Armies of Liberation

A Report Concerning a Threat to WJWC Chairwoman HOOD groups for lawful help declare their solidarity with Tawakul Karaman
Wednesday 7112007 HOOD online
Saturday 24 November 2007 / hoodonline.org

Women Journalists Without Chains Organization strongly condemned the uninterrupted death threatens its Chairwoman, Tawakul Abdulsalam Karaman, has been subjected to for more than a year through calls and phone messages. The last one was a message she received in 1112007 from the calling number (734606844)in which she was accused of attacking the national unity when she participated in Al-Dhal’e and Radfan festivals. She was threatened of death herself and her family , and she was ordered to stay at home for her and her family well-being .What more is that, she received tens of filthy messages repeating the offenses and slanders on herself said by the security journals,Al-Dastor and Al-Belad newspapers , and repeatedly said in phone calls from high leaderships charging her of being biased to Hammed Al-Ahmer.

WJWC organization highly appreciates the efforts its Chairwoman offering in defending human rights and freedoms, as well as prompting women to participate in the political field .And from here, it considers the threats that she has been exposed to is a great flagrant violation on the freedom of opinion and expression which is one of the totality of the degrading violations exposed to journalists in Yemen.

Being subject to several threats of death to its chairwoman as well as its journalists and other activists for rights, WJWC assures that this is an attempt to restrict and discard the work and participation of political women under the patronage of a government calls for and supports women rights and the access for them.

WJWC calls upon the authorities in charge to rapidly investigate the resources of these threats ,and carries all the responsibility to the president to protect its chairwoman and her family, and calls upon all the political parties and organizations in and outside the country to unite in solidarity with her.

HOOD groups for lawful help declare their solidarity with Tawakul Karaman and carry all the responsibility to the government to protect her and her family

Saturday 10112007, HOOD ONLINE

In a report issued from HOOD groups for lawful help in(Taiz,Hadramout,Al-Hodiedah,Al-Dhale’,Ibb,Raima,Al-Dal’a)while they were in Sana’a this week, they condemned the death threats for herself and her children and the harassment of offenses and slanders by SMS from the calling number(734606844) . Moreover, they carry Karaman’s safety to the responsibility of the government and its systems. In addition, a number of the male and female activists declare their solidarity with her as it is mentioned in the following report.

The report text:

HOOD groups for lawful help in the governorates stand against what the activists of rights, WJWC chairwoman, Mrs.Tawakul Abdulsalam Karaman has been subjected to of threats of death her children and offenses by SMS messages to prevent her from practicing her struggling role against tyranny and corruption . We strongly denounce such no responsible behaviors and declare our solidarity with her and carry Karaman’s safity to the responsibility of the government and its systems, and call upon the national and international organizations to stand by her.

Issued by Hood groups for Lawful help, Dhamar

7112007.

The supporters:

The journalist: Nemat Issa Abdu-Aden

The lawyer: Haeel Al-Helaly-Taiz

The journalist: Belal Sa’d Al-Rabyah-Al-Dhal’a

The lawyer: Somia Hussien Al-Khawlany

The lawyer: Anmar Ali Mansour-Aden

The journalist:Defa’a Saleh Naji –Aden

The lawyer: Linda Mohammed –Aden

The journalist: Nesreen Shadad-the Metropolis

Mr.Fua’d Hussan Abdu Al-Qader Al-Hameri- the Metropolis

The journalist:Abdurageeb Al –Hethiani- Al-Dhal’a

The lawyer: Kefaya Shamsan Al-Ma’mari-Taiz

For those who want to unite in solidarity with Tawakul Karaman send hisher solidarity to HOOD e-mail info@hoodonline

Or Fax No. 00967 1 2125212

Noteworthy , the activists Karaman has received a number of threats and cautions due to her civil activity . The last one she has received was last week from SMS message and call number (734606844) in which she was threatened of her children.

They wrote an article documenting 9000 Salifi Hashid tribesmen fighting in Saada, some were killed by friendly fire. And members of the Abyan-Aden Islamic Army training those fighters. Doesn’t the regime realize that by over-reacting like this, they are giving credibility to the allegations?

Yemen Times

SANA’A, Nov. 25 — Editor-in-Chief of Al-Share’ Weekly Nayef Hassan, the paper’s managing editor Nabeel Subei and Mahmoud Taha, a reporter, appeared on Saturday before Chief Judge of the State Security Penal Court Ridhwan Al-Namer at the first hearing for a lawsuit filed against the newspaper by the Defense Ministry.

At the hearing, the press members demanded that the court adjourn the hearing so that they can appoint a lawyer to defend them. The judge then accepted their request and adjourned the trial until December 8.

The three journalists were summoned last Wednesday to appear before the court after the prosecution investigated them regarding the lawsuit by the Defense Ministry against them for publishing a story about voluntary fighters who support the army in the Sa’ada fighting. The indictment demanded that the three pressmen be executed under new legal provisions.

Referring Al-Share’ Weekly to State Security Court provoked protests at domestic and international levels because the court specializes in terrorism and not in publication or press issues. (Read on …)

This is a good article on an area lacking documentation: YT

Political activities at Sana’a University affect student performance. As a result, fighting has broken out among students many times, including reported shooting incidents. A report by Amel Al-Ariqi, Fatima Al-Ajel and Al-Miqdad Mojalli.

Political Security arrested Amin Al-Faqih in 2003 for conducting political activities at Sana’a University.

At that time, Al-Faqih was head of the General Union of Yemeni Students, known as GUYS, while being a level four student in the university’s Faculty of Languages. He also belonged to Islah, Yemen’s largest opposition political party. (Read on …)

Yemen Times

Most Yemeni women don’t know the negative medical effects of chewing qat, especially for pregnant women who chew qat, where both mother and child face health problems. Numerous studies and campaigns call upon Yemeni society, especially women, to reduce the increasing phenomenon of female qat chewers. (Read on …)

Some people now look with nostalgia on the days of British occupation. Things were very orderly.

Scotsman:

BRITISH veterans of a vicious colonial war have condemned the Government for ignoring their sacrifice as the 40th anniversary of the end of the conflict approaches.

As many as 200 British troops died in the ‘Aden Emergency’ but the Government has not organised any official events to mark the withdrawal of UK forces on November 27, 1967. (Read on …)

Usually its the 500 riyal Saudi note:

Aden security seizes drugs, counterfeiters:

Nov. 24 – Yemeni security apparatuses in Aden arrested several suspects involved in trafficking and distributing drugs and counterfeit money from different countries.

Aden security director Abdullah A. Qirat reported that security forces arrested suspects carrying 55.1 grams of hashish. Additionally, the suspects were trafficking and distributing drugs and hashish substances.

Security forces further arrested a group of foreigners possessing counterfeit money from countries including the United States and Saudi Arabia. The source did not identify the foreigners’ nationalities. Qirat confirmed that all suspects and their possessions have been referred to the appropriate prosecution to be tried judicially.

Squabbling ministries again. Where are they now, the 2 million dollar device and the bank guarentee? (Earlier posting here.) The Energy Minister sent soldiers to block the nuclear medicine team from entering the premises. The Atomic Energy department refused to stamp the paper. Its quite a multifaceted device.

SANA’A, Nov. 24 — In an illegal action, the director of the National Center for Cancer Swellings confiscated the bank guarantee of the company which implemented a project to set up a linear accelerator to treat cancerous tumors. The device, valued at $2.660, was confiscated under the pretext that the time limit given for setting up the plant had expired. The device was supposed to be set up last September, according to the contract signed by the center and Al-Masiyah Company for Trading and Information Technology.

Previously, Dr. Nadeem Mohammed Sa’eed, director of the National Center for Cancer Swellings, who is also in charge of the National Committee for Atomic Energy headed by Minister of Electricity and Power, Mustafa Bahran, accused Bahran of hindering the plant and sending soldiers belonging to the committee to the center to prevent the company’s engineers from entering the plant site. He also confirmed that Al-Masiyah committed to abide by the contract agreed upon, and in case the company takes the matter to court, it will win the case and be compensated.

Mohammed Ateeq, manager for Al-Masiyah, considered the confiscation of the bank guarantee illegal, because the time limit for the plant is nine months from the date of receiving the work site, not from the date of signing the contract, as stipulated in the eighth clause of the contract signed with the Center. The Center refused to give the site to the company, hindering it until the date of submission expired. The National Committee for Atomic Energy also refused to stamp the documents and proposed amendments to the room designed for the linear accelerator, submitted to the company in mid-March. He further affirmed that the company resorted to a lawsuit in an attempt to seek justice and compensation for the company’s losses.

Ateeq also noted that the company committed itself to abide by all the articles written in the contract according to the ministers’ council resolution No. 262 of 2006. But the National Center for Cancer Swellings and the National Committee for Atomic Energy were in dispute with each other, resulting in hindering the plant and implementing it in the determined period.

Well this is reassuring, kinda: EPA: One of the benefits of accelerators is that, unlike radioactive sources, they only produce radiation when they are operated. However, radioactive waste is produced during their operation. This waste is generally short-lived; decaying in less than one year and may be stored at laboratories or production facilities until it is no longer radioactive. An extremely small fraction of the waste can remain radioactive for more than one year.

Yemen Observer:

IBB – The Yemeni Teachers Syndicate in Ibb organized a huge sit-in demanding the implementation of the wages codes on Wednesday, November 21st. Protestors, from across the province gathered in front of the governorate building.

The sit-in lasted about two hours from 9:00am until 11:00 am, during which time several speeches were delivered by representatives of the YTS. Protestors chanted slogans which bear witness to their complaints; “Oh, government of corruption a hike of prices has prevailed all over the country”, “Oh, government of despair, where is the increase in wages, the government is on the TV, in reality, there is no achievement. Oh, minister, oh Jawfi, to hear hunger is enough, Oh, Minister, Oh, Mojawer, don’t denounce or deny our rights.”

In a statement, the protestors demanded the release of the second phase of the wages law beginning July 2006, the third phase from July 2007 according to the 43rd item of law for 2005, and the release of allowances, bonuses and salaries held back for years to be paid in cash to all government employees, since this was agreed to in this year’s budget, and YR82 billion was set aside for this purpose.

They also demanded the maximum increase of the second phase (YR100,000), the third phase (YR130,000), and the beginning of a financial connection for degrees to be re-allocated evenly and fairly among employees.

With reference to the bonuses, they demanded the granting of the bonus to all who deserve it, as of July 2005 until August 2006, and the bonus for educationalists in general to be at a rate between 60-110 percent, depending on one’s qualifications. This is according to documentation signed by three syndicates – YTS, GUTEP and UTP – and the ministry of education committee on July 31st, 2006.

They also demanded bonuses for instructors, administrators, teachers of the Qura’n and all those who have been deprived of this right in the education, health, engineering and other sectors. They demanded the rural exchange allowance be paid retrospectively to all staff in rural areas who have been deprived of this right. They also demanded the return of sums illegally deducted from salaries in October under false names and the investigation and trial of those responsible.

“These are our fair and clear demands, they are the demands of all teachers, male and female, in the ruling party or in the opposition, from all schools of the Republic. These rights are for all, they have nothing to do with policy and, for the purpose of quick implementation, we announce the launching of the new phase of peaceful legal activities for this year, as in the other governorates of the Republic,” said Abdussalam al-Khudairy, secretary general of the YTS. “We are within our legal rights to escalate the means of protests and demonstrations, and to strike from work if required,” he added.

He also mentioned a list of abuses that the teachers were exposed to due to their participation in the sit-in, and asked teachers to report any arbitrary action, stating that the SYT would support and stand-by those who were subject to unfair treatment.

The rally was conducted in a very peaceful, democratic way in which opinions were expressed freely. The protestors also thanked security men for their cooperation, stating, “Soldiers, Army, we have something in common – the love of living.”

al-Motamar
President Saleh said “There is no fear about the unity because it has been founded to remain and it is protected by God, the will of the Yemeni people and awakening of their constitutional establishments, mainly the armed forces and the security.” He indicated that Yemen has adopted the pluralist democracy that guarantees for all expressing their opinions freely. “We have to protect this pioneering experiment and develop it and to make it a means for construction and development and for serving the national interest,” the president said.

26 Sept

ADEN (26sep.net)– HE president Saleh stressed working on advice of clerics, as he would direct the government to take actions to ensure the public interest and remove all negative phenomena in society that are contrary to the doctrine and traditions of Yemeni people.

This came during a meeting today in 22nd May Palace in Aden, where a number of clerics attended the meeting and presented to president Saleh a statement released by Yemen’s Scholars symposium, held on November,11, under the banner of (the current situation in Yemen and legitimate due towards it).

Religious scholars, called all people, parties, organizations and political blocs to care at all their positions and speeches to maintain the interest of the nation and the legitimate gains and the unity, security and stability of the homeland.
Scholars praised the approaches dealt with military and civilians retirees and the issue of land in the southern provinces and the steps taken by President Saleh in this area.

The President welcomed the scholars, and expressed his appreciation for their position, praising their role in the humanitarian and religious preaching and their role in the promotion of Virtue and prevention of Vice.

He said: “We are with you in all that would perform your great service to religion and to the nation” ..

Al-Motamar

almotamar.net – President Ali Abdullah Saleh on Sunday has emphasised that all the retired will receive all care and attention in loyalty to what they have offered of services and duty during their work whether in the armed forces and security or the different institutions of the state.

The president also gave his directives on benefiting from those who have returned to service and to distribute them in accordance with their specialties and experience for serving the country and the building and modernisation of the armed forces and security. He affirmed that the state is keen to deal with all the aftermaths resulted from the war of 1994 and to benefit from energies of all.

In his meeting in Aden Sunday with retired men from security institutions, attended by Chairman of the Shoura Council Abdulaziz Abdulghni and Salem Saleh Mohammed, the advisor to the president of the republic and the head of the committee entrusted with tackling the negative phenomena affecting the national unity and social peace, the president praised the committee’s efforts in dealing with situations of the retired persons from the ministries of defence and interior.

The retired persons and those who left service of security institutions expressed their satisfaction and valuation of the remedies and settlements of their conditions according to the president’s directives. They confirmed their condemnation of the attempts by some to take advantage of the issue of the retired to achieve their own aims and to offend the homeland and its stability and security and unity. They have also affirmed they will always be the sincere soldiers for the homeland and its unity, security and stability and their readiness performing their duties.

During the meeting president listened a report presented by Deputy Minister of Interior for Financial and Administrative Affairs Brigadier Riyadh al-Qirshi.

It indicated steps taken to receive issues of military retirees and works of the formed committees on these steps from the period October 20 to November 14, 2007.

The report showed that the sum paid to increase salaries of the military retirees calculated at YR 4.2 billion in addition to improving situations of 1968 officers while 192 officers were promoted and 83 retired officers returned to service in the security systems.

The overall number of officers and soldiers whose situations were improved reaches 2090, the reports says, while officers who were promoted are estimated at 1968.

al-Motamar

almotamar.net – Deputy Education Minister Dr Abdulaziz Bin Habtour said Tuesday that 40% pupils in Yemen is still outside school and that constitutes an additional burden on the ministry of education in its policy for expanding education and spread and for providing educational services in all parts of the country especially the rural areas.

In a meeting he held in Sana’a today with leadership of the ministry and representatives of donor organisations the official pointed out the necessity of joining all official, political parties and civil society organisations forces for the encouragement of joining education as education is considered the responsibility of all.

In the meeting held on the sidelines of Education for All Week Bin Habtour said the ministry was able to reduce the gap between males and females through the rise in girls joining of education from 34- 62% besides training of 100 thousand teachers and intensification of programmes and activities aimed to meet Yemen’s commitments to providing education for all by the year 2010 through abolishing school duties, providing female teachers to the countryside and increasing allocations for school nutrition that is expected to lead to raising the rate of joining the public education among girls.
The meeting also listened to remarks and suggestions made by members of the national committee on education for all and donor organisations and countries that aimed to reach successful solutions for the development and progress of education in Yemen.

al-Motamar

Council (HJC), the Head of the Supreme Court Judge Issam al-Samawi confirmed Saturday that the HJC activated role of the Judiciary Inspection Authority according to evidence, field visit and surprise check up and forty judges violating their work and abusing he judiciary power have been stripped of their immunity so that to secure prestige of the judiciary.

Judge al-Samawi said the plenary meeting of heads of dist instant and appeal courts in Lahj governorate on Saturday the Council made a long distance in the settlements and promotions in the judiciary authority and were treated according to the law and efficiency criterion.

Al-Samawi stressed the importance of judiciary independence and to be far from partisan and regional conflicts and the importance of founding effective partnership between law enforcement apparatuses and the local councils as well as the executive power for the realization of the public interest.

Really blows the lid off the supposed cooperation against terrorism when they call journalists terrorists:

SANA’A, NewsYemen

The Al-Sharei newspaper is expected to be tried before the Penal Court specialized in terrorism cases after a suit raised to the court by the Ministry of Defense.

The paper’s editors Naif Hassan, Nabil Subai and Mahmoud Taha will be tried over publishing a file about war in Saada in the paper’s first edition.

The terrorism-related court is preparing for the trial despite condemnations by local and international organizations.

NewsYemen could know that the Prosecutor is asking for heavy sentences against the journalists including death penalty over “their attempts to destabilize the state, insulting the army and publishing information about military field operations without permission”.

The Yemeni Journalists Syndicate has considered referring the case to terrorism specialized court as “a dangerous precedence” which may have bad effects, not only on the position of journalists, but on constitutional and legal situation of press in the country as well, according the syndicate.

In massive rally, former soldiers protests in Al-Dhalie

Al-Sahwa

November 24, 2007 – The Military Retiree Association arranged on Saturday a massive rally in which citizens from various southern participated.

In the rally attended by former commanders, ambassadors and parliamentarians, the head of MRA, Abdul-Maatari, delivered a speech in which he affirmed that their case is just rights, not any other issue, asking to immediately release all detainees imprisoned due to their peaceful demands.

Rally in Abyan:

ABYAN, NewsYemen

Thousands of people rallied Sunday in Loder of Abyan, south of Yemen, to continue protests against the delay of the government to meet some requests and release activists arrested in previous demonstrations in southern provinces, warning to extend protests.

“Thousands of people from Loder, Modia, al-Wade and Mokaires have participated in this rally organized by political and social organizations to ask for the immediate release of 21prisoners from al-Dalei, Aden and Hadramout” the political activist Ahmad al-Qame told NewsYemen.

Al-Qamei said local authorities announced an alter Saturday and threatened to arrest lead personalities who encourage such marches. He pointed that the Joint Meeting Parties do not take part in these activities because they do not agree with slogans some political and social organizations raise.

Local authorities accuse some lead figures in southern provinces of encouraging such protests which result in insecurity and attacks on shops and properties.

Ali al-Saadi, from the Military Pensioners Association, warning that other province might witness more demonstrations until the authorities meet requests. “Today is the deadline for authorities to do, he said.

Al-Qame condemned the prevention of al-Jazeera space channel to cover the event.

Special sources told NewsYemen the cameraman of al-Jazeera was detained from the early morning on Sunday for hours to prevent him from covering the rally.

Hundreds of jobless graduates raised their certificates asking the authorities to fulfill promises of president Saleh to eliminate unemployment. They carried placards saying that the number of jobless in the province reached 8000 graduates registered in the civil service ministry since years.

The protesters said the graduates of Abyan have been prevented to join military and security academies since 13 years. They also demanded the trial of persons who killed three protesters last September and to get “all prisoners over peaceful demonstrations released”.

Meanwhile, teachers in Serwah area of Marib started a sit-in on Sunday protesting the delay to pay them for last October. They asked for their payments with some extra the government promised to pay on October.

They called teachers all over the country to strike until meeting their requests.

Then there’s the tribal alliance rally where Hussain al-Ahmar urges tribesmen to obey their sheiks.

Yemen Times

AMRAN, Nov. 18 — The Hashid Tribe held a huge public rally on Saturday for its people in Amran’s Khamer District, 50 km northwest of Sana’a. Attended by more than ten thousand people from the Hashid and other loyal tribes, the rally is the first of its kind for the tribe, the second largest in Yemen after the Bakeel tribe.

During the rally, named the ‘broader meeting for Hashid tribesmen’, Parliament member (MP) Hussein Abdullah Al-Ahmar welcomed the attendees who came from different parts of the tribe to participate in the meeting. Al-Ahmar considered the meeting a new peaceful revolution to reform the situations and infringements which, according to him, are symptomatic of poor government policies.

“Yemen is undergoing serious difficulties due to the failed policies pursued by the government,” Al-Ahmar said, reminding attendees of his father’s statement at the Islah Party’s Third Conference, that ‘Yemen is passing through a gloomy tunnel.’ He pointed out that corruption has become rampant in all the government offices, and therefore has permeated every house and family in the nation, adding that such a destructive phenomenon has spread to judicial, education and health sectors.

The tribal leader, who chairs the National Solidarity Council (NSC), went on to say, “If we want to continue the march toward a modern and strong Yemen, the Yemeni people must understand that the country’s problems will never be solved without a nationwide struggle. Today, Yemen is threatened by secession and fragmentation, which the corrupt regime is responsible for.” (Read on …)

Kickbacks to Ministry officials. Parliament and military members involved in gun sales and smuggling, officials involved in child smuggling, etc.

News Yemen

SANA’A, NewsYemen

A newly released official report has revealed that owners of so many medicine stores across the country, who have high posts in the ministry of public health and population, practice medicines smuggling.

The report, released by the High Authority of Medicine, said those officials also help and protect medicines smugglers for some commissions in return.

The Yemeni Pharmacists Syndicate said that some 60% of medicines in Yemeni market are smuggled.

The High Authority of Medicine has announced in its report, NewsYemen got a copy of, it is preparing a new strategy to improve its performance to control imported and local medicines, in addition to developing human resources and technical measures.

It said that the strategy would deal with new mechanisms to prevent smuggling fake medicines into the country.

An official report, previously released by the Central Organization for Controlling and Auditing, has disclosed that Yemen loses five billion annually due to smuggled medicines. It said Yemen annually imports medicines from 50 Arab and foreign countries of as much as $ 117 million.

The report said the Yemeni private and mixed sectors import 86 percent of medicines of $101 million and that the local production is only 4.72 percent of almost $ 5 million.

Are they just playing? There is no extradiction treaty with Yemen. How do they expect Moyyad to be returned when there is no legal framework. If there is a court appeal in the US, it has to be based on points of law and errors in the oiriginal trial, not on Yemeni public opinion.

Al-Shawa

November 24, 2007 – Head of the National Committee for defending al-Moayad and Zayed , Hamoud al-Dharihi, appealed Saturday the Arab League, the Organization of the Islamic Conference , and international human rights bodies to do best in order to free al-Moayad and his aide ,Mohammad Zayed .

He claimed, in a press conference, all private and government media to support and stand by them, calling, in the meantime, judges of the U.S. appeal court to not fall under the influence of U.S. intelligence reports and events of Sep.11, 2001 which had been denounced by al-Moayad and Zayed .

” We place before you the latest popular appeal issued by the parliament, all political parties and civil society and directed to U.S justice Department, State Department, U.S Embassy to Yemen ” added al-Dharhi .

He further urged the Yemeni government to expand its efforts regarding the case, indicating that the committee would resort to a popular protest strategy in case there in no good news on Monday .

For his part, the lawyer Khalid al-Anisi revealed that government banned any popular protests concerning al-Moayad and ZAyed , criticizing the case’s absence in the official media.

Spain and Egypt are scheduled to sign extradiction treaties:

Yemen, Egypt to sign criminal extradition agreement

[24 November 2007]

CAIRO, Nov. 24 (Saba) – Yemen and Egypt would sign on the sidelines of meetings of the Arab Justice Ministers in Cairo on November 26-29 a criminal extradition agreement.

The Yemeni-Egyptian Joint Technical Committee finalized in its meeting here on Saturday negotiations on a criminal extradition agreement, which would be signed by Justice Minister Ghazi
al-Aghbari and the Egyptian counterpart Mamdouh Marei.

The agreement includes the possible extraditing cases after it comes into force, the reasons permit or oblige to reject criminals extradition, how to make a request and requisite documents and
information.

Yemen Observer

A Yemeni pressure group threatened on Sunday to organize a series of protests if the United States did not release two Yemenis currently imprisoned in the U.S. under terrorism charges. (Read on …)

I’m unclear on the JMP’s conceptualization of an equitable mechanism for forming the SCER. 50/50 Between the GPC and JMP?

Amending election law includes formation of the election commission
Sunday, 25-November-2007
almotamar.net – Chairman of the parliamentary constitutional and legal affairs committee Ali Abu Hlaiqa read out Sunday the government request for amending some articles of the general election and referendum law for 2001.

Meanwhile the opposition member of parliament Sultan al-Attwani refused that one of members of parliament to present the government’s request of the amendments. The opposition MP said the government has two ministers who are the minister of parliament and Shoura council affairs and the minister of legal affairs and they should have been present to present the request to the parliament and he also expressed his opposition of the draft amendments.

Deputy chairman of the General People’s Congress (GPC) parliamentary bloc Yasser al-Awadhi asserted on his part that the parliament is the master of its decision, indicating that the parliament has issued a decision giving the political parties one week grace period to agree on he supreme commission for elections, calling on the members of parliament to undertake their constitutional and legal duty. (Read on …)

Sana’a, NewsYemen

Ninety Yemeni clerics have decided to mediate to solve dispute between political elites and give them advices to avoid current crises.

The senior clerics, including Abdul-Majid al-Zindani, head of Al-Eman religious university, Mohammed Ismael al-Amrani, Abdul-Wahab al-Dailami and Mohammed al-Sadiq Moghales, have confirmed in a statement the right of people to ask for their legal rights according to constitution and laws.

They have supported other statements released by clerics in Hadhramout condemning latest events Yemen has witnessed, especially in southern provinces and a statement by Yemeni Clerics Association regarding events in Saada, north of Yemen.

The statement of so-called Yemeni Clerics Forum, signed by ninety clerics, called upon all Yemeni clerics “to hold a symposium to discuss current situations in the country and showing religious duty towards such events”.

The clerics have formed a preparatory committee for the symposium and assigned some clerics to contact with senior officials and leaders of political parties to listen to their visions about the current crisis and give them advices to avoid disputes and unite efforts to save the country’s interests.

The country is witnessing bad situations that encumber people and political disputes that threaten Yemen’s unity and its present and future, said the statement. It pointed that Yemen also faces foreign menaces that target its security and stability, as it said.

We have to refer to the Holy Qura’a and the Sonna of prophet Mohammed to keep our unity and spread religious brotherhood amongst Yemeni people, said the clerics, praying to God to keep for Yemenis their religion, unity, security and stability.

SANA’A, NewsYemen

Oil and gas have provoked protests amongst people in oil-rich Yemeni provinces of Marib and Shabwa as people there ask the government and oil companies for 10 percent of oil and gas revenues and more attention.

Hundreds of citizens in Marib gathered on Tuesday to complain environmental pollution, the need of farmers who depend upon diesel for the State support. They demanded employments in military and civil institutions and oil companies, scholarships of different specializations as well as increasing the number of beneficiaries from social security.

The protesters demanded in their statement compensations for farmers affected by oil and gas contamination.

The protesters formed a committee comprising 54 sheikhs, social figures and law specialists to follow up meeting the requests. (Read on …)

This is abominable.

VOA

More than 60 African migrants have drowned while crossing the Gulf of Aden on their way to Yemen.

Witnesses say at least 15 others swam to safety after their vessel sank close to the Yemeni coast. The boat originated from Somalia and most of those on board are believed to have been Somalians.

It is not clear how the boat capsized.

Migrants frequently attempt the crossing to escape violence in Somalia and often rely on smugglers to help them cross.

They often face abuse at the hands of smugglers, with many forced to disembark offshore to avoid Yemeni coast guard patrols.

Earlier this month, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees estimated 20,000 people have made the crossing this year and said at least 439 people have died and another 489 are missing.

Update: More

Thirty African migrants drown off Yemen

2 hours ago

SANAA (AFP) — Thirty African migrants, including seven women, drowned after their boat overturned while trying to cross the Gulf of Aden from Somalia to Yemen, the defence ministry said on Saturday.

Their bodies were found washed ashore early Friday in the southern region of Hadramut, while 41 others, including five women, were rescued, said the website of the ministry newspaper September 26.

The Yemeni coastguard was still searching for 69 others missing, who were on the same boat which set out from the Somali port of Bosasso, it added.

Although the ministry said the dead were Somalis, it was not clear how their nationalities were determined.

Sixty-four African migrants drowned on November 22 while trying to cross, while 40 others drowned early in November after being thrown overboard by people traffickers.

The UNHCR estimates that more than 20,000 people have made the perilous crossing this year, with more than 439 deaths and another 489 people missing.

Many of the migrants who attempt the journey are desperate to flee conflict and persecution in their home regions in Africa.

The crossing takes two days at best and is made especially dangerous due to shark-infested waters, strong currents and inhumane conditions on poorly maintained vessels that are open to the elements.

Al-Sahwa
November 22, 2007 – General People’s congress’s senior leader, Mohammad Akosh resigned last week from the ruling party, saying that GPC has not made any achievements. He further explained in an interview with Alsahwa weekly newspaper that GPC is not an orderly party and that it is just the president’s party.

“I found myself wasting time in GPC, and only what the president desires is achieved.” added he.

Moreover, Akosh demanded to comprehensively reform the political regime, considering current popular moves in several Yemeni provinces as a natural result of tensions in all Yemen, not only in the southern governorates.

“Citizens are suffering from soaring prices, unemployment and the widespread corruption.”said he .

He also warned of ominous future if wise people in Yemen could not address problems and resort to dialogue.

almotamar.net – An official source at the General People’s Congress (GPC)’s General Secretariat commented that resignation Mohammed Salem Akoush by saying, ” The GPC refuses among its ranks hypocrites who by their membership of the GPC want to practice corruption and political extortion enveloped with regionalism or tribalism or self-interest.

The source said the GPC would not be cover for them, considering the resignation of Akoush does not mean anything and the GPC is conducting the process of purging of those infiltrators and hypocrites who violate the GPC’s rules of procedure and its political programmes.

Al-Shawa:

November 17, 2007- The member of the permanent committee of the ruling General People Congress party and Shoura Council, Mohammad Akosh, affirmed Saturday its resignation from the permanent committee.

He said that GPC has not made any achievements and people waited much, but it has not done anything.