Sa’ada Reflares
Violence is building in Yemen’s northern Sa’ada province as soldiers and pro-government tribesmen attack homes, villages and public roads despite a truce that ended the four year war last July. The International Crisis Group warned yesterday the conflict has become “self-perpetuating, giving rise to a war economy”, noting the “destruction of entire villages and infrastructure by army shelling, air bombardment and indiscriminate military and police violence” exacerbated tensions.
With the journalists excluded, its difficult to verfiy either side’s claims. The only neutral truth is the civilians are bearing the brunt of the war. The confiscation of donor aid seems quite plausable and is a frequently repeated charge.
Yemen Times SA’ADA, May 27 –Tensions are mounting as clashes continue between the army -backed by pro-government tribesmen- and Houthi supporters in more than one district in Sa’ada, according to tribal sources in the governorate.
The districts bearing the brunt of the fighting are the western areas of Mirran and northwestern areas of Razeh.
“Military personnel in positions of western areas near Mirran district continue their violations against citizens, using light and heavy weapons, and mortars and tanks,” has stated the media office of Abdulmalik Al-Houthi, the Houthis field leader. “Forces in the Lahman, Jaria and Majram districts continue targeting villages, farms and roads.”
“The government and its military officials ignore civilian suffering from ceaseless violations committed by the army,” it has said. “Several citizens were killed or wounded and dozens of others have suffered permanent impairment.”
According to the statement, “In Razeh district, military forces, taking control of the Haram Mountain, have been striking Ibn Uqba Mountain and the highway until the time of writing this report, despite the strong efforts of mediators in the district.”
The army continues to attack the homes of civilians, villages and public roads despite interventions by mediators, it said: “Seemingly, the government doesn’t want stability in Sa’ada.
It practices intimidation and arbitrary arrests of citizens in an attempt to push citizens to back it during its fight with Houthis. It attacks, arrests or suspends the salaries of those citizens who refuse to support the army.”
“The security situation in Razih and Saqain areas is relatively calm, but it is dire in other areas of Mirran since the government forces continue their sporadic strikes with mortars and Katyusha missiles on villages and farmlands with the aim of intimidating citizens,” official Houthi spokesman Sheikh Saleh Habra told the Yemen Times on Wednesday. “As a result, citizens are endangered when cultivating their land or watering their plants.”
“Until now, we don’t know who is behind such violations,” Habra said. “We have been unable to identify the security and military officials giving orders to attack safe villages and kill innocent civilians. The government forces even kill cattle, and destroy farmland and other property.”
According to the tribal leader, the humanitarian situation is dire and deadly. “I accuse those organizations claiming to be offering humanitarian assistance of deceiving the public to sway their opinion, as the UN aid to Sa’ada is delivered to government officials, who then store them in government warehouses and exploit them according to their own desires. Displaced citizens receive nothing of such assistance.”
In reply to an official statement stating that the government has finished 80 percent of reconstruction in Sa’ada, Habra said,” These statements made by government officials are incorrect and baseless since the government hasn’t undertaken even one percent of reconstruction governorate-wide. What is reported in the official media is merely lies.”
Sa’ada Governor Hassan Manaa has ordered the responsible authorities to halt any benefits to Khalid Mahmoud Mutahar, General Director for Legal Affairs in the governorate. According to local sources in Sa’ada, the latter had sent a letter to President Ali Abdullah Saleh and this was probably the reason why the governor suspended his privileges.
Mutahar told President Saleh about repeated crackdowns by security authorities against him on the governor’s orders. The victim has been pursued by security authorities for two weeks on suspicion of being loyal to the Houthis.
The authorities allege that he is a Hashemite mediator who may have close relations with Houthis.
In his letter, Mutahar said, “I have developed a proposal for former Minister of Local Administration Abdulqader Hilal to solve the problem, but that did nothing for my protection.”
The proposal, a copy of which was sent to Abdulmalik Al-Houthi, contributed much to Hilal’s historical efforts that were about to conciliate between the government and Houthis, according to local sources.
Mutahar indicated in his letter that the Houthis’ demands don’t exceed the exchange of war prisoners, equal and fair compensations to citizens whose property has been damaged in the fighting, and free and peaceful living for Sa’ada citizens in accordance with Constitution of the Republic of Yemen.
An official report, published by state-affiliated media outlets this week, highlighted that the government has completed 80 percent of the reconstruction project in Sahar and other areas in the war-ravaged province.
According to the report, as many as 367 homes were damaged in Sahar areas, 44 of which were completely destroyed and 171 partially damaged while 152 homes need restoration only. Up to 72 percent of the reconstruction project in the area has been completed.
The report also highlighted the second reconstruction phase that covered areas of Al-Humaidan, Al-Saifi, Al-Aredha, Al-Abqour, Al-Isha, Al-Quba, Al-Aziz, Al-Kareef and Masaeba in Sahar district. A total number of 1,489 homes were damaged in the consecutive wars and their reconstruction cost is estimated at YR 1.175 billion.
Damaged houses covered by the third reconstruction phase in Bani Muadh and Mahadher areas numbered up to 1,107. As many as 1,114 farmlands in both areas were destroyed, of which only 236 were restored. Also, 18 schools and other four public facilities in both areas were damaged.
The official report, which the governor and other officials involved in the reconstruction project discussed, reviewed numerous difficulties and obstacles faced by the responsible fund and workers that had delayed the project’s progress.
Sa’ada inhabitants expressed their concerns over the lack of security and stability in their areas. As a result, they can’t reach their farmlands and their children can’t go to school.
The life of civilians in the war-torn governorate has been disrupted since conflict between the army and Houthis first began in June 2004.
Citizens in Sa’ada have appealed to the government to put an end to insecure conditions in their areas and prevent influential persons from fueling conflicts in their villages.
