops and the armed rebels in the northern province of Sa’ada broke out. However, the end of the war does not appear to be on the near horizon, despite the fact that hundreds of Yemenis have been killed, and many others are injured and homeless. (Read on …)

DOD

UNCLASSIFIED
SUBJECT: UNCLASSIFIED SUMMARY OF EVIDENCE FOR ADMINISTRATIVE
REVIEW BOARD IN THE CASE OF BIN ATTASH, HASSAN
MOHAMMED SALIH
8. The detainee worked with a1 Qaida members who provided timers, remote control
devices, and explosives to groups in Khowst and Qandahar; the equipment was to be used in
operations against United States personnel. The detainee said he transported the explosives to
Afghans in Quetta.
9. The detainee established a number of e-mail accounts to communicate and coordinate
with other a1 Qaida members. The detainee also admitted he sent letters confirming plans to
carry out major operations in Yemen including targeting oil tankers in Yemeni ports, which
would have completed a plan to attack ships in the Straits of Hormuz.
10. The detainee posted letters to a former mujahid living in Saudi Arabia, who was
attempting to acquire guns and silencers to conduct assassinations in Saudi Arabia.
1 1, The detainee worked directly with a senior a1 Qaida lieutenant, who was in charge of
Usama Bin Laden’s cadre inside Pakistan. He was responsible for coordinating and facilitating
travel for a1 Qaida and Mujahidin fighters, raising money through charitable organizations, and
providing a1 Qaida operatives and Mujahidin with false documents, including passports, stamps,
and visas.
b. Training
1. In 1997, the detainee went to Afghanistan where he received basic military-type
training in the Khalden Camp.
2. The detainee stayed at the Khalden Camp where he received training on weapons such
as the Kalashnikov, Beeka, and Deshooka, as well as explosive devices such as mines, grenades,
and mortars.
3. The detainee took bomb-making classes in Khowst, Afghanistan, at the Khalden and
Jihad Wahl camps. The detainee was trained to make a bomb using TNT and C-4. The detainee
was shown how to make remote detonators out of the game cartridges in Sega games.
1. The detainee’s family had been close to Usama Bin Laden since the early 1980’s. It
was not uncommon for Usama Bin Laden to be at the detainee’s father’s house, and the detainee
had often been to the Usama Bin ‘Laden family home in Jeddah.
2. The detainee worked with a senior a1 Qaida member involved in the operation against
United States naval vessels and United States oil tankers in the Straits of Hormuz.
3. The detainee assisted a senior a1 Qaida member with providing timing devices needed
for an operation involving hotels in Karachi.
UNCLASSIFIED
Page 2 of 3
&9Q5?3(5
UNCLASSIFIED
SUBJECT: UNCLASSIFIED SUMMARY OF EVIDENCE FOR ADMINISTRATIVE
REVIEW BOARD IN THE CASE OF BIN ATTASH, HASSAN
MOHAMMED SALIH
d. Detainee Actions and Statements
The detainee traveled back and forth fiom Karachi to Qandahar every two months,
bringing money to support a1 Qaida operations.
e. Other Relevant Data
The detainee was arrested on 11 September 2002, in a safe house, referred to as the “Tariq
Road House.” The detainee was arrested with a senior a1 Qaida operative.
4. The following primary factors favor release or transfer:
a. The detainke stated even though he was involved in correspondence with the attack on
ships in the Straits of Horrnuz, he claimed to have no further details about these operations.
b. At the Khalden Camp, the detainee received training on weapons. The detainee did not
attend all the training, estimating that he attended less than 50 percent of the classes. The
detainee speculated that he was given great leniency due to his young age,
c. The detainee indicated he did not know what the remote detonators he was asked to
transport would be used for.
5. You will be afforded a meaningful opportunity to be heard and to present information to the
Board; this includes an opportunity to be physically present at the proceeding. The Assisting
Military Officer (AMO) will assist you in reviewing all relevant and reasonably available
unclassified information regarding your case. The AM0 is not an advocate for or against
continued detention, nor may the AM0 form a confidential relationship with you or represent
you in any other matter.

almotamar.net – An official military and security sources in Saada warned Thursday that the terrorist elements followers of Abdulmalik al-Houthi and Abdullah Aidha al-Razzami have to speedily surrender themselves and their weapons to security and military and local authorities in the governorate of Saada otherwise they will face the same fate of Badruding Hussein al-Houthi and his father at the hands of armed forces and security troops.

The source affirmed that this is the last opportunity granted to terrorists to save their lives and submit to the authority and the law. He added those terrorists are enemies of the development and stability in the country in general and the Saada governorate in particular. The source said those terrorist elements were given many chances to benefit from the general pardon issued by President Ali Abdullah Saleh but they have raised arms against state institutions and violated the constitution, the law and order.

He said the terrorist Aidha al-Razzami is one of the main masterminds of the sedition and has many cases and damaging the national economy and harming security and stability, even before the sedition of 2004. He is one of the most dangerous elements of terror and sabotage.

News Yemen:

A security source refused to deny or confirm information that NewsYemen got that the Yemeni authorities are overseeing the visitors of Iranian embassy in Sana’a, saying that “security issues are not subject to discussions with media”.

Other sources informed NewsYemen that “the political security interrogates anyone visits the Iranian embassy. The sources said that the security investigated the writer Hanan al-Wadei for two hours by the mid of this week in addition to some students and agents of trade companies who visited the embassy.

Sources said that the embassy visitors leave the Political Security after making sure about the purpose of the visit.
Some of them told NewsYemen they have never been harmed by security officers. They said the have been asked about the cultural attaché at the embassy in particular.

These measures come in line with Yemeni charges against Iranian organizations of supporting the rebellion in Saada, north of Yemen.

AL-JAWF, YT

- Teachers striking for overdue salaries

March 20 — Primary and secondary school teachers across the governorate are striking for the third consecutive day to protest suspending their salaries for the past three months. The governorate’s branch of the Yemeni Teachers Syndicate said the strike includes all governorate schools, except those in Khalaq district where teachers received their salaries.

According to Waze’e Askar, manager of Khalaq’s Education Office, district teachers received their February and March salaries earlier this week. The teachers syndicate mentioned that it is contacting concerned parties in the governorate in order to resolve the issue.

SANA’A, March 20 — The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) said that needed increased resources to cope with refugees living in squalid conditions outside refugee camps, even though it has the second largest budget in Yemen. The annual UNHCR budget allocated for Yemen currently stands at $4.7million. Since January of this year more than 2,500 people have landed on the Yemeni coast, with at least 136 people dead and many still missing have perished on the perilous journey from the Horn of Africa.

The announcement was made during a press conference held on Monday by the UNHCR’s Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, Ms. Erika Feller. “I found it very distressing that refugees are not living in refugee camps but in squalid conditions such as those in the Al-Basateen suburb of Aden,” Feller said. She added that it was important to help these people become self sufficient and provide a decent and humane environment. However, financing such initiatives remains a problem. “The resources for refugees in Yemen are insufficient. The UNHCR needs to enter into further discussions with our donor countries as we are very dependent on donors,” she noted. (Read on …)

They have mobile clinics already set up and offered assistance to the regime in providing medical care to those who need it in Saada.

YO: The battles between the government and armed al-Houthi rebels in the north has disrupted more than 20 percent of the activities of basic health services projects funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in the governorate of Sa’ada.

Hammouda Hanafi, the manager of the project, said that the ongoing hostilities in Sa’ada caused disruption in the technical aspect and training activities of the project in Sa’ada last year, and in the beginning of this year, which is estimated to cost approximately $1 million in the Sa’ada governorate. Hanafi offered the Yemeni government the possibility of assisting it to provide quick relief and medical and health services to those affected by this war.

Hanafi’s project has allocated about $5 million dollars for work in five governorates. “It will operate $1 million in every area during one year from the life of the project, which will continue for three years,” he said. “All planned projects in these governorates during 2006 were implemented fully and had a success rate of 100 percent in all governorates except Sa’ada, which the current events disrupted,” he said. The project works in the governorates of Amran, Mareb, Jawf, Shabwa, and Sa’ada.

It has been operating since March 2005, and will continue for a period of three years at a total cost estimated at $15 million dollars. It is financed by USAID. “The keeping of safety and security of the United States is one of the most basic criteria for the selection of these five governorates, because they are the most impoverished governorates in Yemen,” Hanafi said. “These provinces represent a fertile environment for feeding terrorist organizations, in addition to the fact that these provinces did not intervene in any bodies or other international projects in Yemen.” The project’s basic health services has two main goals.

The first is to assist the building and furnishing of health centers, and the conversion of existing health centers to rural hospitals, according to the state public pla. It will provide basic services to the population, giving special attention to maternity and childhood, insurance, and the emergency departments to provide the services of health and safe childbirth. The second goal is to find and train qualified health personnel to provide basic services for the mother and child, especially to provide midwives in rural communities, through the training of women in the same areas.

The project works in order to reach disadvantaged areas through mobile clinics in large vehicles equipped with all the basic medical devices. In every vehicle, there will be a doctor, midwife, and a health educator, passing through all regions of the governorate once every month.

“The service of mobile clinics is an exclusive idea of the project,” said Hanafi. “It has achieved good success and led to the desire for similar projects funded by others bodies to help the Ministry of Health, which has encouraged the extension of the idea in some areas.”