Armies of Liberation

In a stunning development Monday, Yemen’s Special Terrorism Court upheld the guilty verdict against journalist Abdulkarim al Khaiwani. The journalist had been pardoned by President Saleh on September 25, 2008 after spending months in jail.

Monday’s ruling affirmed Mr. Al Khaiwani’s conviction on the charges of “disseminating pro-rebel propaganda to local and foreign media” with the intent of adversely affecting “the morale of the military” and creating a social disturbance.

Mr. Al Khaiwani was the subject of a massive international campaign after he was arrested in July 2007 and falsely accused of “terrorism”. The state’s evidence consisted of journalistic materials-article notes and some photos. He was imprisoned June 9, 2008 after being sentenced to six years in jail. As the CPJ noted, “the case against al-Khaiwani was seen as retaliation for his criticism of the government’s fight against the rebels and his writing about government nepotism.”

Al Khaiwani was caught unawares by Monday’s ruling and expressed amazement at the outcome of the appeal trial. He noted that he had received a presidential pardon and formal assurances from the Minister of Justice and other judicial officials that the issue is closed.

Al Khaiwani said he did not receive any summons to attend the court hearing and had not received any notice of the continuation of the trial. “The court did not consider the appeal submitted by my defense relating to the change in the severity of the sentence after it was issued. We have documented with both audio and video evidence that the terms of sentence was increased after the original ruling in court,” he added.

Al-Khaiwani remains free at the moment and it is unclear what may follow; however the terrorism conviction is sure to substantially impact his future travels and employment.

***This is a sticky scroll down for newer posts***

That’s callled being a journalist you, you, Dictotards! From what I understand from the local media, the other people were bringing medicine into Saada after the government blockaded everything. The government just randomly attached al Khaiwani to the case. Youze a terrist now boy! Anyway what happened today is the appeals court upheld all the convictions. The court upheld the death sentence on one of the “cell”. So what does this mean that Al-Khaiwani is convicted? Its probably to hold over his head as a threat.

Pro-rebel? This from the criminal government that is engaged in collective punishment of the civilian population and belongs in front of the ICC. Oh, lets just call it a jihad, a much more bling-ish description and quite appropriate considering the government is using terrorists to fight the Shiite rebels and starving and bombing the civilian population. And if the international humanitarian organizations want to know why they are just not getting access, they could look back to my 2005 article about the allegations of chemical weapons use in Sa’ada. This remains an unresolved question.

Sana’a, Yemen - Also involved in the case was Abdul-Kareem al-Khaiwani, former editor of the Shura opposition weekly, who had previously received a six-year jail sentence. He was convicted of disseminating pro-rebel propaganda to local and foreign media. Al-Khaiwani served eight months of his term before President Ali Abdullah Saleh pardoned him last year.

Update: GOOD! The stooge regime media is not mentioning him at all. Probably just a formality.

News Yemen: The Specialized Criminal Court in Sana’a on Monday upheld the death penalty against one of al-Houthi’s supporters and terms in jail against other 13 members charged with forming “al-Houthi Second Cell”, including journalist Abdul-Karim al-Khaiwani.

Update: now its three people tried to pass the embassy checkpoint and no shots fired at the embassy. The police fired in the air to stop the car from fleeing.

Update 2: US version, Yemeni security forces “exchanged gunfire with an unknown group of individuals in the vicinity of the U.S. embassy,” State Department spokesman Gordon Duguid said in Washington.

“The exact circumstances and motivations behind this incident are unclear, and an investigation is ongoing,” he said, adding that no U.S. personnel were harmed and the embassy was not damaged.

Update 3: Three arrested. OK so let review, they send an email and also call to say there will be an attack. Yemeni security sets up an extra parimeter. Three guys drive up and try to get past the check point. The Yemeni guards shoot in the air and the three surrender with no injuries to anyone. gee…

Original Post:

AP reports that the US embassy received a threat of an attack today, by both phone and email. Several hours later, a gunman shoots at a police checkpoint. The car fled. Does that make sense? Since when does al Qaeda email notice of an impending assualt?

SAN’A, Yemen – Gunmen in a car fired on a police checkpoint near the U.S. Embassy in Yemen’s capital on Monday, an Interior Ministry official said, hours after the embassy received threats of a possible attack.
Police returned fire at two gunmen in the car, which fled the scene, the official said. It was unclear if anyone was injured. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not allowed to speak to the press. He said three men in the area were detained.

An attack on the embassy in September involving gunmen and explosives-packed vehicles killed 17 people, including six militants. Al-Qaida later claimed responsibility for that attack…Earlier, a Yemeni security official said the U.S. Embassy received a telephone call and an e-mail early Monday saying the U.S. and Russian embassies would be targeted by al-Qaida within a few hours.

ah, there’s al Reimi, trashing Hezbollah.

from MEMRI

Deputy Emir of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and Former Guantanamo Prisoner: We’ll Continue Jihad Until “We Set Up an Islamic State and Establish a Caliphate… And Until the Law of Allah Is Implemented”
(Read on …)

Interview with Nassir al Wahishi, Susan Elbaneh who got killed in the Embassy bombing deserved it for being close to the embassy, he says. Its not like she was in a mosque, he says. Arrogant, fascist dirtbag. Interestingly he notes the USS Cole was enroute to enforce the sanctions on Iraq.

And an interview with Khaled Abdul al Nabi, he supports unity. His he recent arrest started as a traffic stop gone wrong. There is no entity called the Aden Abyan Islamic Army, he says.

al Sahwa Yemeni authorities keep holding Yemeni journalist Wajdi al-Shabi who was arrested while he was covering a rally held in Aden on Tuesday.

Al-Shabi was abusively taken to the criminal investigation of Aden and was charged with involving in confrontations with the authorities last year.

Al-Watan newspaper which al-Shabi belongs to demanded to immediately release its journalist, holding the security responsible for its life.

Well that’s good, they need to uphold their end of the bargain and they should have released the prisoners months ago. The regime should release their prisoners as well.

New Yemen: Leader of rebels in Sa’ada Abdul-Malik al-Houthi has released 30 policemen held in custody during conflict between the government forces and al-Houthi’s supporters early in 2008.

The hostages have been extradited to a mediation committee which is following up a peace deal between the government and al-Houthi, local sources told NY.

The media office of al-Houthi reported the release and said it was a step to prove “good will” of al-Houthis to put an end for conflict. The office called upon the government to take a similar step and release all imprisoned al-Houthis.

The release could not confidently be confirmed.

January 20, 2009

In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate

Honorable President Barack Obama

Greetings

We, Southern Yemenis, are extremely happy with your election as our new president. On this day of your inauguration as the 44th President of the United States of America; in truth, the president of the entire world; it is our honor to send our warmest and most sincere congratulations to you, and to us, on this historic occasion. We would like, also, to wish you success and strength in your tremendous and challenging tasks.

Mr. President,

You are the first and the best one to know, that you have reached the mantle of the presidency lifted by the powerful slogan of change. The hearts of all Americans, and probably every man on this beautiful planet that deserves preservation and protection, have carried you to the presidency because their hearts resonate whenever they hear this great slogan of change. (Read on …)

by Nashwan Ghanem

Democratic Arab .. fattening generals and killed activists and bloggers!!

A reading of the current Arab scene by scene, the press and stifle freedoms on the sidelines of a more serious stage is not in conformity with the race around the world information revolution, this time the dangerous Arab-led government wants to keep its people in the age of blockage and ignorance and accept the bitter reality!!

The spider’s web, which weaves in this context, and in recent years has expanded the continuing abuses against journalists and many of the reporters, activists and bloggers. With the widening of the so-called fourth power of any electronic journalism .. and allowed without any limits to the writing of the most daring and freedom, and for those who missed work the press without restrictions from the grip of authoritarian management and whip! (Read on …)

A press Release on the Leading Journalist and Writer, Hussein al-Lasoss’s Attack and Detention

Issued by: HOOD and WJWC

This is a press release issued by both HOOD and Women Journalists without Chains Organization (WJWC), regarding the attack exposed to the journalist and writer Hussein al-Lasoss by al-Baida province mayor’s bodyguards. Mr. Hussien was barbarically attacked and arbitrarily incarcerated with no legal justification.

Press Release

HOOD and WJWC express their deep concerns about the current miserable health status of Mr. Hussein al-Lasoss, as he is reported to have a serious injury in his head and sustain several contusions on his body as well. Mr. Hussien was barbarically attacked and arbitrarily incarcerated with no legal justification.

Al-Lasoss was kidnapped and beaten by the mayor’s bodyguards of al-Baida province. He was dragged last Thursday to the mayor’s house and then transferred to the Security Administration of al-Baida province’s prison and apprehended there to date. Mr. Hussein al-Lasoss is one of the leading journalists and the editor–in-chief of al-Baida Press website.

HOOD and WJWC also condemn this blatant physical assault and reiterate that this attack was due to his writings about corruption in al-Baida province, and believe that it comes under a systematic and organized campaign targeting writers and journalists.

HOOD believes that Mr. Hussein was attacked because of his opinion which is protected by the Yemeni constitution.

HOOD and WJWC, therefore, urge the Attorney–General to do his entitled legal duty in protecting individuals, particularly journalists from attacks and violations. They moreover call upon Attorney–General to issue an executive order of Hussein’s release and start an unbiased serious investigation with the perpetrators.

As they also call upon the Minister of Interior to proceed an investigation with the participation of Civil Society Organizations and Journalists Syndicate on the assaults and threats subjected to activists, journalists and writers by its security authorities and to take a legal action against those involved in such attacks.

HOOD and WJWC hold both the Security chief the mayor of al-Baida responsible for this attack and call upon the local community to investigate their involvement.

Finally, HOOD and WJWC call for instant release of the leading active journalist and bringing the perpetrators who attacked him and those in responsible for his outlaw detention to justice.

Issued by HOOD and WJWC

Sat. Junaury24, 2009

Much of the Sa’ada war is being fought by children on both sides. Those little girls are probably married.

SEYAJ organization for Childhood Protecting Press Release

Urgent humanitarian appeal

Stop killing children in tribal wars.

40% of the killed in tribal wars are Children.

SEYAJ organization for childhood Protection calls upon fighting tribes in Amran province and other tribal areas in Yemen to respect traditions and values of the tribes – if they don’t respect Islamic orders and national laws – and avoid killing or targeting children and women in wars or civilians who are not involved in the fighting.

SEYAJ Sources in the clashes area emphasize that until today January 25, 2009, 63 people were killed, 40% of them under the legal age in clashes which have been taking place for more than four months in the tribal areas of ‘Amran’ province- Approximately 50 km north of Sana’a.

SEYAJ demands all related officials and tribal sheikhs and men to enact a disciplinary law against any party proven that it is targeting children and women, or using them in combat operations, either as combatants, assistants or providing logistical support or any other forms of engagement that put their lives at risk.

According to Seyaj sources, combatants use children in these clashes and 50% of the fighters in the tribal wars are from children.

SEYAJ express its deep concern about such unacceptable conditions and calls on the State represented by the Ministry of the Interior to do their duty and protect citizens’ lives in general and children in particular.
Moreover It calls upon the media to shed more light on what is happening in war areas to convey a real image to the local and international public opinion hoping that somebody would mediate between the fighting parties to end this war.

SEYAJ also urges civil society organizations and all concerned to pressure the government in order to stop the massacres, which claim dozens of lives in silence instead of that it should support tribesmen to develop their life economically, educationally, and intellectually.

We hope urgent actions and widespread condemnation of what is happening to children in wars will come to pass whether ongoing or intermittent wars, tribal-tribal or between the state and the tribes.

SEYAJ Organization for Childhood Protection
Republic of Yemen – Sana’a

25th January 2009

Ah, good. The tribal angle and the Sa’ada war from the Media Line

The clashes in ‘Amran, about 50 kilometers north of ‘San’aa, erupted late last year between the Harf Sufian and ‘U’seimat tribes, and there are fears they will encompass larger tribal coalitions.

There are also concerns that a continuation of the clashes will deflect from the power of the government forces, and give more power to Shi’ite rebels from the Al-Houthi clan, who are positioned in the northern part of the country.

The tribes have a long-standing dispute over land, but the rebellion up north, which pits Shi’ite extremists against government forces, has accentuated their rivalry, with Harf Sufian supporting Al-Houthi and ‘U’seimat tribes siding with the government.

‘U’seimat tribes deny they are receiving government support against Harf Sufian.

Two Saudis featured in a Yemeni Al Qaeda propaganda video were previously held at Guantanamo Bay. They went through the Kingdom’s rehabilitation program which features art therapy. DOD estimates detainees released thus far have a ten percent recidivism rate , with 61 of over 500 returned to the battlefield. New York Times identified the Saudis as Said Ali al Shihri and Mohamed Atiq Awayd al-Harbi.

Yemen’s president announced that the US will repatriate 94 Yemeni detainees within three months. Yemen is building a rehab center, and the FBI this week delivered a half million dollars worth of biometric collection equipment including mobile fingerprint sets. US Ambassador to Yemen, Steven Seche noted this week on America. gov, “The Yemeni government legitimately can cite capacity issues that hinder its effectiveness against terrorists.”

Remarking on the status of the Yemenis at Guantanamo, Seche said, “Except in the case perhaps of some very hard-core elements, we believe that the majority of these detainees can be put productively into a … reintegration program with the goal over time of enabling them to find a way back into Yemeni society without posing a security risk.”

Yemen has a troubling history of placating al Qaeda operatives, a history which includes early releases of convicted terrorists, multiple escapes, deal making with the terror group, and outright lying to the US on the status of al Qaeda operatives. In 2000, the USS Cole was attacked in Aden port killing 17 US sailors and sixteen were killed in a terror assault on the US Embassy in Sana’a last September. (Read on …)

Its quite a professional vid, they have good cameras, editing. I try not to link this trash, so see Trey if you’re interested. I still want to know if al Shahri is related to the 9/11 mass murderer of the same name.

Article from the NYT:

2 Ex-Detainees in Qaeda Video
By ROBERT F. WORTH
BEIRUT, Lebanon — Two former Guantánamo Bay detainees now appear to have joined Al Qaeda’s Yemeni branch, which released a video on Friday showing them both and identifying them by their names and Guantánamo detainee numbers.

American counterterrorism officials have already confirmed that Said Ali al-Shihri, 35, who was released from the American prison camp at Guantánamo in November 2007, is now the deputy leader of Al Qaeda’s Yemeni branch. He is suspected of playing a role in a deadly attack on the American Embassy in the Yemeni capital, Sana, in September.

In the video released Friday, Mr. Shihri sits alongside a man identified as Abu Hareth Muhammad al-Awfi, who appears with a script at the bottom of the screen giving his Guantánamo identification number, 333. That number corresponds to a man known in Pentagon documents as Mohamed Atiq Awayd al-Harbi, who was also released to Saudi Arabia in November 2007….

In the video released Friday, Mr. Awfi warns fellow prisoners about the Saudi program and threatens attacks against Saudi Arabia. He also speaks angrily about the Israeli attacks on Hamas in Gaza.

The Military Commissions, once they started, worked well. The Yemeni detainees cleared for release apparently are not an issue for the messiah. The US is going to put its security in Saleh’s hands and hope counseling will do the trick. I hope theres some overarching plan to deal with the spread and empowerment of al Qaeda in Yemen.

US donates $500,000 worth of equipment to keep track of them.

Depute Assistant Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation James W. McJunkin has delivered to the Yemeni Government state-of-the art thirty biometric collection systems. As part of the United States’ commitment to assisting Yemen combat terrorism and other criminal activity, these systems, with a total value over $503,000, will assist in the collection and comparison of biometric data, specifically fingerprints.

IHT: released Saudi gitmo detainee is now #2 of AQY.

YO The Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh said Saturday that a total of 94 Yemeni Guantanamo detainees will be released to Yemen within three months.

He said Yemen had refused an offer from the former US administration to the release the Yemeni men to Saudi Arabia for rehabilitation.

“We refused the offer to release the Yemenis to Saudi Arabia for rehabilitation, and we told them we would establish our own centre for rehabilitating them and helping them get rid of extremism and violence,” said President Saleh in an annual conference for security leaders held in Sana’a Saturday.

“Now, within 60-90 days, 94 Yemeni detainees will be here among us,” he said

Late last week, the Yemeni government announced it has started to establish a special centre for receiving, re-qualifying and reintegrating its citizens in the Guantanamo detention when they are released. (Read on …)

near? funded by Iran and Qatar was the discordant note.

YO: The Office Director of Sheik Abdul-Majid al-Zindani, Rector of al-Eman University denied allegations made by some Yemeni websites that there is an open camp to train Jihadi fighters at the University. (Read on …)

Mortar attacks in Sana’a, Sayoun suicde bombing last summer and the ambush on the Belguin tourists. How long have these guys been in custody?

Almotamar.net, Saba – Yemen’s security authorities have begun investigating with 16 al-Qaeda suspects, 11 Yemenis and 5 Arab nationals, a judicial source said on Saturday.

The judicial source was quoted by the state-run 26sep.net as saying that the suspected terrorists have been being investigated into charges relating to carrying out a number of terrorist operations which targeted oil and foreign facilities and foreign tourists in the provinces of Hadramout, Aden and Sana’a.

The source pointed out that the suspected terrorists were involved in the attacks against a school adjacent the US embassy in Sana’a, a residential complex in Haddah area, the terrorist attack which targeted Belgian tourists in Hadramout, the suicide attack which targeted a camp of the Central Security Forces in Hadramout and attacks on security checkpoints in Hadramout.

What happened to Abu Yahya? Abu Osama, maybe its Saad, Hamza. Joking, of course…

From Empty Quarter:
Abu Osama of Jund al-Yemen “also said that Abyan, Shabwa, Hadhramout, Marib, al-Jawf and Sa’ada are on the verge of falling into al-Qaeda control. He also predicted more confrontations with Yemeni security forces in the near future, saying that the government’s efforts at negotiation with al-Qaeda had come to an impasse. He pledged attacks against military, oil and tourism targets.” (emphasis added)

Yemen Observer Over 300 young Yemeni men affiliated with al-Qaeda traveled to Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia for Jihad in 2008, said an alleged al-Qaeda military leader on Wednesday.

“More than 300 young men from the land of Yemen, who are members of our organization joined their brothers in Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia during 2008,” said Abu Osama, a member of the military council of al-Qaeda and the commander of the Yemen Brigades. (Fatah al Islam? Lebanon, no?)

In a statement published by the local weekly independent newspaper al-Wasat, Abu Osama claims that al-Qaeda in Yemen has become stronger than ever. He also said mediation between al-Qaeda and the Yemeni government remains deadlocked. (Read on …)

Full Report here.

Insurgent Abuses against Afghan Civilians
2
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY …………………………………………….2
I. INTRODUCTION ……………………………………………….4
II. MANDATE AND METHODOLOGY ………………………………………… 10
III. FROM INTIMIDATION TO MURDER: INSURGENT ABUSES AGAINST CIVILIANS …………………….. 13
A. THE INTIMIDATION BEGINS: “NIGHT LETTERS” AND VERBAL THREATS ……………………. 14
B. VIOLENCE ESCALATES: ABDUCTIONS AND DESTRUCTION …………………………………………. 18
C. THE ULTIMATE PUNISHMENT: MURDER, MUTILATION AND MAIMING ……………………… 20
1. Shooting of Civilians ……………………………………..
2. Beheadings, Hangings and Mutilation……………………………………………………………. 23
3. Perfidious Suicide Attacks …………………………………………………………………………… 27
IV. OTHER UNLAWFUL METHODS OF WARFARE: INDISCRIMINATE ROCKET ATTACKS AND THE
IMPROPER USE OF MILITARY UNIFORMS ………………………………………………………………… 30
V. FAR REACHING CONSEQUENCES OF INSURGENT ABUSE …………………………………………………. 33
A. UNEMPLOYMENT ………………………………… 34
B. HEALTH SERVICES …………………………………………….. 35
C. EDUCATION ………………………………………………… 36
D. HUMANITARIAN SUPPLIES AND COMPENSATION ………………………………………………….. 37
VI. PERCEPTIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT’S SECURITY FAILURES ………………………………………….. 38
VII. CONCLUSION …………………………………………………… 40
VIII. RECOMMENDATIONS ……………………………………………… 401

Its a little funny when one dictatorship tutors another. SABA

Yemen, Syria to activate judicial cooperation ties

DAMASCUS, Jan. 21 (Saba) – Yemen ambassador to Syria Abdul Wahab Tawaf held talks on Wednesday with the Syrian Justice Minister Mohammed al-Ghafri, over mutual cooperation and coordination aspects between Yemen and Syria in legal and judicial fields and means of boosting and improving them.

The meeting also discussed means of activating cooperation agreements, protocols signed between the two countries and possibilities of exchanging experiences, in addition to qualification and training programs for judges and administrative institutions to support judicial institutions.

Trained in Georgia, APA

Baku. Ramil Mammadli–APA. The Court of Grave Crimes held a hearing on the case of Rahim Salmanov, member of the Haji Jankayev’s gang accused in deliberate murder, violent capture of power, creation of armed formations, excitation of national, racial and religious hostility, on Wednesday. The court presided by Judge Javid Huseynov, approved the guilt of Rahim Khaliddin Salmanov and sentenced him for 15 years of imprisonment. (Read on …)