Armies of Liberation

Sana’a, NewsYemen

The two-day conference of Exploring Investment Opportunities in Yemen came to conclusion on Monday without practical steps, but some promises and more requests from Yemen to make its investment environment more healthy through more reforms.

The final statement of the conference focused on “the importance of developing the financial sector in Yemen”. More than 20 participants, in different sessions with prime minister and finance minister, asked the government to quickly achieve “the stock market” project.

The statement did not identify specific projects to be implemented, but said that the participants listened to 100 investment opportunities offered by the government in different sectors.

The official media outlets which published the final statement of the conference talked only about “intentions” of some investors to invest in Yemen. Although the statement welcomed the Yemeni government’s pledge “to provide more suitable environment for investments and to melt all difficulties that face investors”, it
talked only about an investment agreement in Aden Free Zone and a number of agreements in field of mining and local transportation.

Deputy prime minister for economic affairs, minister of planning and international cooperation, Abdul-Karim al-Arhabi, announced the intention of the government “to annually hold a conference on investment”. “You will find in the coming conference to what extent the government is earnest to fulfill its promises of providing
facilities and making reforms,” said al-Arhabi.

The greatest result we could get in this conference is that the robust attendance of investors to check out investment opportunities in Yemen. “We have almost 500 participants from the Gulf states whose attendance reflects their interest to invest in
Yemen,” said al-Arhabi. “This is a very important message to us implies that our brothers in the Gulf are interested to merge Yemen in Gulf economies.”

The real challenge comes after the conference as we have to reach understanding between the government and investors from Gulf states on one hand and between the Gulf investors and local investors,” said al-Arhabi.

The final statement mentioned the pledges of president Ali Abdullah Saleh to prevent officials interference in investors affairs, to apply the system of “Single Room” to deal with investors and to review relevant legislations to be more expedient for investors.

A number of Yemeni and Gulf businessmen told NewsYemen their companies “will study the investment opportunities offered according to the needs and benefits. The conference is the second event organized by the Yemeni government in cooperation with the Gulf Cooperation Council after the Donors Conference held in London last
November focusing on Yemen’s needs of reforms and financial aids.

The GCC’s secretary-general Abdul-Rahman al-Attiya said in an interview with the official Al-Thawra daily that the economies of Gulf states depend upon competition and free economy system that depends on open the door for local and foreign private sector to play a key role in development. He said that Yemen and Gulf states
could move from traditional frames to modern ones and they should go ahead to “correct the past and build promising future.”

Chairman of the General Authority for Investment, Salah al-Attar said the authority will call for a meeting next week, to be headed by prime minister, to discuss measures to apply the system of “Single Room”.

70% of Yemeni women are beaten by their husbands or fathers, is that what this article says?

SANA’A, April 29 — Yemeni women are subjected to repeated abuses and violence, according to a survey conducted by Yemen Female Media Forum over the first three months of 2007 in 18 governorates. The survey results were discussed at a symposium Sunday in the presence of women leaders and activists from different civil community organizations.

The survey revealed that 31 percent of those interviewed (165 cases) complained that illiterate women are subjected to abuse more than other groups, followed by high school leavers from the viewpoints of 20.5 percent of the sample. 14.8 percent of the informants noted that girls enrolled in primary schools suffer human right abuses and violence mostly by their own families and male relatives. The post graduate students registered the lowest cases suffering abuse and violence while there is no even a single abuse case among women holding Ph.D. degrees.

The poll disclosed that women living in rural areas have no access to healthcare and most of them deliver at home unattended due to the lack of medical staff in their areas, coupled with the indifference and poor living standards of their husbands. While those living in cities, the survey clarified, enjoy good access to healthcare but don’t escape abuse and violence.

The survey showed the type of disabilities among women, which are symptomatic of abuse, violence and mistreatment. Such disabilities include speaking and hearing impairments, limp, fracture of arms and mental disorders. Based on the survey’s results, women are denied the right to work after marriage, particularly in rural and remote areas where there is no enough awareness about human rights and equality.

More than 87 percent of those surveyed said that families are responsible for abuse and violence against women, as 191 of the registered cases, accounting for 35.9 percent of the total sample, complained that they are abused by their husbands while 186 of the registered cases (34.9) told that they are mistreated by their fathers.

Non-family abusers are responsible for 62 abuse cases (11.6 percent), the survey indicated, adding that all the mistreatment and violations are committed at work by employers or bosses. 11 cases (2.1 percent) were committed by unknown abusers. The authorities including the ruling party, police, and prosecution have a hand in women’s mistreatment and sufferings. The survey listed psychological problems, economic, and social deterioration, physical injuries and home eviction as some of consequences associating with violence and mistreatment.

According to women, who complain of abuse and violence, the community culture, poor awareness about women’s role and disrespect for women’s status are some of the reasons behind the increased numbers of abuse cases. Other causes of violence and mistreatment include the absence of legal institutions as well as alcohol and drug abuses.

More at the YO:
(Read on …)

A military commander is recruiting extreme Salafis from Ibb, Dhamar and Taiz to fight in the war.

SA’ADA, April 29 – A tribal source mentioned that fierce confrontations are escalating between Yemeni government forces and Houthi followers in Sa’ada, located some 245 km. north of Sana’a, leaving hundreds killed or injured daily.

It added that the governorate’s hospitals no longer are capable of holding the increasing number of victims among soldiers and their supporters from Sulfis and tribal fighters, while Houthis receive no medical attention. The sources questioned the role of Doctors without Borders and the Red Cross organization, which are absent from scene, as well as the weak role of the Yemeni Red Crescent organization in Sa’ada.

Sources also mentioned that Yemeni army forces supported by helicopters and fighters still are attacking areas where Houthis exist, especially Dhahian city, which has been the scene of the fieriest and longest clashes between the two sides since the war began. The Yemeni army also is attempting to seize Bani Mu’ath district’s Fakawah Shi’eb, where Houthis have their largest camp.

Helicopters are bombarding Razih district north of Sa’ada, particularly as Houthis are centered in the district’s government buildings in Al-Qal’ah area. Army forces continue their attacks on Houthis on Burkan Mountain.

Sources also revealed that Yemeni army forces withdrew to Al-Dhai’ah area due to strong resistance by Houthis, as well as to enable armed helicopters and mortars to secure the way leading to Razih, which Houthis had occupied by the start of this week.

Further, Al-Talh, Al-Saifi and several areas near Magz witnessed violent battles late Saturday evening and Sunday morning; however, neither side’s losses have been identified.

“Sahar’s Al-Sanarah and Al-Ablah Mountains also witnessed similar clashes, as large numbers of Houthi loyalist were seen last Saturday in mountains near Al-Ablah Mountain, so army forces bombarded the mountain last Friday with mortars and Katyusha missiles,” a source reported.

Confrontations between both warring sides are ongoing in Bani Mu’ath, killing and injuring large numbers of fighters. Moreover, a helicopter waged an air raid on Houthis centered on Sabr Mountain.

(Read on …)

Updated: quarter of a billion in financial support

AM: The president said the total American annual assistance to Yemen is to amount to $254 million and it will have positive reflections with regard to consolidating the partnership and cooperation relations existing between the two countries at various political, economic security levels as well as efforts of fighting terror.”

On his return to Sana’a on Thursday wrapping up a successful state visit to the United States of America the president added ” We are satisfied regarding results of the talks we held in Washington and president Bush and American officials confirmed in our discussions with them their commitment to stand by Yemen and support it in its efforts exerted in areas of democracy, development, reforms and fighting terror and it was agreed to offer a sum of $35 million from the Challenge of the Millennium Fund at the threshold stage to be raised to $100 million annually in addition to an amount of $59 million to support the military and security establishment in addition to other assistance.”

26S : In this regard, President Saleh said that the Millennium Challenge Corporation agreed to grant Yemen USD 94 million, $35 million to civil sector and $59 million to support the security and military sector in Yemen,” said president Saleh in a statement to Saba upon arrival.

Sana’a, NewsYemen

The charge d’ affairs of US embassy in Sana’a said that the invitation of president George W. Bush to president Saleh aims to “offer appreciation for achievements and changes that reinstated the eligibility of Yemen to participate in the Millennium Challenge Corporation and to encourage Yemen to go ahead in this direction”.

Nabil Khori said Saleh will discuss changes in Yemen with several US officials in Washington including the House speaker Nancy Pelosi and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

(Read on …)

The prisoner poured hot water on his own hands? What a total load of garbage.

SANA’A, April 28 — On Saturday, the Specialized Penal Prosecution referred Shaif Al-Haimi’s case to the Sana’a Penal Court to try him on charges of theft and practicing vice, the Ministry of Defense web site has reported.

The decision was made after an official National Security source refuted Al-Haimi’s statements that police tortured and beat him.

The source said Al-Haimi and his colleague Ahmed Al-Sairafi were arrested on charges of forming “a dangerous gang” practicing robbery, vice and impersonating officers from National Security and the Criminal Investigation Bureau.

“Al-Haimi’s claims that he was tortured while being investigated at National Security reflect his abnormal and depraved behavior,” the source said, adding that the National Security apparatus has the right to sue him.

According to the source, Al-Haimi and Al-Sairafi stormed into a capital city apartment on Nov. 2, 2006, claiming to be National Security officers, and confiscated property. Security authorities arrested Al-Haimi, who Penal Prosecution sent to National Security for investigation. There, his friend Al- Sairafi confessed to the crimes they committed together.

The national security officer further noted that because Al-Haimi began shouting and kicking doors, the officer in charge of detention shackled his hands. “Al-Haimi injured his hands intentionally and poured hot water on his own body in order to cause burns,” he reported.

At a symposium organized last Monday by human rights groups and civil society organizations, Al-Haimi disclosed his ordeal during his month-long detainment at National Security, being accused of stealing a police officer’s mobile phone.

Al-Haimi alleged that seven National Security police officers arrested him at midnight and led him blindfolded to detention on charges of stealing a mobile phone belonging to one of them.

“As I cried out in pain, investigators increasingly beat me. When I cried out with thirst, they doused me with cold water, forcing me to be silent. While I was crying in pain, they brought a bottle full of urine and forced me to drink it and then pour some on my head. They even put a bar of soap in my mouth and tied it. Many times, they put a shoe into my mouth while beating me with thick military shoes, which made me go deaf in my left ear,” Al-Haimi recounted to the group last Monday.

The YO has more.

National Security denies torture charge.

YT

SANA’A, April 29 — On Saturday, the Press and Printing Prosecution adjourned the investigation of a case the Ministry of Defense brought against the Yemeni Socialist Party-affiliated Al-Thawri newspaper for publishing an article and photographs dealing with the Sa’ada conflict.

The Defense Ministry claimed the photos were fabricated and from the Iraqi war, not Sa’ada. It also criticized journalist Abed Al-Mahthari’s article entitled, “Ezrail’s (the Death Angel) Kingdom,” accusing him of seeking to disturb public order.

Because Al-Thawri Editor-in-Chief Abu Bakr Abdulraziq Badheeb didn’t attend the session, prosecution only investigated Al-Mahthari and then adjourned until May 5. In its lawsuit, the Defense Ministry requested arresting Al-Mahthari and Badheeb and referring them to the appropriate court, in addition to halting the newspaper’s publication.

Al-Mahthari assured that the accusations against him are baseless, noting that the lawsuit simply is the military institution’s attempt to suppress press freedom. The charges come within the framework of an authority-imposed media blackout concerning the more than three month long escalating Sa’ada war, wherein inhumane crimes are on the increase.

Also editor-in-chief of Al-Diyyar newspaper, which the Ministry of Information withdrew from the market months ago, Al-Mahthari was sentenced on March 11 to a year in prison for his opinions.

More

SANA’A, April 21 (Saba)- A source in the Defense Ministry said on Friday a report published by al-Thawry newspaper and its news
website over massive graves endangered by army forces in Saada governorate is totally baseless and the picture published was taken in Iraq not in Saada.

The aim of publishing such reports and pictures was to destroy reality of the situation in Saada and damage reputation of Yemeni
security and military forces, the source said.

The source also denied report published by Al-Thawry, a paper of Yemen Socialist Party, over taking control of a republican palace in Saada city by terrorist elements.

He said that the ministry would sew the newspaper and its website as they publish fake reports which target reputation of the nation and moral of the journalism.

AS: April 28, 2007- The Yemeni Journalist Syndicate ruled out that it has any relation with what is labeled new project for the Yemeni press laws which are preparing by the Information and Rehabilitation Center for Human Rights.

The deputy of the syndicate, Saeed Thabet , affirmed that the syndicate has no relations with that project and didn’t dispatch any member to represent the syndicate in that project .

He depicted the new project prepared by IRCHR as very terrible and a backward step, emphasizing at the same time that the so-called project does not reach the minimum level requirements.

It is worth reclaiming that IRCHR are preparing a press law project and planning to offer it for the international bodies.

YO

The receipts of the country have decreased in the first quarter of this year, 2007, by 13 percent. This represents a net loss of YR 256.251 billion compared to last year which amounted to YR 304.855 billion according to an official report issued by the Ministry of Finance.
The report mentioned that the decrease was caused by the drop in the price of crude oil. The proceeds from oil exports decreased during the period from January to March, to YR 194.583 billion, compared to the figures for the same period last year, which amounted to YR 246.310 billion. This is a decrease of 21 percent.

An official report showed that crude oil receipts decreased to YR 107.335 billion. Crude oil, which was sold locally, decreased YR 12.924 billion to YR 82.452 billion, representing a reduction of 14 percent. Locally sold natural gas decreased by 44 percent, or YR 1.354 billion to a total of YR 4.418 billion. The report showed that non-oil receipts rose to 70.712 billion compared to last year which amounted to 58.545 billion. During the first quarter of the current year, tax proceeds increased to 54.15 billion from 46.559 billion, a growth rate of 16percent. Customs proceeds also increased last January/March, to 8.691 billion from 7.422 billion, a growth rate of 17percent.

“The revenues from oil represent 72 percent of the country’s total income,” said Taha al-Fosiel, an economics professor at Sana’a University. “The country’s revenues have decreased. This could be the result of a reduction in the quantity of oil exports or a drop in prices worldwide. The fact is, global prices of oil witnessed a decrease during the first quarter of this year.” “There are three causes of decrease in revenues,” said Professor Abdul-Razaq al-Marani, Deputy Chairman of the Customs Authority.

“First, the Yemeni government decreased the customs duties on the majority of things according to World Trade Organization conditions two years ago. Secondly, many of our own goods lowered their associated fees by as much as 48 percent, according to the agreements of the Greater Arab Trade Area. And last but not least, the investment law lowers customs duties on raw materials and goods by 50 percent.”

Scoop

Monday, 30 April 2007, 9:30 am
Press Release: United Nations
UN Launches Leadership Capacity Scheme For World’s Poorest Countries
New York, Apr 27 2007 7:00PM

The United Nations has launched a programme to develop the national leadership capacity in the world’s least developed countries (LDCs), a group of States on the lowest economic rung.

To be carried out in partnership with UN agencies, donor countries and civil society organizations, the programme aims to use methods that have proven successful in development and corporate worlds to strengthen the ability of LDCs to address core development challenges, ranging from fighting HIV/AIDS to reducing poverty.

“This is a very important initiative that will build the capacity of LDCs to address major development concerns in a sustainable manner by tapping the unique strengths of individuals, communities and organizations in those countries,” said Anwarul K. Chowdhury, the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked ῄeveloping Countries and Small Island Developing States during Wednesday’s launch at UN Headquarters in New York.

Mr. Chowdhury said that the programme was a timely response to the observation made during last year’s mid-term review of the Programme of Action for LDCs in Cotonou, Benin, where participants called for “support to LDCs in their efforts for leadership and capacity development with special focus on the young people and women.”

The programme will initially be implemented in nine countries – Cambodia, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, Yemen and Zambia. Mr. Chowdhury said that it will be extended to 20 more by the end of the year, with the target of covering all of the 50 LDCs in the following year.

At the launch, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Deputy Executive Director Kul Gautam observed that a large proportion of the population of LDCs is composed of young people, who could be a major resource if given the necessary opportunities, but also a reservoir for discontent if neglected.

almotamar.net - an organisation decision signed Saturday Secretary-General of the General People’s Congress GPC Abdulqader Bajammal appointed journalist Abdullah al-Hadhrami Editor-in-Chief of al-Mithaq daily organ of the GPC and journalist Abdulmalik al-Fahidi Editor-in-Chief of almotamar.net website.

Commenting on those changes the assistant Secretary-General of the GPC Sheikh Sultan al-Barakani made it clear that the changes are aimed to enhance the role of the ruling party media \t both organisation and national levels.

Almotamar.net has learnt that procedures of assuming their posts will take part on Monday.

YT: SANA’A, April 18 — The total amount of material losses due to crimes and traffic incidents in Yemen during 2006 was more than YR 6 billion, a Ministry of Defense web site reported Wednesday.

26September.net news web site quoted sources as saying that the volume of crimes and criminal incidents registered during 2006 resulted in losses of nearly YR 3.39 billion, while losses due to traffic accidents stood at nearly YR 1.16 billion.

The site’s sources added that non-criminal incidents caused losses estimated at YR 509.41 million.

The Ministry of Interior registered 35,024 crimes during 2006, of which 15,645 were major crimes and 19,379 small crimes, with 1,387 people reported dead and another 11,379 injured as a result of such crimes. Non-criminal crimes were estimated at 3,024, causing 1,281 deaths and 1,397 injuries

Traffic incidents reached 13,342, with 2,816 deaths and 17,147 injuries.

An official report for 2005 revealed that 936 crimes were committed, ranging from murder to car theft to forgery.

Traffic accidents in 2005 amounted to 12,869 nationwide, compared to 12,267 accidents in 2004. Accidents in 2005 claimed 2,510 lives and critically wounded 7,030 others, compared to 2,249 deaths and 5,443 major injuries during 2004.

According to the General Traffic Department, traffic accidents in 2005 caused 7,318 minor injuries, compared to 8,174 during 2004. Additionally, more than 135,000 traffic accidents, killing 26,000 and injuring 152,000 others, have been registered during the past 15 years.

YO Suicide Increases

Since the mid 1990s, the crime rate in Yemen has been growing steadily, according to the figures provided by the Ministry of the Interior. These figures indicate that the incidence of suicide during the period between 1995 and until July 2001 totaled 1,211 cases across the country. About 120 cases of suicide took place in the first six months of 2001 by various means including using handguns, hanging self-immolation, taking poison or an overdose of medication, according to Barman.

Women accounted for 41.7 percent of those suicides, he said. Between January 1 and December 1, 2003, there were 316 reported suicides. Many officials and academics reject calling suicide in Yemen a “phenomenon.” However, they agree that harsh economic conditions here are the main causes that lead an individual to take his own life. The security officials, academics and others confirmed that the number of suicides witnessed an increase in recent years to about 1470 cases.

Statistics indicate that criminal cases and various security incidents in Yemen have witnessed a marked a 37 percent increase in the last few years, including a 16 percent increase in the number of suicides, though only 8 percent of these suicides represent women and girls. However, specialists and researchers say that the figure is likely much higher, since many cases go unreported. In January of this year, the local press reported two suicides and one failed suicide attempt in one day.

LAHJ

Villagers living in isolation

April 22 — In an event, the first of its kind, Ramzia Al-Eryani, Chairwoman of Yemeni Women Union, and a group of her colleagues, discovered villages that have never been visited nor reached by the state. The women team found a village mostly inhabited by blind and mad people, who is found to live in starvation, eat no food for many days, and sleep in the ground. The team added that nobody knows about those villagers’ condition.

YO The General Electricity Corporation has received an order to increase the electrical supply by 80 megawatts; this is in addition to an increase of 70 megawatts that was ordered previously, said Abdul-Mu’ati al-Gonid, the general director of the corporation. The order came from Minister of Electricity and Energy Mustafa Bahram, as part of a strategy to put an end to the regular electricity blackouts and to cover the annual deficit in the power supply during the summer season and during Ramadan, when people tend to use electricity all through the night.

“This will solve the problem for at least two years; by then, the second gas-powered electricity-generating station will have entered in active service, and Ma’abr station will be in service also,” al-Gonid said.
The current electrical supply does not exceed coverage for 45 percent of the population, he said. “We supply less than half of the need; and 60 percent of people get electricity through private generators,” he said.

“The amount of energy currently available is about 800 megawatts, and in the rural areas is only about 200 megawatts, so the total available is 1000 megawatts. We are working at full capacity, but there is still a deficit,” he said. “Electricity in Yemen is among the cheapest of any country. The electricity corporation sells a single unit for RY 4,” says al-Gonid. He pointed out that the corporation has more than 1.2 million customers representing homes and factories.

“The proportion of consumption is more than 60 to 70 percent of citizens, and 15 percent for the factories, excluding the cement factories,” he said. He denied that the electricity corporation is increasing its prices. “We do not increase the prices and tariffs set by the government; we implement only what they direct us to. We are a solvent business, but at this stage, our mission is essentially to provide service; we are not looking to make a profit.”

About the continuing complaints by residents from the continuous interruptions of electricity, al-Gonid admitted that the corporation was unhappy about these interruptions of electricity that are caused by a deficit in power generation; but that also, interruptions are sometimes caused by technical problems far afield, but that the company tries to resolve these problems as quickly as possible. There are several individuals and government institutions that do not or have not paid for their use of electricity, and who owe the company quite a sum of money.

“Those who do not pay today, they will pay tomorrow,” al-Gonid said. “Three months ago, President Ali Abdullah Saleh ordered the formation of a committee which, included as its chief the former Minister of Local Administration, as well as the former Minister of Finance and the Former Minister of Electricity as members,” he said. “The committee found that there is YR 300 million and YR 500 to 600 million in unpaid electricity bills from individuals and government bodies, respectively,” said al-Gonid.

“The committee made two decisions: first, the ministries and authorities that have accounts with the Ministry of Finance will have their bills deducted directly from its accounts. The second is about the authorities that do not have accounts; they must pay the money they owe immediately, or we will cut off their electricity.”

SANAA, 25 April 2007 (IRIN) - SANAA, 25 April 2007 (IRIN) - Batoul Abdul-Rahman, 85, witnessed much conflict and persecution in the many years she lived in her home country, Somalia. She fled to Yemen in 1992, seeking a better life, but has had to endure miserable conditions in the impoverished Arabian nation.

“My life has become a long wait. We are awaiting the unknown. The sea has thrown us to this place to be received by no one but misery,” she said.

Unable to move because of a medical condition, Batoul lives in one room with her daughter and nine grandchildren. The room is four meters in length and three in width. “Destiny has confined me to this room for the past three years,” Batoul said.

Batoul’s family is one of 500 ‘Benadir’ families from the southern coastal region of Somalia, including Mogadishu, of the same name who have lived in Yemen since 1992.

(Read on …)

YO:

A new agreement has been signed between the government and Chamber of Commerce and Industry to postpone implementing the new sales tax law, said Mahfoudh Shamakh the head of Sana’a Chamber of Commerce. “We agreed to pay a tax, in the amount of 8 percent; 5 percent on imports into the country, and the remainder, in the cities, according to traders’ and shopkeepers’ accounting records,” Shamakh, said.

The government postponed the tax law on traders to better prepare for dealing with the sales tax, because there were many obstacles facing the application of the tax law at this time, Shamakh said. “But when we have organized trade that is supported by clear and transparent accounting records, we will be able to apply tax law as the government wants, he said. “The industries will pay the tax according to the wholesale price only and the retailers will not pay this tax; but after we have been trained in the workings of the tax law, the traders, wholesalers and retailers will all pay the sales tax, taking the proceeds from the consumer directly,” Shamakh said.

“We will call for the creation of a special body that will work to revise all laws regarding tax policies, to ensure that we arrive at a fair tax both for the government and for the traders. In his election platform, the president called for a decrease in the income tax, from 35 percent to 15 percent; this point we agreed on too,” he said “The new government agreed with the businessmen regarding the sales tax law.

The Minister of Finance is a person who understands everything about the nature of the taxation system, which helps in reaching an agreement on the sales tax,” Shamakh said. Minister of Finance Noaman al-Suhaibi confirmed that a special body would be impanelled to revise all laws regarding tax policies, including the sales tax. This is the fourth time that work on and implementation of the sales tax has been postponed.

Local Press, al-Tajamo:

- Yemeni militants crossing to Iraq number up to 2000

The newspaper quoted unofficial reports as saying that Yemeni militants, who cross into Iraqi to fight against the Iraqi government and the occupation forces, number up to 2000. The scores added that most of the militants come from the Yemeni south province of Abyan and Miseik area, east of the capital, and they organize their trips to the war-ravaged country illegally. Official security sources mentioned that these militants use the internet in order to attract youths aged between 18 and 37 years and train them on how to fight in Iraq.

The same sources disclosed that many of those who cross to Iraq to fight the occupation forces have been registered students at the Eman University, the biggest Islamic education institutions in Yemen.

SANAA (AFP) - Yemen’s new prime minister says Sanaa will not negotiate with Shiite rebels battling government forces in the northwest of the country, accusing Libya, and “possibly” Iran, of backing the insurgents.

There can only be a military solution. Absolutely,” Ali Mohammed Mujawar told AFP in his first interview with foreign media since he was named to head the government by Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh on March 31.

The French-educated 54-year-old Mujawar is considered a technocrat and had been serving as electricity minister since February 2006.

Outlining his government’s programme to parliament on April 17, Mujawar totally ignored the bloody conflict unfolding in the northwestern province of Saada, only some 200 kilometres (125 miles) from the capital Sanaa, infuriating some lawmakers.

“There’s not a word — not a single word — about the war!,” protested independent MP Sakher al-Wajih, brandishing a copy of the programme.

“The military solution is not a solution,” he told AFP.

Mujawar’s silence was in keeping with the blackout authorities have been trying to impose on the fighting between government forces and Zaidi rebels, whose community is an offshoot of Shiite Islam dominant in northwestern Yemen but in a minority in the mainly Sunni country.

Saada is out of bounds to visitors, particularly journalists. The local press, which is closely monitored by the government, must suffice with rumours about developments in the province.

(Read on …)

SANA’A, April 23 (26sep.net)- Deputy premier and Interior Minister Rashad al-Alimi said that his ministry would set up an office and two phone lines to receive and resolve investors’ complaints according to measures prepared by the government to find a superior environment for investment.

He said that Interior Ministry would implement three plans in near future including closing weapons markets across the country according to a resolution the cabinet would approve in its meeting on Tuesday.

Al-Alimi said that the second plan would be limiting the number of bodyguards of senior officials and identifying their moves and uniforms.

“The third plan includes launching a campaign to collect heavy and medium weapons from local markets in the following six months to guarantee security and stability in the country”, said al-Alimi.

Al-Alimi noted that the ministry would supervise collecting small weapons, paying compensations and issuing licenses.

Some 650 foreign and Gulf investors attended on Sunday the conference of Exploring Investment Opportunities in Yemen organized by the Yemeni government and the secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to find investment opportunities in Yemen.

They have to re-invest the oil and gas profits into the infrastructure and education and actually clamp down on corruption. It’s not all about the investors and investment law.

Yemen vows to introduce booming Dubai model for growth
SANAA: Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh vowed yesterday to knock down obstacles to foreign investment in his country, saying he wanted to emulate the booming Gulf emirate of Dubai.

“The door of investment in Yemen is open to all investors. The state is keen on eliminating any hindrances to investors, learning from the experience of the UAE, especially Dubai,” Saleh said at the opening of a two-day conference on exploring investment opportunities in Yemen. Some 1,000 investors, half of them from Gulf Arab states and the rest from Yemen, attended the gathering organised by the Yemeni government and the secretariat of the GCC.

(Read on …)

SA’ADA, April 22 — Confrontations between the Yemeni army and Houthi loyalists in Sa’ada governorate continue, with no indication that the war will end soon. Further, more than 60,000 soldiers are amassed for a decisive battle, supported by fighter planes, tanks and other lethal weaponry, according to observers.

A tribal source mentioned, “The Yemeni army continues reinforcing its forces and equipment according to the extent of the clashes between both sides, which thus far has encompassed all of Sa’ada’s 15 districts.”

(Read on …)

Date: 04/27/2006
From: The Yemeni American Anti-terrorism center (YAATC)
To: The United Nations

Subject: persective of the (YAATC) on the international war on terror and how to dry its sources in Yemen .

Dear Honorable Mr. Ban Ki-Moon
General secretary of the United Nations.

Greetings,
We would like to thank the United Nations in the person of its former General Secretary Mr. Kofi Annan for all the relief efforts and assistance that he and his teams gave to the people of the world. This is especially true in the ease of the Republic of Yemen, where we have found real and serious action by the United Nations and other human service organizations, specifically on the problems of human trade and the problem of kidnapping and selling of Yemeni children to neighboring countries. We thank the United Nations for all the work being done to return these children safely to their parents, provide them with shelter, and to rehabilitate the psychologically, socially, educationally and health wise so that they become productive citizens. All thanks are due to the good people of the world who spend from their wealth and efforts toward achieving these noble goals.

Thanks are due to you Mr. General Secretary for all the concrete efforts that you done to serve humanity through the great role of United Nations by resolving conflicts through peaceful means; efforts to end wars, violence, terrorism and through helping the poor, children, refugees and the victims of dictatorial regimes.

Your Excellency, Mr. General Secretary….
We would like to present to you the perspective of the Yemeni American Anti-terrorism Center (YAATC) on terrorism for the following reasons:

First, we believe that these views are going to help all of us to get rid of terrorism or at the very least limit a major portion of it in Yemen for the coming years.

Second, we in the YAATC do accuse the current regime in Yemen of producing terrorism and exporting it to the world. We believe that dictatorship on one side and terrorism on the other are two faces of the same coin, they live together and die together.

Third, We in the YAATC, do believe that our views will help limit the wars that are based on the ideologies of hate, hostility, the physical elimination of the other, and the use of sacred religions to justify the killing of political opponents and civilians in general.

Fourth, the YAATC have had previously sent a letter to the United Nations on July 07, 2006 titled: The Seventh of July 1994: The day of victory for the powers extremism and terror against the forces of good and modernity in Yemen “. That letter pointed out events, facts and suggestions to the International body.

Fifth, the YAATC believes that it is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.

Dear honorable secretary…. We believe that terrorism finds in wars, bloodletting and the deliberate maintenance of poverty and ignorance its safe refuge. The Yemeni people have suffered from chronic wars, poverty, ignorance, and disease for more than fifty years and its suffering has increased in the past 30 years.

The YAATC views the dictatorial regime in Yemen as the main cause of the increase of wars, poverty, fear, ignorance, and disease in Yemen due to the mentality of the regime. The regime views itself as having a divine right to rule the land as representative of God; people count for little unless they show support to the regime. The regime sees that it is permissible to do anything to stay in power regardless of the possible results such as wars, plundering of public wealth, the formation of mafia groups and gangs that kills political opponents and kidnap children, smuggle weapons and launder money to outside the country, exporting problems to the neighbors for the purpose of extortion, running of prostitution rings (the crimes that are not in the public view are much worse). The regime tops all of that by violations of human rights.
All of these crimes and practices lead at the end to production of terrorism and its export to the outside world. As a result the world becomes less safe including our country, the United States of America (May God protect it from any harm).

Dear honorable Sir,

The best summary of the YAATC views on the war against terror is that knowing the disease will lead to the finding the cure.

Any objective analysis of the situation in Yemen and the events that Yemen went through will lead to one conclusion; that the ruling regime in Yemen is a dictatorial, racist , sectarian and oppressive regime. This regime wrestled power from the people by use of army and lead Yemen from one war to the next under flimsy excuses that has nothing to do with realities of people’s lives and their conditions. This regime has established an empire of corruption for the the corrupt in the country. As a consequence, this directly has led to the poverty, humiliation, ignorance and disease among ordinary people. Inevitably, this has led to the creation of one of focal points of terrorism. Silence for a long time in the face of such swamps of terror has led to numerous terrorist incidents; chief among them was the attack on the USS Cole in the port of Aden and culminating in the events of 9/11.

We believe that the world has to assume the responsibility of finding the cure for the disease of terrorism. The YAATC believes that pursuing the following will be part of the cure for terrorism:

1. Doing whatever it takes to compel the regime in Yemen to respect its citizens and achieve equity among them and integrating blacks and others who suffer from class differences in the Yemeni society. This way all citizens of Yemen will become equal in their rights and responsibilities regardless of color, race, sex, language, religious or political belief.

2. Doing whatever it takes to compel the regime in Yemen to distribute the national wealth among Yemenis in an equitable manner; and away from benefiting and enriching its own supporters and pillars.

3. Doing whatever it takes to compel the regime in Yemen to let freedom and democracy flourish and to stop arresting journalists and closing newspapers. The regime should let civil society organizations become more active and exercise their full power to defend human rights.

4. Doing whatever it takes to compel the regime in Yemen to arrest all terrorists including Abdulmajid Alzindani and extradite them to the US to be questioned in matters related to terrorism. Also the Eman University , which we consider as a factory for producing terrorists, should be closed. The fact that this University is attached to the camp of the First Armored Division, under the command of Brig. General Ali Mohsen Al-Ahmar [The President's brother] raises more than one question.

5. Doing whatever it takes to freeze the assets of Yemeni officials in Yemen and abroad since these assets were acquired illegally. These assets should be returned to the people of Yemen through the United Nations in well laid-out and transparent procedures. The regime also should be compelled to take corrupt officials to trial and in public.

6. Doing whatever it takes to compel the regime in Yemen to stop mixing religion with politics by encouraging Sheiks of religion to issue fatwas that legitimize the killing of political opponents. This is what happened in the last thirty years whether it is on the war of the mid-regions, the war of 1994, the occupation of the South or the current war in Saada.

7. Doing whatever it takes to compel the regime in Yemen to eliminate armed militias that are armed by the regime, which is known as the Army of Osaimat. These militias , when called by the regime, conducts killings, looting, rape and enslavement of women. These activities are done to assist the regime in its wars and in support of the official Army. The regime follows this method to instill terror and fear in the hearts of the people to insure loyalty and impose what the regime calls as legitimacy. What kind of legitimacy does this regime has that is based on killings, terror, pillage, looting and rape.

8. Doing whatever it takes to compel the regime in Yemen to put the national wealth in the service of better education, health, human services and development.

9. Doing whatever it takes to compel the regime in Yemen to respect the independence of the judiciary as an independent power. The regime should not interfere in the business of courts and obstruct justice.

10. Doing whatever it takes to compel the regime in Yemen to reveal the names of Yemeni officials who are involved the human trade scandal and arrange for their public trials.

11. Doing whatever it takes to compel the regime in Yemen to reveal the true terrorists behind the attack on the USS Cole and those behind the killings of the three American doctors in the city of Jibla as well as other terrorist operations in Yemen .

12. Doing whatever it takes to compel the regime in Yemen to control its borders and to stop facilitating the travel of Mujahedeen from and to Yemen which amounts to a policy of production and export of terrorism abroad.

Dear honorable Sir,

We hope that we have been successful in laying the truth with objectivity in front of you so that this may help you see a clearer picture of the war on terror drying its swamps in Yemen . This in turn will help the people’s of Yemen and the world move on toward a prosperous and terror-free future.

Thanks.

YAATC

SANA’A, April 24 — Shaef Al-Haimi, a citizen residing in Sana’a, disclosed his ordeal in a month’s detention at the National Security as he was accused of stealing a police officer’s cell phone.

Al-Haimi, who appeared unable to move, talked about the goings-on at the detention during a symposium organized Monday by rights groups and civil society organizations. The citizen noted police officers threatened to torture his family in case he disclosed the goings-on at the detention.

Al-Haimi said seven police officers from the National Security arrested him at midnight and led him to detention with his eyes folded on charges of stealing a mobile phone that belongs to one of them.

“As I was crying out in pain, investigators increasingly beat me up; and as I cry out with thirst, they spattered me with cold water, forcing me to keep silent. When I was crying with pain, they brought a bottle full of urine and force me to drink it, and pour some on my head. They even put a bar of soap in my mouth and tied up. For many times they [investigators] put a shoe into my mouth while beating me up with thick military shoes, which made my left ear go deaf,” Al-Hami said.

(Read on …)

almotamar.net - The specialized First Instance Penal court condemned on Saturday two persons accused of forging visas for two girls to travel from Yemen to Britain.

The court in its today sitting chaired by Judge Radwan al-Nimr approved imprisonment of defendants Abdulqader and Adel Ahmed al-Adwer for two years and obliged the first defendant to the two girls in the case a sum of $ 6 thousand.

The prosecution has charged them of forging two entry visas to Britain for two girls called Nimah al-Ammary and Rahimah Mohammed.

In another case the court decided to imprison eight persons, among them three women on charges of committing debauchery acts. The sentences were between two years, eight months and one year and ten months.

April 25, 2007 the White House nominated Shephen Seche as Amb assador to Yemen.

USCPD: Stephen Seche is a career foreign-service officer who has spent most of his 27 years with the Department of State engaged in the practice of public diplomacy. Seche was appointed to the position of Charge d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Damascus, Syria in February 2005, when the Ambassador was recalled to Washington for consultations in the wake of the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri….

Mr. Seche entered the Foreign Service in 1978 and spent the first seven years of his career in public-diplomacy positions in Guatemala, Peru and Bolivia. Other overseas assignments included four years (1989 - 1993) as Information Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa, Canada, and four years (1993 -1997) as Press Attache in New Delhi, India. Following his service in Delhi, he returned to Washington for the first of two years of Arabic language training, completing the program at the Foreign Service Institute’s Field School in Tunis.

From 1999-2002, Mr. Seche was Counselor for Public Affairs and Director of the American Cultural Center. He spent the two years between his Damascus tours as Director of the Office for Egypt and Levant Affairs at the Department of State.

Mr. Seche received his B.A. from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, and spent four years as a journalist before entering the Foreign Service. He also speaks Spanish and French.

Seche speech 2003

Related: President Bush to Welcome President Saleh of Yemeni

White House News

President Bush will welcome President Ali Abdullah Saleh of the Republic of Yemen to the White House on May 2, 2007. The President and President Saleh will discuss Yemen’s recent progress on political and economic reform and our joint efforts on the war on terrorism.

# # #

US-bound Yemen leader back in donors’ good books
Christian Chaise
AFP
April 27, 2007

SANAA — One year after coming under fire for stalling reforms, Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh is back in the good books of donor countries as he prepares to visit the White House.

A presidential election deemed “successful” and the initiation of economic reforms have earned Saleh the approval of international donors, chiefly the United States, which considers Sanaa a key ally in the war on terror.

The Yemeni leader is due to meet US President George W. Bush during a trip to Washington next week.

“We have been very positive about these events of the last year, political and economic … There has been progress, genuine improvement in the situation,” outgoing US Ambassador to Yemen Thomas C. Krajeski said. “We were surprised, pleasantly” by last September’s presidential campaign, which ended with Saleh - in power since 1978 - winning a new seven-year term.

(Read on …)

This is the 23 who admitted fighting in Iraq, not to be confused with the 19 Zaqawi cell. Their document forgery conviction remains in place upon appeal. They said in court, “President Saleh should be proud of us.. he welcomed and received the first plane carrying Mojahedeen returning from Iraq at Al-Dailami airbase in Sana’a.” I’m sure President Saleh is proud of them. Maybe he can tell Bush that when he meets him next month in DC.

almotamar.net - The specialized appeal section on Saturday the primary sentence issued against 17 persons out of 23 convicted on charges of forgery of passports, identity cards and official memorandums.

The appeal verdict stipulated confiscation of crime equipment seized with the accused ones, namely computers, printer and forged stamps.

President of the court Saeed al-Qataa said the appeal section confirms the verdict issued against the defendants, affirming that the period of imprisonment begins from the date of arresting them.

The court of first instance had in July 2006 sentenced for three years and four months in prison 17 of the accused. The appeal penal court deemed enough to imprison 2 others for three years, acquitted two others for insufficient evidence and released the other two after considering the period they have spent in prison as enough punishment.

April 22, 2007- An appellate Yemeni court specialized in the state security confirmed on Sunday the primary sentences issued against 16 out of 23 suspects accused of al-Qaeda-related charges.

The primary court had issued a ruling of 3 years and four months against them after they were pleaded guilty of forging personal documents, travel passports to Iraq and veiling escapers who were convicted of the involvement of the USS Cole exposition in the Aden Port.

It is worth reclaiming that the suspects were arrested by Syrian and extradited to Yemen while they were in their way to travel to Iraq in order to join the Iraq insurgency.

Khaleej Times

SANAA - A Yemeni appeal court upheld Sunday sentences of 40 months jail each for 19 nationals who forged documents in attempt to get to Iraq to join the insurgency there.

Two of an original 23 men charged were acquitted while the sentences of two others were commuted last July by a lower court which ordered their release.

Most of the accused were arrested in Syria before reaching Iraq, and were each sentenced to three years and four months in prison.

They were found guilty of falsifying documents to enable them to get to Iraq, possession of arms and of helping suspects of the Al Qaeda terror network to hide.

Yemen is the ancestral homeland of Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

Since the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, Sanaa has worked with Washington to clamp down on suspected Al Qaeda sympathisers.

Not promoting Sunni extremists, just giving them military training and weapons to go off and fight the jihad in Saada. I wonder what al-Hittar thinks of the state wantonly bombing its own civilians, and denying them food and medical treatment, arbitrary arrests and replacing Zaidi preachers with Salafi preachers?

YO:

The armed rebels who fighting against the government in the northern governorate of Sa’ada are people who have been deceived and their leader al-Houthi is adopting the same style as Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaeda organization, said Judge Hamoud al-Hetar in Sana’a, Thursday. Al-Hetar, who was recently appointed Minister of Endowments and Religious Guidance, also said that al-Houthi and his followers only want to achieve political and personal gains at the expense of Islam and Muslims.

“Al-Houthi exploited the vacuum thought of the youth in his area, and he tried to fill this vacuum with his own wrong-headed ideas by planting distorted conception of Islam,” al-Hetar, who conducted a failed dialogue with al-Houthis followers before the war broke out, told Yemen Observer. “And he and his followers adopted the same style of al-Qaeda in exploiting the youth and planting the wrong ideas in their minds with the aim of achieving political and personal gains at the expense of Islam and Muslims.”

Al-Hetar denied that the State was encouraging Sunni extremists against the Shiite al-Houthis as a way of making balance. “This is just a rumour that has been released from time to time for political wrangling. Yes, there may be some kind of balancing for some reasons, but this absolutely does not mean that the State is pitting one sect against another,” he said. When the war broke out earlier this year, the State promoted fatwas, or religious decrees, saying it was religious obligation and jihad to fight against the al-Houthi followers.

Although the official said that what is happening now in Sa’ada now is not a sectarian war, he defended the promotion of fatwas against the rebels. “It is an armed rebellion and a breaking of the law and a violation of the constitution, yes, but certainly there are texts in Quran and Sunna which support the legitimacy [of the regime] like all modern constitutions and laws, which ban the overthrow of the government. Furthermore, overthrowing the existing regime by force is banned by all laws human and divine,” he said.

The State is not against any particular Islamic sect; but it is against those who break the law and use violence against the State, he said. It’s been three months now since the war between the armed al-Houthi rebels and the government troops began, and in that time, hundreds of Yemenis have been killed. Despite the failure of previous attempts, the official said he would try to establish dialogue with the al-Houthis once the war comes to an end. “Use of force alone will not be enough to solve the Sa’ada problem; there should be dialogue for solving the problems thoughtfully. The Sa’ada problem started by thoughts, and it should be treated by thoughts,” he said.
Copyright 2002 - 2006 Yemen Observer

I thought it was the Yemeni Ba’ath party that Libya was funding.

Islah? Now it’s Islah supporting the Houthis? Errrr, no. This is the ruling party’s website so….

almotamar.net agencies - Arab and world news agencies, newspapers and electronic websites disclosed recently those Yemeni poetical parties have received more than $ 6 million in financial support from external sides that were indicated of their involvement in supporting terrorist acts in Saada governorate.

According to the American news agency the Libyan leader Muamar Gaddafi offered support to two major parties of the Yemeni opposition parties in Yemen amounting to about $ 6 million. It added that the Libyan support included the parties of Yemen Congregation for Reform (Islah) and the Nasserite Unionist, $ 6 million to the Islah party and $ 250 thousand to the Nasserite Unionist Orgaisation, pointing out that the latter receives Libyan sort for long time.

Akhbar Libya newspaper that published the news in its internet website under the title | Gaddafi supports Islah and the Nasserite with more than 6 million dollars” mentioned that the leader began from Yemen implementing his declared promise of adopting nationalist and Islamic movements in the Arab world.

Related: Khaddafi, the same guy who wants to create Israerastein, advocates for a North African Imamate; via Memri. I think people just lose their minds after 20 years in power.

SANA’A, April 18 — An armed gang attacked last Sunday a group of military police who were guarding a plot of land in Asr to the west of Sana’a, killing three of them and injuring another.

Media source mentioned that 40 armed men wearing civilian clothes and affiliated with an officer in the Republican Guard in Taiz Branch named Abdullatif Al-Dhanin, a son of Brig. Saleh Al-Dhanin, the Commander of South Military Area, are responsible for the incident.

The source added that Al-Dhanin was accompanied by some armed men when they attacked the soldiers guarding the land, which belongs to an UAE investor of Yemeni origin. They clashed with soldiers causing three to die and another one critically injured. </