Tribal tensions rising
here we go, a predictable result of tribalizing the Saada war
A group of local sheikhs and dignitaries headed by Sheikh Naji bin Abdul-Aziz al-Shaif has rejected the National Solidarity Council formed last fortnight by an equivalent tribal group of sheikhs. Sheikh al-Shaif, head of the Bakeel tribe, introduced himself as the Sheikh of all Sheiks of Yemen, a title disputed by the Parliament Speaker Sheikh Abdullah al-Ahmar, who is the head of Hashid tribe. The tribes have a history of dispute and confrontation. The northern governorates of Yemen are divided between the two tribes. “We, the sheikhs, scholars and dignitaries of Yemen, declare our opposition to the so-called National Solidarity Council,” said a statement by al-Shaif and the sheikhs in his tribe.
“We stand against the council and its suspicious objectives, which aim to erupt internal disputes and conflicts within the people.” The statement, read to dozens of tribal sheikhs and media at the house of al-Shaif, accused the council founders—the sons of sheikh al-Ahmar—of only representing themselves and not the sheikhs of Yemen. “We announce that those in charge of the council do not represent the Yemeni tribes, sheikhs or any social group other than themselves and the country supporting them.”
Accusing fingers were pointed towards Libya as the sponsor of the council rejected by al-Shaif group. “All know about the practice of that country’s regime and its support of terror and chaos, as well as its interference in the internal affairs of other countries,” said the statement read by Sheikh Amin Atif. “We call upon all Yemeni people to fail all phenomena strange to the society and its traditions,” the statement says. “We urge all Yemeni national to defy all conspiracies and those who want to harm the country.”
“These people—referring to the founders of the council—exploited the resources of the country from in and outside Yemen. They created problems everywhere with the money collected deceivingly. They have monopolized what’s greater,” the statement concludes. Al-Shaif said in his speech that the meeting of the sheikhs held at his house in Sana’a is historic, and that this gathering would address several existing issues.
The National Solidarity Council was formed on July 29 in Sana’a from around 1,000 sheikhs and tribal leaders representing all tribes from Yemen, as well as some Parliament and Shoura Council members. The council was intended to unify and organize those tribes in one body. “This council is not against anyone, also it is not a political party. It is a tribal, social, national organization that aims to save the Yemeni unity and furthermore to save the security, suitability, and development in our country,” said Sheikh Hussein al-Ahmar, president of the council, at the opening of the council.
SANA’A, NewsYemen
After three days of declaring the first National Solidarity Council, headed by sheikh Abdullah bin Hussein al-Ahmar, sheikh of Hashid tribes, other sheikhs belong to Bakeel tribes have announced their intention to establish another tribal coalition, denouncing the council of al-Ahmar.
The sheikhs of Bakel tribes chose in a meeting on Monday sheikh Naji bin Abdul-Aziz al-Shaif to lead the new coalition and collected signatures against the al-Ahmar’s council.
“We, sheikhs of Bakeel tribes, support sheikh al-Shaif, sheik of Yemen’s sheikhs,” NewsYemen quoted sheikh of Nihm tribe Saleh bin Rabeed as saying.
“Those sheikhs lie to people…they do represent only a small segment and cause disputes among tribes, but we tell them who tries to assault we will break his head”, said Rabeed referring to Hashid sheikhs who formed the National Solidarity Council which was formed to fight corruption, bad situations, revenge and other phenomenon, according to the council’s statement.
The new tribal coalition’s statement has accused “foreign powers” of supporting the National Solidarity Council.
“We know those powers that financed the establishment of the council. Yemeni people and the world know those resources in general. They support terrorism, destructive gangs, sectarian conflicts in many countries of the world,” said the statement.
It has accused an Arab country, it did not name, of financing terror and intervening in other countries’ affairs.
“That country has previously supported with money and logistics known parties in Yemen to practice illegal actions and now it supports the so-called national solidarity council which received hundreds of millions from that country”, said the statement.The statement denied that the members of the national solidarity council represent Yemeni tribes or tribes sheikhs or any segment of the country. It said they represent only them selves and the foreign power which funds them and encourages them to create problems.
The statement called Yemeni tribes, clerics, intellectuals, social segments, political powers to fight such “foreign phenomena and treasons against social peace”.
No one from the national council commented on the new coalition’s statement.
Al-Ahmar said while setting up the council that the council came at a time the state is absent and political parties are weak to tackle deterioration in all walks of life, political, economic, social and cultural.
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Al-Ahmar denies “Solidarity” relation with Libya
Almotamar.net – Hussein Bin Abdullah al-Ahmar denied Sunday a relationship between the Solidarity Council which he chairs with the regime. He confirmed in a press conference held in Sana’a today non-subservience of the Council to any party inside or outside Yemen.
Al-Ahmar has also expressed his pride of the relation with the kingdom of Saudi Arabia of which he said it is the most supportive country to Yemen.
On some sheikhs disowning relationship with the tribal Solidarity Council, the secretary general of the Council sheikh Mohammed Hassan Dammaj clarified the published names after the first conference in late of last July as not issued by the Council and the purpose of that was for deformation.
A large meeting was held last Monday convening a number of Yemeni sheikhs in the house of Sheikh Naji Al-Shaief, chieftain of Bakeel sheikhs in Sana’a. The meeting, which also included scholars and intellectuals, declared its disowning of the Solidarity Council and accused it of receiving outside financing and aiming at instigating conflict among the sons of the one homeland.
The National Solidarity Council, a group of 763 sheikhs and other leaders who got together to create unity among tribes, would not be necessary if not for the failures of the government and the weakness of the opposition, said Sheikh Hussien Abdullah al-Ahmar, chairman of the NSC, in a press conference held Sunday at Haddah Hotel. However, the council plans to cooperate fully with the state, and is not against opposition, al-Ahmar said. The conference was the second meeting of the NSC. The first was held July 29. “The council came from the womb of suffering of the Yemenis under a declining situation,” said al-Ahmar in a speech at the conference.
“The decline includes all facets of life, as a result of wrong policies that reached the country to this miserable situation. “We consider this council to be a qualitative addition as a civil society organization, and are looking forward to being a contributor in alleviating the suffering of our people and the council doesn’t belong to anybody inside or outside Yemen,” said al-Ahmar. He said that the council looks forward to the participation of all Yemenis-men and women. Last week, a group of local sheikhs and dignitaries headed by Sheikh Naji bin Abdul-Aziz al-Shaif rejected the National Solidarity Council. Sheikh al-Shaif, head of the Bakeel tribe, introduced himself as the Sheikh of all Sheiks of Yemen, a title disputed by the Parliament Speaker Sheikh Abdullah al-Ahmar, who is the head of Hashid tribe.
The tribes have a history of dispute and confrontation. The northern governorates of Yemen are divided between the two tribes. “We, the sheikhs, scholars and dignitaries of Yemen, declare our opposition to the so-called National Solidarity Council,” said a statement by al-Shaif and the sheikhs in his tribe.
They accused the NSC of aiming to erupt internal disputes and conflicts within the people and say that the council founders—the sons of sheikh al-Ahmar—of only representing themselves and not the sheikhs of Yemen. They announced in their conference held August 12, that those in charge of the council do not represent the Yemeni tribes, sheikhs or any social group other than themselves.
Al-Ahmar refereed to the gathering of sheikhs led by Sheikh al-Shaif as a move supported by some other group that he didn’t name, saying that they are working persistently to divide political forces and tribes in Yemen. “This gathering was aimed to kill any balance of powers in Yemen and cause a rift among tribes in Yemen,” said al-Ahmar. He said that he won’t respond to the sheikh’s complaints, as he does not want to increase the rift between Yemeni tribes.
A man present asked whether the NSC would turn into a party, since members of its leadership come from all across the political spectrum in Yemen. He also asked where this council stands on the government and the JMP. Representatives from the council said that the NSC is not with neither of them. “We were hoping from all parties, civil society organizations to play the role that they were supposed to play, not to exchange blames,” said Mohammed Abdullah al-Qadhi, chairman of the Shura Council of the NSC.
The variety of council members from different parties is a positive trait of this council, to make use of the essence of experience of all the elite of parties, including the Ruling Party, Nasserite, Socialists, and Islah parties, said al-Qadhi. The council was established because of the tardiness of the government, said Sheikh Awadh Mohammed bin al-Wazir al-Awlaqi, vice-chairman of the council. “If the government were doing its job, there will be no need for this council,” he said.
“ We are going to be an aide for the government, if it uses us in good lead and will also be to aide the opposition to pressure the government to straighten things up.”
The parties are too saddled with their own baggage to be effective, said some sheikhs. “The problem with parties in Yemen is not their program and literature—the illness is in their performance,” said Sheikh Ali Abdrabu al-Awadi, head of the Monitoring Committee in the council. “All parties should unite their word, their effect will be stronger and more positive as we will be with the right thing, justice, development.” Al-Awadi then called on the ruling party to wake up and take the hands of all those who are working for the welfare of the country.
Yemen needs no single custodian, said al-Awadi. As to the legality of the council, and whether it is considered an armed council, and whether it is funded from outside Yemen, Libya in particular, NCS is not doing anything that is against the constitution, said al-Ahmar. “The council is only funded by its men, me personally, and other members, and it will belong to no one inside or outside,” said al-Ahamr. Al-Ahmar said that the council will not engage itself in disputes with anyone.
The council is open to all classes and factions of society, he said. He asked journalists to be fair and to create a bridge and channel for communication, via the press office of the council. With regard to his relationship with President of the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Muammar al-Gaddafi, al-Ahmar said that this relationship is sponsored by the president himself, and is for the interest of Yemen and benefits Yemen with 200 megawatts of electricity. In the same context, he describes his relations with Saudi Arabia as good, and said that the council has no fellowship with it.
