Armies of Liberation

al-Motamar: Local sources in Taiz on Wednesday said three central security soldiers were killed Wednesday and five others wounded in an ambush set up in the mountainous area of Mikhlaf Shaartab where commander of the central security camp in Taiz brigadier general Abdul Nasser al-Qawsi was on an inspection visit to the security point there.

A security source in Taiz said to almotamar.net the gunmen set their ambush in an area before the headquarters of the security area. He added the gunmen showered the security force with gunfire killing three soldiers and wounding five others among them commander of the central security brigadier general al-Qawsi

Director of Taiz security brigadier general Yahya al-Haisami told alotamar.net that brigadier general al-Qawsi was not wounded and that three soldiers were killed and 9 others were wounded in the attack and they were taken to hospital in Taiz and then a military hospital.

almotamar.net - Head of the General People’s Congress (GPC) branch of in Sharaab Al-Salam district Sheikh Hamid Ali Abdeh confirmed Friday the release of commander of Central Security branch of Taiz Staff Brigadier General Abdul Nasser al-Qawsi and six of security men who were held in Sharaab area.

Head of the GPC branch told almotamar.net he has received the detained persons last evening and affirmed that they has not come under any harm and all were heading for the city of Taiz.

He considered the release of security soldiers as a result of efforts ad mediations by sheikhs, notables and social personalities as well as by leadership of Taiz governorate in order to avoid deterioration of situations over an armed ambush set up last Wednesday for brigadier general al-Qawsi resulted in the killing of three security soldiers and injury of other nine. The outlaw gunmen held chief of Taiz central security branch and six of security soldiers.

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Yemen Times: Following the confrontation between people of al-Salam district in Taiz with the security men, the government did not move to control the situation. It rather gave in its role to the tribesmen from al-Hadda whose man, leader of the central security Abdulnaser al-Qawsi, was seized by the people. I have been told the security in Ibb tried to prevent the flow of fully armed tribesmen of al-Hadda to Taiz, high ranking officials gave orders to allow them pass through all checkpoints.

The officials of the interior ministry have been shrugging their shoulders in pride of controlling arms carrying in cities. What about the heavily armed tribesmen whose trip to Taiz was even facilitated by the state officials? Several months ago, tribesmen from al-Hadda made their way with their arms to Ibb to slaughter Salah al-Rawee in jail and come back triumphantly.

More

Yemen Observer:

Tensions remain over murder of Sheikh

Brigadier General Abdul Nasser al-Qawsi, commander of the Central Security branch in Taiz, along with 6 soldiers captured by tribes in the Sharab district were released midnight Friday, said Hamid Ali Abdo, head of the General People Congress (GPC) branch in the Sharab district last Friday. They were accompanied by military trucks to the Taiz governorate.

Al-Qawsi was attacked during his return from an Eid celebration visit in a trap set by an armed group on Wednesday at 11:30 P.M. The attack caused death of 3 soldiers and the injury of 9 others. Al-Qawsi had not injured.

The surprise attack was executed over events surrounding the murder of the late Sheikh Abdulsalam al-Qaisi. Following the murder, three government soldiers were sentenced to death and five others were jailed. The attackers held al-Qawsi hostage, demanding that the commanding officers that ordered the mercenary soldiers into the regions be put to death as well, for they broke an agreement with the tribes of Sharab that no government soldiers should enter without invitation.

Meanwhile, a committee consisting of representatives from a number of government ministries as well as concerned citizens was formed to investigate these recent incidents. In a statement issued by sheiks, prominent people and concerned citizens of Taiz said that some political powers used the murder of Sheikh Abdulsalam al-Qaisi to further break agreements and shake security and raise disturbance in the governorate. It pointed out that the government should do its duty and offer the additionally accused of the al-Qaisi murder to be brought justice.

The statement said that the government committee quickly formed to look into the al-Qaisi murder has not been taken seriously by the concerned parties. They cited emotionally-charged crowds gathering during court sessions in hopes of obstructing the justice system as one example.

“It seems that there are some who do not appreciate what their country is doing to ensure justice and safety, and are working to raise further conflicts,” the statement went on to say.

“Some of them considered the al-Qaisi murder as chance for public appearances, even with this case’s issues of innocent blood and justice.” ‬The statement pointed out that the blood-running, lost souls, further disturbing the safety of the people, and preventing security sources from doing their duties are criminal acts rejected by Islamic sharia and law and traditional local conventions.

The statement asks sheikhs and intelligence organizations, parties and citizens of the region to stand in the face of such acts and support the government in taking necessary procedures to stop them.

Sources said that the security system will not make light of these incidents once the perpetrators of this latest kidnapping are captured, and will offer them up to the arms of justice. Security officers are asking citizens to cooperate in keeping security and safety in the region.

Despite these pleas of the government and its supporters, the tribes and sheikhs of Sharab have refused the instructions of the governor of Taiz to submit the 15 wanted militants that took part in the abduction of General al-Qawsi and in the killing of the 3 soldiers and injuring 9 other soldiers, and have threatened to fight any government intervention. They have begun the construction of barricades and reinforcements, and have stationed defense personnel on mountaintop look-out posts. A sheikh told Ma’reb press that they would not surrender to the government, and are willing to fight back. Any irresponsible act by government authorities will be challenged.

According to Mareb Press many women and children have left the Sharab regions for the safety of nearby districts.

Who bought these items and did they knowingly contract to import expired items?

HODEIDAH, NewsYemen

The Public Authority for Controlling Specifications and Quality could seize a quantity of expired foods and harmful cosmetics cost as much as YR 61 million at Hodeidah port.

The authority could seize in the past few days 3000 packets of mango, 552 packets of cosmetics, 1793 packets of chocolates, 5400 bags of flour, 2835 packets of cleaning materials, all are expired and harmful for human, an informed source at PASQC tld NewsYemen.

The source said the seized materials would be spoiled or sent back to the source country according to law.

[25 December 2007]

SANA’A, Dec. 25 (Saba)- The cabinet approved on Tuesday an extradition agreement signed between Yemen and Spain.

The agreement was signed between the two countries in Madrid on October 18, 2007.

The cabinet asked minister of justice and the minister of legal affairs to follow up measures of ratifying the agreement.

The limits of sovereignty

Harowo:

December 27, 2007
Italian Somaliland: A Return to the UN Trusteeship System
In much analysis, Transitional Government of Somalia (TGS) failed to restore law and order in southern Somalia, including the vicious Mogadishu that paralyzed the country for about two decades. IGAD and Arab League also failed to install government in Somalia after 14 Peace Conferences in Arab and IGAD territories.

It is likely that UN Trusteeship System that worked in the Italian Somaliland for about ten years in 1950’s will again restore law and order in Italian Somaliland.

Effective from January 27th 1950, General Assembly adopted a resolution recommending that Italian Somaliland be placed under an international trusteeship system, and requested the Italian government to be administrator of Italian Somaliland until further recommendations to lift the resolution. The decree worked fine between 1950 to 1960 and established local administration for the Italian Somaliland until the unity of Italian Somaliland with British Somaliland on 1st July 1960. Now, international community has all the legal authority it needs to shape a solution to humanitarian crises and armed conflicts around the world including Italian Somaliland, Mogadishu.

(Read on …)

al-Motamar:
almotamar.net - The official spokesman for the committee entrusted with implementing decisions of the National Defence Council in Yemen concerning the events of Saada on Thursday denied recent press reports on formation of a new mediation committee, emphasizing that the present committee to supervise carrying out the agreement would to resume its job in convenient time.

Responding to a question by almotamar.net in this regard the Member of Parliament, the member of the committee Yasser al-Awadhi denied that the tasks of the committee were terminated and confirmed continuation of its work that would be resumed when suitable circumstances are available.

Last June the committee succeeded in putting a ceasefire in Saada into force. The committee was then there under instructions by the President of the Republic.

The committee was formed from members of parliament and shoura council under chairmanship of the shoura council vice chairman Muhsin al-Ulufi and membership of heads of parliamentary blocs to oversee implementation of the agreement in a definite period.

Yemen Times:

SANA’A, Dec. 26 — Five years have passed since the politically-motivated assassination of Jarallah Omar, Assistant Secretary General of the Yemeni Socialist Party (YSP). The Joint Meeting Parties (JMP) laments his loss, as he played the most vital role in forming the opposition bloc.

Had Omar escaped assassination, the opposition bloc’s popularity would not have declined over time, since the man proved vital in bringing all the opposition parties together and unifying their lines, according to Mohammed Al-Mekhlafi, defense-advocate of Jarallah Omar’s family.

Al-Mekhlafi said there were political reasons behind the assassination of the YSP leader; the authority predicted that he was bound to play a greater role in creating strong opposition to the ruling party in the country. “Had Jarallah Omar survived, all the Yemeni people would not have suffered such noticeable fragmentation and splits, as he used to do his best for the sake of restoring the spirit of solidarity among Yemeni people.” The lawyer added, “He surely would have worked hard on eliminating all the negative consequences of the 1994 civil war. He was able to improve and strengthen relations between citizens in the north and the south.”

Al-Mekhlafi went on to say. “Omar was a symbol for a nationwide movement toward creating national harmony in the political and social spheres. He represented YSP, a party that has advocated strong bonds between citizens in South and North Yemen since its formation.”

The human rights activist stressed that the Yemeni people currently live in a state of outrage, characterized by severe poverty, despair and fragmentation between community members. He is of the opinion that the country is gradually moving backwards due to government policies aimed at weakening the role of the opposition.

(Read on …)

Yemen Observer:

Yemen ranked 128th in the latest Global Gender Gap Report 2007 among the countries that have the smallest gap between male and female.

According to the report, the country with the smallest gender gap acquires the most number of points. The Global Gender Gap Index, introduced by the World Economic Forum last year, aims to be a tool for benchmarking and tracking global gender-based inequalities on economic, political, education- and health-based criteria.

(Read on …)

It takes a special order

PM directs interior ministry to free Yemeni businessman

[26 December 2007]

SANA’A, Dec. 26 (Saba) - Prime Minister Ali Mujawar has given his directives to the interior ministry to take the requisite procedures to release the businessman Mouty’a al-Hubayshi, who kidnapped by
gunmen kidnappers from Khawlan tribe of Sana’a, al-Syasiah daily published by Saba reported Wednesday.

In a letter to the interior minister Rashad al-Alimi, Saba has got a copy of, Mujawar directed the security authorities to free the kidnapped and capture the kidnappers.

Sheikhs and citizens of Hubaysh district of Ibb governorate have submitted a complaint to the interior minister accusing Mohammed Ubadi Ermh and a gunman group of Bani Shadad from Khawlan of
abducting forcibly al-Hubayshi.

For his part, al-Alimi ordered the governor of Sana’a Ali al-Maqdashi to arrest immediately the accused persons.

Worth mentioning, Mouty’a al-Hubayshi, the chairman of the board of the Royal Hotel in Sana’a, was kidnapped in al-Zubairi street in the Secretariat Capital on December 8.

Quite an iconic figure in Yemeni history.

Yemeni warrior dies after life full of glories

[29 December 2007]

SANA’A, Dec. 29 (Saba) - The Parliament speaker Sheikh Abdullah Bin Hussein al-Ahmer, 74, has died at the Specialized Faisal Hospital in the Saudi capital Riyadh.

Al-Ahmar who was born in 1933 was arrested in 1950s in Hodeidah province by the ruler of Yemen Imam Ahmed and was jailed for three years until the revolution in 1962.

Sheikh al-Ahmar held several positions during his career. In May 1964 he was nominated a Minister of Interior and held that position under three sequent governments.

In 1969, he was named a head of the national council which was tasked with the formulation of the Yemen Arab Republic’s constitution, and in 1975 chairman of the Shoura Council till the work with the constitution was suspended.

During 1979-1190, he served as member in the Consultative council. In 1990, he was nominated a head of the Higher Preparatory Committee of the Formation of the Islah Party (Yemeni Congregation for Reform) and served as the party head until his death.

In April 1993, al-Ahmar could gain the trust of the Yemeni people to win at his constituency, and in May of the same year he was nominated the speaker of parliament, the first parliament under the united Yemen.

He was re-elected as speaker of the parliament in 1997 and 2003.

Al-Ahmar made contributions to protect the revolution, unity of Yemen and Arab interests through the posts he had held such as head of the Public Committee for Defending al-Aqsa and Palestine, head of the parliamentary committee of Palestine and Quds and member of the Trustees Council of the Islamic International Mission Organization.

Al-Ahmar was deputy of the Quds Trustees Council in Yemen, head of branch of the Quds Organization in Yemen, and head of the Public Committee for Supporting the Kuwaiti People after Iraq invasion of Kuwait.

SANAA, Dec 29 (Reuters) - The speaker of Yemen’s parliament, Abdullah bin Hussein al-Ahmar, has died in Saudi Arabia after a long illness, officials said on Saturday.

It was not clear who would succeed Ahmar as head of the Yemeni parliament, a position he had held since 1993, or as head of the main opposition Islah (Reform) Party.

Born in 1933, Ahmar was head of the powerful Hashed tribal confederation and has played a key role in the turbulent politics of the impoverished Arab state for almost half a century.

Ahmar took part in elections through his Islah party, which combines tribal and Islamic elements, following the unification of northern Yemen with the communist south of the country in 1990 after years conflict.

Yemen mourns death of Sheikh al-Ahmar

[29 December 2007]

SANA’A Dec. 29 (Saba)- Yemen announced a official three-day mourning starting from Saturday on the death of Parliament speaker Sheikh Abdullah Bin Hussein al-Ahmar.

Al-Ahmar died Saturday morning in the Saudi capital Riyadh at the age of 74 years after a long-term suffering from an acute illness.

An official source told Saba that the funeral will be next Monday morning in his cemetery in the capital Sana’a.

almotamar.net - The Yemen’s Presidency has on Saturday mourned the death of late Speaker of the parliament sheikh Abdullah bin Hussein Al-Ahmar who died in Riyadh Saturday the capital of Saudi Arabia at age of 74 years after suffering from a chronic disease.

A presidency statement sadly announced the death of the parliament Speaker Sheikh al-Ahmar Saturday to the people of Yemen and the Arab and Islamic nation following a long life of struggle he spent serving the homeland, the revolution, the republican regime, unity , democracy, development and service of the issues of his Arab and Islamic nation.

The statement said the deceased was one of the great national symbols and strong pillar of the revolution and the republic as well as a prominent nationalist and Islamic personality that served his homeland and, the Arab and Islamic nation. Sheikh al-Ahmar played a great role in the outbreak of the Yemeni revolution and the march of defending it at its various difficult and historical stages.

I think Hamid is exactly what Yemen needs: a young, modern educated businessman. He’s got the national name recognition and the Southerners might trust him enough to give him a chance.

from the Yemen Times:

The Strong Man of Yemen

Hameed bin Abdullah bin Hussein Al-Ahmer, now at the age of 40, has become one of Yemen’s most influential men. This huge achievement is only partially due to being born into one of Yemen’s most powerful families—Al-ahmer family of the Hashed tribal confederation. His father Abdullah bin Hussein Al-Ahmer, was and still is the paramount leader of the Hashid confederation. Senior Al-ahmer is still, at least nominally, the Speaker of the Yemeni House of Representatives (HR). He is also the most respected living revolutionist. For more than four decades, senior Al-ahmer has been known as the presidents’ maker and breaker, but he never sought the highest office for himself.

Hameed Al-ahmer was born in an era of turmoil not only in north and south Yemen but also in the Arab world. In less than a decade, senior Al-ahmer lost his father and a very bright brother to the cause of political change. In addition, the battle between the republicans and the royalists was still raging. In such a political environment, Hameed was named after his politically ambitious, popular, and talented uncle, who was executed by the Imam.

While it was extremely rare for the sons of sheiks to worry about education during the 1970s and the 1980s, Hameed had a personal inclination to education. It was something inside him that led the son of this powerful, albeit traditional, family to educate himself to the best possible. As a youth, Hameed would travel to the U.S to spend summers where he would stay with an American family in order to learn English.

In the early 1990s, Hameed, who is now a fluent speaker of English, attended Sana’a University and earned a bachelor degree in economics with honors. Like his other brothers, Hameed must have enjoyed the support of his rich and powerful family. Unlike his brothers and most sons of Yemeni sheiks, however, he opted for the hard way in life.

One of his professors privately conveyed to the author that he used to double check Hameed’s exams to search for mistakes. The professor was afraid that people would not believe that a son of sheik Al-ahmer would get a full grade in an economic course. One of the students who attended school at that time said that Hameed, who would usually be followed with many armed bodyguards, would reach the gate of the College of Trade and Economics and hand over his small gun to the university police in order to keep it for him until he picks it up on his way out from classes.

The late professor of economics at Sana’a University and the founder and then publisher of the Yemen Times Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Saqqaf interviewed Hameed, the young entrepreneur, in one the early issues of Yemen Times. That interview reflected a professor’s fondness of a young man who seemed keen on making a difference in the life of his country and people. But late professor Al-Saqqaf himself might not have thought that Hameed in a few years over a decade would become one of Yemen’s most achieving businessmen, owning icons such as Sabafone—a cellular telecom with more than a million and a half subscribes—the Islamic Bank of Saba, and at least a dozen other businesses.

But Hameed is not only a brilliant businessman. He is also a courageous, diligent, innovative, and goal oriented politician. Capitalizing on the power and influence of his family, Hameed was elected to the Yemeni HR for the first time in 1993, reelected in 1997 and again in 2003. It is worth noting that while Hameed’s older brother—Saddiq—remained politically independent and his younger brother Hussein joined the ruling General People’s Congress (GPC), Hameed from the onset ran on the ticket of the party presided over by his father—the Yemeni Congregation for Reform—which is known by its short Arabic name Islah (meaning reform).

It was no coincidence that Hameed would find himself after a decade and a half of multi-partisan politics as one of the top leaders of Islah which is unequivocally the largest opposition party in the country. It is very likely that senior Al-Ahmer, a father of many sons and daughters, and one of the most shrewd politicians in today’s Yemen had saw in Hameed—his second son—what it takes to inherit his father’s powerful political role. It is also worth noting that the rise of the political star of Hameed has paralleled the gradual withdrawal of senior Al-ahmer from political life partially due to deteriorating health conditions.

Whereas senior Al-Ahmer has been most of the time out of the country for treatment and rehabilitation over the past few years, junior Al-ahmer has been calling the shots in his father’s place. While not outsider to politics, Hameed’s rise to the nation’s top rank of outspoken politicians took place in the last three years. His acquisition of an important political role coincided with many developments in the Yemeni political scene. For one, the old alliance between senior Al-ahmer and President Saleh started filtering. The immediate causes are many but the single, and probably most significant long-term cause, is a struggle over power among the younger generation of the Hashid confederation. For another, senior Al-ahmer as said earlier has been gradually withdrawing from public life partially for health and partially for political reasons.

And, regardless of the causes of the rift between senior Al-ahmer and President Saleh, politics in Yemen seems to have dramatically changed over the past few years thanks to Hameed’s entrepreneur skills, political ambition, and determination. It is widely believed that Hameed has played a vital role in solidifying the opposition’s stand against Saleh in September 2006 presidential elections. At that time, Saleh, with no signs of credible competitor in the horizon, had hoped for a smooth renewal of his term in office. To his dismay, junior Al-ahmer surprised him with a fierce elections’ battle that attracted the attention of friends and foes.

While accompanying the Joint Meeting Parties’ presidential candidate engineer Faisal bin Shamlan in his camping trail across Yemen, Hameed seemed to have redefined the contemporary politics of Yemen. He proved the old slogan of tribal politics, which states “my nephew and I are against the outsider,” to be inaccurate. The most telling moment, probably in the politics of modern Yemen, occurred in the summer of 2006 when Hameed with the support of some of his brothers mobilized tens of thousands of Hashid’s tribesmen for the opposition parties’ presidential candidate bin Shamlan’s campaign stop in the city of Amran to the north of the capital of Yemen—Sana’a.

It is true that Saleh is the one who decided to shift from the politics of consensus to the politics of competition. It is truer, however, that junior Al-ahmer is the one who defined what the politics of competition looks like today and will look like in the future. And, while the door for reconciliation of differences among the younger generation of Hashid is not completely closed, the likelihood of reconciliation and a return to the politics of consensus seems remote. The best the sons of Hashid can hope for in the future is not the impossible return to the politics of consensus, but the attainable goal of acceptance of the right and legitimacy of the role of each other.

Hameed, who is widely perceived among the opposition—specially the youth—as their strong man, repeatedly asserts that he is ready for the long haul of political competition and struggle. In response, the regime has been keen on targeting him. Since he openly started opposing Saleh’s rule and policies and calling for deeper and comprehensive political reforms, the regime has reacted hastily, using state institutions, resources, and public media outlets to undermine his flourishing businesses, and to tarnish his reputation. But despite being subjected to all types of harassment, Hameed seems to be undeterred. In a recent interview, Hameed, an optimist and a strong motivator, told his supporters and opponents too that he is ready to pay the price for the cause he believes in.

Some of Hameed’s friends, however, fear for his life. One of his proponents wrote a long article in 2005 asking “will Hameed become the Harairi of Yemen?” referring to assassinated businessman and prime minister of Lebanon Mr. Rafiq Al-harairi. For those who know him well, the fate of his late uncle at the hands of the Imam raises a legitimate concern.

Unlike his friends, Hameed prefers to look at the bright side of events. After all, the heinous murder of his ambitious uncle and grandfather led his father to mobilize the Hashid tribes, normally supporters of the Imam, to the side of the revolution when it broke out in north Yemen in 1962. The efforts of his father, family, and tribesmen eventually led to the permanent demise of the Imamate’s 11 centuries’ rule. “We are now better off” said Hameed, in a recent interview, comparing the conditions of opposition leaders today to those of the 1960s revolutionaries in the southern and northern parts of Yemen.

The author is a professor of politics at Sana’a University. For comments, please email the author at: dralfaqih@yahoo.com

Dear honorable brother Ali Abdullah Saleh, President of the Republic of Yemen -Sana’a

In the beginning at the outset, he was unable to confirm any Yemeni, you can deny a senior maker Yemeni unity of goals and the great dream of the Yemeni people, as entered history from the wider doors, we encourage you to go back to the date for step duties, which have become a burden to you as a president.

And our right to the blood and prevention, the collapse and destruction of the homeland that I loved to the point of passion .

The love of good for your family, and let us be frank with you to what is happening today of problems and strife and painful events that are the result of natural alliances with former friends , which have left you for all these years in power, we know well the requirements and necessities of politics, but the case today has increased the reduction and has crossed the line.

You are trying by all means to create the referee son Ahmed and this insults the Yemeni revolution and the republican system, which I was one of the revolution and supporter and we’ve said and repeated, in mind that the governance referee or any one in your family or friends can be president but only after a period of time, at least what has happened in the past in more than one country and across the world and by the real presidential elections. There is no party that covers its costs from the State Treasury without the others.

Mr. President, Yemen is a country of safety, faith and wisdom and the majority opinion which will not be a country of deception and prevarication and the violation of privacy. Our country is rich and thankful to God but what happens today only deliberate impoverishment. Hearts led to acrimony and undermine and the values of ethics and morality but what has happened to day almost turned Yemen into a jungle and turned its people into carnivores eating each other.

Mr President, Yemen’s trust and its people are in your hands. Deliver the trust to who may take care of it. We will continue to remind you as long as we live, we will remind you this deed which will be remembered and appreciated by the world . Those that only the brave will be able to overcome; you are one of them no matter what differences are between us. If you don’t accept this offer the people will decide between us by a petition of signatures. God is judging, God is judging, God is judging.

Sincerely,

Abdallah Salam Al-Hakimi
Yahya AL-Hothy
Dr. Mohammed Al-Nommani
Dr. Farook Hamza
Omar Ali
Fathi Al-Katta

List of Requests

1-Call to amend the Constitution to be a period of only two presidential term of four years each.

2-Ask President Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down from power saving people and to prevent the collapse and destruction of the country. For what is happening today is the result of natural alliances with former friends, which has kept all these years in power and made way for the government to save and prepare for the national presidential elections real party is not taken without other costs from the public offers of the State based on the terms of the initiative launched by the government rescue by brother Abdullah Salam Al-hakimi last October.

3-Call to end the rule of the family and to prevent the abolition of inheritance and the Republican Guard and Special Forces.

4-Call for a peaceful strike upward leading to the open site.

5-Emphasis on upholding unity Yemeni territory and its people, whether it’s Sanaa or Aden to alienate the sovereignty and independence of the homeland.

6-Call to all Yemenis opponents to return to the homeland to contribute to the building of a new Yemen and closing all files.

7-Invitation to the opposition parties not to accept any initiative that may be offered by the regime that will shortly be destructed, because of their acceptance they will be offered a lifeline.

8-Invite leaders of the army and the police and intelligence services that they are not to be suppressed against fellow claimants of the peaceful Yemeni’s that ask to reform freedom and equal citizenship.

Email: yemenaftersaleh@yahoo.com

Dear honorable Mr. Ban Ki Mun Secretary General of the United Nations New York.

We know very well that you are fully informed of the bad and deteriorating situation in the Republic of Yemen because of corruption irresponsible use of the State Department and the looting of resources and deliberate impoverishment of the people by President Ali Abdullah Saleh and members of his family and his staff.

The transformed the values of the Yemeni society and the flagrant violation of the rights of citizens and democracy, which we believed in the reunification of Yemen in 1990, and the creation of the country to bequeath his son governance and the governance transition which we will not accept and will stand in the face, whatever the sacrifices of Yemen’s republican country. As we have said before and we will repeat that we will not allow that the candidate’s son or one of his relatives for the post of President but not immediately. At least after some time has passed in more than one country in the world.

We would like to emphasize that we call on President Saleh to reinstate the document Covenant and Agreement, which was signed in 1994 in the Jordan’s capital, Amman by all political parties and organizations. Yemeni basis for comprehensive reconciliation in Yemen and equal citizenship ask you finally to inform the donors of aid to Yemen from the countries and organizations because they do not go the right way. But unfortunately has become one of the factors of corruption.

Attached to the letter is a copy of the rescue program announced in last October published in a number of Yemeni and Arab newspapers and on a list of demands.

Sincerely,

Abdallah Salam Al-Hakimi
Yahya AL-Hothy
Dr. Mohammed Al-Nommani
Dr. Farook Hamza
Omar Ali
Fathi Al-Katta

Dear honorable Mr. Koichiro Matsuura, UNESCO Secretary General

The urgent appeal to you asks you to intervene and stop the rapid tampering destruction, and mutilation which affects effects in Yemen, which is considered the property of the civilization of mankind as a whole. Including ancient Sera Castle (Castle Reduced ) in the city of Aden, which dates back to the built-General 1173 during the rule of Alaopein to Yemen, where the where looting the spread of the land in the southern and eastern provinces which are without any right and in retaliation to the mountain, which lies above the castle which may disappear soon.

Sincerely,

Abdallah Salam Al-Hakimi
Yahya AL-Hothy
Dr. Mohammed Al-Nommani
Dr. Farook Hamza
Omar Ali
Fathi Al-Katta

Rescue Initiative

First: the establishment of a National Council of Wise men which consists of a number that does not increase the amount of 35 personal dignitaries and national inhabitants with concerns of the nation and its citizens, who have visions and projects to bring the country out of its crisis, wthout excluding anyone under the pretext of separatism or regionalism, racism or sectarianism, respect of this Council and in particular the following major tasks:

- Develop a national comprehensive formula which contains solutions to the conditions of the country based on a Covenant and Agreement as the only national document that achieve national consensus around the universal commitment, respected and confirmed by the Security Council resolutions on the war in 1994 and mean to the Covenant document and the agreement on rebuilding its political system and its institutional States with modernarity which turned a blind eye to things and issues which timely received them.

-Achieve wide and local government authorities and the full powers without any diminution and reaffirm the right of each province or territory or region in the election of all executives from among the sons except military affairs only with other provisions.

- Develop a formula whereby redistribution of national wealth on the basis of fairness and equality among all regions of the country.

-Formation of a national committee of wise men with the possibility of the use of Arab and international expertise for the preparation of the draft for the new constitution in line with the overall national solution formula established by the Council of Wise men and downloaded to the national debate and broad and popular approval through a referendum in lieu of the current Constitution, which has become too large of amendments in response to the personal whims and ambitions of individuals until it is no color or taste

Second: formation of a government of national saving and the National Council of Wise men of proposed names of its members and its main duties restricted as follows:

- Numbers and full preparation for the holding of local elections and parliamentary and presidential elections during the period of time does not exceed the two years including the proposed draft of a new law for elections which achieves fairness, impartiality and transparency approved by the Council of Wise men and purifies the table voters from corruption, forgery and requests supervision over local civil society organizations and international supervision to ensure full integrity Elections, impartiality and transparency in other words, the major task of the government of national salvation elections

- Develop plans which are urgent and effective steps to address the imbalances of the political, financial, administrative, judicial, economic and radical solutions to the fight against corruption genuine, and not cosmetic as it exists now and the elimination of all forms of legal transgressions of others that have occurred in the past in all areas

- National Salvation government granted full powers and authority executive powers including the transfer of executive powers enjoyed by the President to this government so that there are limited responsibilities of the President during the ceremonial functions and protocol as is the case in the parliamentary system and prevents it interfering in any way the work of the function,power and authority government of the National Salvation.

Yemen Online

After Al Ahmer: Expectations - Al Ra’ei to Lead the Parliament; Yadoomi to Lead Islah Party , & Sadeq to lead Hashed Tribes
The opposition Islamic Party Islah considered that selecting a successor to Sheikh Abdullah Bin Hussein Al Ahmer is “GPC business which is the owner of the majority of votes”. Expectations indicate that Vice Chairman of Islah will chair the party “temporarily”.

Vice Chairman of the GPC bloc in the Parliament Yaser Al Awadi said to Yemenonline that the party will choose someone from GPC to replace late Sheikh Abdullah Bin Hussein Al Ahmer who died last Saturday in one of Saudi hospitals in the Saudi capital, Ryadh.

Al Awadi added: “it is too early to talk about a successor to Sheikh Abdullah; however, the upcoming chairperson for the Parliament will be from GPC since it has the majority of votes.”

Vice Speaker of the parliament for organizational and technical issues, Yahya Al Raei, is the luckiest candidate to succeed Sheikh AL Ahmer, especially when he has been practically heading the Parliament during the past two years 2006 and 2007 after the deterioration of the Chairman’s health.

Al Ra’ei has occupied the post of assistant secretary general for economy and services in GPC since December 2005.

A responsible source in Islah Party said that selecting the successor of Sheikh Abdullah bin Hussein Al Ahmer to chair the parliament is “an issue that concerns GPC since it has the majority of votes in the Parliament.”

The chairman of the Islah bloc Mr. Abdulrahman Ba Fadl, said in a statement to Marib Press, commenting on Al Awadi statement, “the current Parliament presidency could continue the legal period of the Parliament which ends in April 2009, indicating that Islah will not object to Al Ra’ei nomination but will not nominate him.”

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Hussein Al Ahmer, chairman of the Islah Party chaired the Parliament which has 229 seats for GPC out of 301, 58 seats for all opposition parties together, and 14 seats for independents.

The Parliament in 2003 elected Al Ahmer as a Chairperson by consensus, after the announcement of Mr. President, Ali Abdullah Salleh, in a TV speech that Sheikh Abdullah Bin Hussein Al Ahmer is the candidate of GPC for heading the Parliament (because he is the link between all parties).

On the other hand, a responsible Islah source, expects that Vice Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Islah, Mohamed Al Yadoomi, to chair the party “temporarily” until holding the general conference of Islah in February 2009.

The source said in a statement to Yemenonline, who asked not to reveal his identity, that electing a chairman for the Supreme Committee does not take place without a general conference and he thinks it is unlikely to be hold currently. He indicated that it is not in the power of the Supreme Committee or the Shura Council to elect a chairperson for the party. He also added: “I think the Vice Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Islah will chair the party until holding the general conference next year.

ADEN, NewsYemen: Head of Coordination Council for Retired Military Personnel Associations in southern Yemen Nasser al-Nobah revealed the intention of the council to declare a civilian defiance in southern provinces starting January 19, the date Britain occupied southern Yemen.

In a rally organized Monday in Yahr area of Yafei, al-Nobah addressed hundreds of people that the council is studying this step. “In case you are ready, we will step a new form of peaceful struggle, that is the civilian defiance,” said al-Nobah.

The rally was attended by representatives of Joint Meeting Parties, MPs and leading personalities.

In the interest of intellectual diversity and freedom of expression, the following is a guest post, meaning I didn’t write it. The article makes the good point that a plan for the future is always a good thing and that learning from history is important as well. The article seems to be calling for re-occupation by Britian, but I don’t think that’s likely.

What is the Future Plan for South Arabia after Independence?

We have to be very clear about the future. Until now there are no such future plans, that is- what we have to do after the independence. Even in Tajaden there is no such a view about the future. Everybody wants to remove the occupation first.

Let me remind every body what happened before 30.11.1967, alot of people came from Yemen Arab Republic to South Arabia with arms and fighters, sent by Egyptian leader Jamal Abdul Nasser. And they use the religious (rhetoric) to convince the villages that they will establish the paradise in Aden.

But the question is why they did not establishe (it) in Yemen Arab Republic or Egypt at that time and also why did Yemen Arab Republic citizens fight Egyptian solders in Sanaa?

My point is after independence in South Arabian on 30.11.1967, the people that came from the Yemen Arab Republic as religious fighters become anti-religious and they killed a lot of normal religious citizens in a horrible way in Hadramout, Aden and Shabwa and established the Yemeni Communist party of Yemen in South Arabia. (The name of the person he is established Yemeni communist party is Abdul Fath Ismaial; he is from Yemen Arab Republic.)

What do I want to say? We did not like to repeat same disaster that happen after 30.11.1967 We have to put forward a good plan to bring the hope to the citizens.

And I think because we have the experience from the past (30.11.1967 till 1994) and during that period, we know how. Every five years we had a war with out any resolution, by same leaders that destroyed British system in Aden, and after that, they destroyed each other.

And after occupation on 7. 7.1994 I think it is better to study will the past and the present for the future. I am confident that is important to ask the international community and United Nations or the British advising administration to take responsibility in South Arabia until we rebuild the all systems.

It may take five or ten years to rebuild democratic, economic and educations systems and build strong intelligent police to control South Arabian citizens, territories and borders by using an international adviser office in Aden that will improve the life in South Arabia because South Arabian citizens are hopeless from after 30.11.1967 until now.

I hope South Arabian citizens understand my point according to my experiences until now.

If it looks like a duck and walks like a duck, then maybe its a duck. But then again, how totally absurd and contrary to the prevailing view.

Yemen Times:

In turn, parliamentarian Yahya Badr Adin Al-Houthi accused the Yemeni government of conspiracy aiming at eradicating the Zaidi sect as well as facilitating Al-Wahabiah task to control situations.

He also revealed that this big campaign extend from Al-Sharafain, district west of Hajja to east of Al-Jawf governorate, where it failed, with government forces sustaining heavy defeats.

Yahya Al-Houthi also accused the government of receiving outside support to continue fighting against the Houthis in Sa’ada, hinting that there is a plan to eradicate Zaidis from Yemen.

Al-Houthi’s accusations against the government continue where he explains that the government killed thousands of soldiers throughout Sa’ada war to get rid of them. A number of Al-Houthi loyalists sworn that they witnessed mountain-paths full of killed soldiers.

They want an autonomous region in exchange for no attacks. It may be the only defense against Ali Mohsen, however in rejecting federalism in the South, the regime is limiting its options in the North.

According to high sources, Sana’a News Press said earlier this week that the president, who visited Germany last week for medical tests, met secretly with the political leader of the Al-Houthi group, Yahya Badr Adin Al-Houthi, who has been in Germany since he left his home country. The source also said the arrangements and communications were run last few weeks with the Qatari government and other regional parts aiming at bringing the president Ali Abdullah Saleh and Yahya Al-Houthi together. They also aim at promptly relieve tension and to cease an impending fifth war in Sa’ada.

The success of efforts and negotiations depends on concessions from both-sides. Government concessions consist of leaving an area with tribal influence of Houthis in many districts in Sa’ada. This is in return for giving guarantees ensuring that Houthis do not go with temptations to resume war, handing over heavy weapons while keeping light and medium-sized weapons for self-defense, according to the same sources. Houthis are to decide whether to live in Doha, capital city of Qatar or not. However, this choice may be excluded from the new agreements, especially when the authority is willing to grant them tribal and religious influence over two districts as yet unidentified.

SABA

Plan to protect Yemen from radiations not to be implemented yet

[15 December 2007]

SANA’A, Dec. 15 (Saba) - The Customs Authority’s head Ali al-Zabidi has called on the National Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) to implement its part in the agreement the two bodies signed at the beginning of 2007 on carrying out a plan to protect the country from the risks of radiation sources that may enter the Yemeni lands illegally.

He told Saba that the plan, which was scheduled to be implemented in collaboration with the NAEC, security authorities and coastguards, aimed at setting up updated apparatuses able to control strictly
land, marine and air outlets and to prevent any attempts of smuggling nuclear and radioactive materials.

Under the agreement, the NAEC should provide the authority with modern apparatuses and training the authority’s cadre on the use of them to thwart any smuggling of radioactive materials into the
Yemeni lands, but the agreement has not implemented yet, al-Zabidi said.

I’ve seen estimates of 50 million by 2050, but that may be based on optimum reproduction rates. If things stay the way they are, apparently its 90 million by 2045. But thats what happens when girls get married at 14 and have an average of seven kids.

SANA’A, Dec. 15 — In the Fourth National Conference for Population Policy, held under the theme, “Toward further implementation of a population policy,” participants stressed the necessity of providing family planning and reproductive health services in all health care centers.

Some of the papers reviewed warned against the risk of increased population growth, indicating that UN estimates show that if population growth in Yemen continues to increase at the present rate, the population will increase from its current 22.4 million to 29.9 million in 2015, then to 43 million in 2025, 62 million in 2035 and 90 million in 2045, finally reaching 108.6 million in 2050. However, the reports mentioned that if Yemen achieves the national population policy goals, estimated population growth will decline by 7 million in 2025, 16 million in 2035, and 49 million in 2050, accomplishing a balance between population growth and available resources and allowing Yemen to achieve its millennium objectives.

Studies also indicated that the annual 3 percent population growth rate is one of the key challenges facing development efforts. They also showed that Yemen is categorized as one of the least developed countries in human resource, ranked 174 out of 184 countries. According to the studies, poverty levels have progressively increased, from 19 percent in 1992 to 34 percent in 1999, and lastly 34.4 percent in 2005.

They also advised utilizing resolutions of free of charge health care units in addition to family planning consultations, encouraging women to breastfeed babies naturally, and increasing efforts to increase society awareness about prenatal care.

(Read on …)

almotamar.net - A presidential decree issued Monday on establishment of a Higher Committee for Tenders and Biddings.

The committee is composed of Mohammed Ahmed al-Junaid chairman and Fawzi Mujahid Abdulqader, Mahmoud Hussein al-Eryany and Mansour Saleh Mohammed Saleh al-Qaeti as members.

The decree stipulated that it is operative from the date of its issuance and publication in the official gazette.

almotamar.net, saba - In its meeting held on Sunday chaired by Premier Dr Ali Mohammed Mujawar , the cabinet ratified eight tenders for improving electricity estimated at YR 3 billion provided by government.

The tenders are about importing electronic equipment, motors, cables, wires and accessories to a number of projects in governorates of Mareb, Thamar and Sana’a.

The cabinet listened to a report of governor of Mareb over needs of the governorate and its districts of electricity and other projects in the light of the inclusive plan approved by the cabinet for boosting development process in Mareb governorate.

The cabinet directed speeding up accomplishing these projects and covering all areas of the governorate with electricity and completing road projects of Mareb-al-Beidha, Safer-Mareb, Safer-al-Noqob and others.

It urged all ministries to follow up implementing the cabinet’s previous decisions regarding Mareb development. The cabinet affirmed the role the local authority has to play to strengthen the process of projects implementation in all areas.

almotamar.net - Head of the Information office of the General People’s Congress (GPC) Tareq al-Shamy on Tuesday said the republican decision on establishment of the Higher Committee of Tenders and Biddings is an embodiment of seriousness of the state pursuit in the process of reforms and fighting corruption.

Al-Shamy said the decision on formation of the committee comes as part of reforms Yemen is witnessing. The reforms system has depended on clear vision concerning development of laws and adoption of transparency principle in all financial, economic and administrative dealings.

The GPC official added that this step comes to be complementary to what has been achieved in independence of judiciary, establishment of the Supreme National Anti-Corruption Authority and amendments of laws related to economic, financial, administrative and judicial measures.

He criticised the Joint Meeting Parties (JMP) negative stand concerning the reforms achieved, considering those stands as indicating a wrong understanding of opposition in opposing everything away from the national feeling. He added that the reforms serve the society and homeland.

almotamar.net - Yemen’s Interior Ministry announced last week its need for the recruitment of new 450 Yemeni girls as policewomen the security field.

The Yemeni Interior Ministry demand comes after it managed to recruit three thousand Yemeni girls in this field in the past three years. They have been able to prove the need of the society for them beside security men though the action was fac3ed with strong rejection by Yemeni Islamic political parties and a number of tribes that used to view the woman presence in the armed forces as a shame.

General Yahya Mohammed Abdullah Saleh, chief of general staff at the central security said a group of the policewomen had been employed in combating terror forces and that helped arrest terrorists disguised in woman’s clothes. General Yahya Saleh affirmed in a press statement it was discovered that some terrorists put on woman’s clothes and hide themselves in areas where there majority of women and they use women for protecting themselves. He added that male offices in the force cannot search women due to traditions.

Woman police in Yemen have achieved many successes and managed to fight all forms of terror. Women commandos have been able to foil many terrorist operations intended to be carried out by wearing woman’s clothes and managed to discover some women working for transporting explosives to terrorist groups, including the Houthi group.

Well, its a good example.

I hope he doesn’t a visit from the jinn.

SANA’A, NewsYemen

President Ali Abdullah Saleh has decided to gradually give up open chewing Qat sessions to preserve his valuable time and to avoid exploiting such sessions in meaningless tittle-tattle, the website of the Ministry of Defence said Thursday.

The official website said president Saleh started this step months ago and he would not hold open sessions any more except sessions, without qat, for discussing emergency cases in accordance with the public interest.

The website quoted some informed sources calling all people who have special or public issues to raise their complaints to specialized units, local authority or judiciary or concerned government bodies, to avoid the need to refer such troubles to the president to waste his time, as the source said.

President Saleh called, in his address to nation on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, the government, the legislative authority, the local authority, the civil society organizations and others to carry their responsibilities and solve problems without delay.

Yemenis in different parts of the country are complaining different issues related to living standards, human rights violaitons, price hikes and shortage of public services. The most important issue is the crisis of retired military personnel in southern Yemen.

IFH

Source: Annals of Tropical Paediatrics. 2007 Dec;27(4):253-259.

Abstract: The clinical spectrum of sickle cell disease (SCD) in the Arabian Peninsula varies widely. This is the first report in Yemeni children. A hospital-based, cross-sectional study was undertaken in Al-Wahada Teaching Hospital in Aden of children under 16 years with homozygous (SS) SCD. Fifty-six (55%) were males. There were clinical manifestations in 20% by the age of 6 months and in 67%, 88% and 92% by 1, 2 and 3 years, respectively. Dactylitis (hand-foot syndrome) was the most common presenting symptom and occurred in 54% of cases, followed by acute respiratory infections and other acute febrile illnesses. The main causes of hospitalisation were painful crisis (36%), anaemic crisis (16%) and acute chest syndrome (11%). Hepatomegaly was detected in 72% and splenomegaly in 40%. Cerebrovascular accident, cholelithiasis, hepatic crisis and leg ulcers each occurred in about 5% of patients. There was first- and second-degree consanguinity in 31% and 16%, respectively, of patients’ families. SCD is a serious problem, affecting children in Yemen from an early age. Disease course and severity were similar to that in Africans and American blacks and some reports from western Saudi Arabia. A screening programme linked to comprehensive medical care and genetic counselling is required to improve management and quality of life. (author’s)

Region: Middle East Country: Yemen

Language: English

Item ID: 322461

Date Posted: 10 December 2007

The Limburg was bombed in 2002. It was also the year the FBI issued the alert for Fawz Al-Raibi and the seeking info bulletin on several of his buds. CNN:

WASHINGTON (CNN) — A Guantanamo Bay detainee from Saudi Arabia — who is also the brother-in-law of a September 11, 2001, hijacker — faces terrorism charges, the U.S. Office of Military Commissions said Friday.

Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Haza al Darbi is accused of plotting attacks on a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz and off the Yemeni coast.

He was charged with conspiring with others to attack civilians, to murder in violation of the law of war and to destroy property in violation in of the law of war, the office said in a statement.

He was also charged with conspiring to hazard a vessel and to commit terrorism, as well as providing material support to terrorism.

Prosecutors allege that al Darbi traveled to Jalalabad, Afghanistan, where he met with Osama bin Laden, trained at al Qaeda’s Jihad Wahl training camp and later was a weapons instructor at another al Qaeda camp.

From 2001 through 2002, authorities believe al Darbi moved money from al Qaeda into banks to finance a plot to attack the vessel, the statement said.

Al Darbi allegedly prepared for an al Qaeda attack by traveling to several countries to buy a GPS device, a boat and other equipment in late 2000 or early 2002, the office said.

He registered the boat as the “al Rahal” under his own name under the Sao Tome flag, and bought a second boat to teach Yemenis how to swim and how to operate it, authorities said.

In the spring of 2002, al Darbi left the United Arab Emirates on the boat headed for Yemen, but diverted to Somalia because of concerns with his passport — discussing those plans by satellite phone, the office said.

Al Darbi is the brother-in-law of Khalid al-Mihdhar, a hijacker aboard American Airlines Flight 77 on September 11, 2001, the military said.

Sworn charges must be forwarded for review to a convening authority, which can then refer them to trial or may dismiss them, the office said.

If the charges are referred to trial, a judge and trial dates will be named later.

IRIN: Source: IRIN

MUKALLA, 25 December 2007 (IRIN) - Yemeni businessmen of Saudi origin and Saudi charities are having an impact on the health and education sectors in some of the poorest parts of Yemen, thanks to the various aid projects they fund.

Whereas previously they might have donated money for mosque-building, these groups have turned their attention to development projects, especially in the Hadhramaut, southeastern Yemen, where most of them hail from.

(Read on …)

Al-Baidha’a is second poorest province in Yemen, WB’s report says

[21 December 2007]

SANA’A, Dec. 21 (Saba) - Al-Baidha’a province was considered the second poorest province in Yemen after Amran province, the World Bank’s (WB) report on Poverty said.

According to the report, the poverty rate in al-Baidha’a was about 51.9% generally and that poverty rate in urban areas of the province was 16.6% and in countryside about 59.8%, however the poverty rate in Yemen is 34%.

The province leadership has organized a symposium on poverty with participation of international experts to evaluate poverty in the country.

World Bank 41336
YEMEN ECONOMIC UPDATE
Yemen Economic Update is a quarterly report that consists of five sections. The first section highlights
major economic and policy developments. The second section provides a special topic on the Yemeni
Economy. The third section summarizes new legislation, publications, data, conferences, and donor
activities in Yemen. The fourth section describes World Bank operations in Yemen and summarizes
ongoing operations. The fifth section gives detailed information on World Bank publications and
providescontactinformation.

Inside this Issue:

1 Summary
2 Recent Economic
Development
SUMMARY
3 Macroeconomic
Development and Progress was made in resolving some areas of internal conflicts,

Outlook but new fissures are opening up. The long-running conflict

4 Structural between the Yemeni government and the radical Houthi group in

Reforms and the Saada governorate, northern Yemen, is moving closer to a
peaceful resolution, with the government already announcing plans
Policies
and financial aid packages for the reconstruction of the war-
5 Outlook damaged areas in the North. The government is taking serious
6 Economic and measures towards controlling the spread of personal arms. Holding
Sector Dialogue a fair election process for the president and the local councils is
7 New and widely viewed as a good sign in political stability. However,
Noteworthy failures in managing short-term costs of civil service reforms and
8 World Bank inflation have sown seeds of discontent mainly in the southern parts
Operations of Yemen, where riots are repeatedly breaking out.

9 World Bank
Publication
Yemen’s macroeconomic performance showed mixed results in 2006.
Oil production declined by 8.8 percent, while non-oil growth
continued at a fair pace of about 5 percent, leading to an overall
growth rate of 4 percent, slightly less than the 4.6 percent of the
previous year. Meanwhile, 2006 prices of Yemeni crude exports

The World Bank Group increased by 22 percent, helping to sustain a positive–albeit a small–
current account balance and push foreign reserves to the equivalent of
Sana’a Office
about 11 months of imports. Similarly, government-related oil and
gas income increased by more than 40 percent, leading to a small fiscal
surplus for the first time in many years. On the negative side,
inflation soared by 18.4 percent, due to demand pressures and a
significant jump in the cost of food and transport.

(Read on …)