Armies of Liberation

translation via NYR | MasdarOnline | Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations said that the political process seeking to resolve the crisis in Yemen reached a “dead end” but he expressed optimism that Yemenis will find out a solution that guarantee entry in the transitional stage and transfer of power in the country. (Read on …)

UN Human Rights Council: Yemen Resolution Falls Far Short
Creation of Expert on Accountability a Step Forward

(Geneva, October 1, 2011) – The United Nations Human Rights Council’s weak response to the rapidly deteriorating human rights situation in Yemen betrays the Yemeni people, Human Rights Watch said today. The Council, whose current session ended on September 30, 2011, adopted a resolution on Yemen that fails to push for either an international investigation into recent abuses or an ongoing human rights monitoring presence in the country.

The tepid resolution reflected efforts to secure Yemen’s support for the measure, and concerns that a “non-consensual” text would not garner a majority vote in the Council, Human Rights Watch said. (Read on …)

Google translated, the original Arabic below, he says any representatives that UN envoy Jamal bin Omar met in Sanaa or in Cairo or YSP members do not represent the southern movement and he should come to the south to see the situation on the ground and talk to the leaders of the southern movement if he wants to actually solve “the Yemen crisis.”

We read through the media of the activities and meetings of the Envoy of the Secretary General of the United Nations, Jamal Bin Omar on assistance in solving the so-called crisis of Yemen According to the initiative of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

However, we believe that the Gulf initiative did not touch the essence of the so-called Yemen problem, a crisis in the occupation of the south 7-7-1994, which came because of all the These consequences, which means that Astmraha a threat to peace in the region And the whole world because of the important strategic site for the South. (Read on …)

The UN Human Rights Commission adopted Yemen’s proposed statement on the violence in Yemen and then asked it to investigate itself, will check back in next year.

President Saleh is going to start bombing cities tomorrow with this weak willed international sanction that doesn’t even name the murderers. What cowards.

I guess naming state security forces as the guilty party would highlight the complicity of the US trained Counter Terror Units and undoubtedly the culpability of their US allied and funded commanders (Saleh’s relatives) in numerous massacres. They have slaughtered nearly 1000 protesters in Yemen and over 10,000 are wounded.

Either Obama officials have no clue about what is actually going on in Yemen, or they think the opposition may become more subverted by al Qaeda than the existing regime. But that’s a theoretical calculation that entirely discounts the millions calling for regime change and a civil (non-military, non-theocratic) government. The undeniable reality is that the Sanaa regime is currently paying al Qaeda and used them to target opponents for two decades.

Its a total disaster and the blow back is going to be a bitch. Its a terrifying situation in that the dictator Saleh is a bloodthirsty lunatic who values nothing beyond staying in power and stealing money. And he’s just been given the green light by the entire world to open fire on unarmed protesters in order to accomplish his goals.

Source: AFP, The UN Human Rights Council Thursday slammed violations in Yemen but did not say if they were committed by troops loyal to embattled President Ali Abdullah Saleh or rival tribesmen and renegade troops.

The resolution, proposed by Yemen itself and adopted by consensus, asked the office of the UN rights chief Navi Pillay to present a progress report on the situation in the country during the next sitting of the council in 2012.

It also noted the Yemeni authorities’ pledge to launch ‘transparent and independent investigations, which will adhere to international standards’ on the alleged abuses. (Read on …)

Yemen Post: As Yemen is living through its worst spell of violence since the beginning of its popular uprising, with several hundred casualties awaiting medical treatment, the Red Cross is accusing the Yemeni government of theft and abuses.

According to Valerie Petitpierre, the deputy head of the International Committee of the Red Cross’s delegation in Yemen, government forces would have physically assaulted some of her staff as they were trying to confiscate their medical supplies.

“The ICRC delegation is receiving very worrying reports of armed confrontations taking place in Al-Gomhori Hospital and placing many innocent lives at risk,” she said.

Eye witnesses within the hospitals confirmed the allegations, saying that several members of the Red Cross staffs had been beaten and threatened of further reprisals if they insisted in helping the wounded.

Petitpierre went further in her declaration mentioning that “in some cases they have had equipment confiscated, and there have also been incidents in which they were denied access to people in need of first aid.”

She stressed that it was the government’s moral duty to ensure and facilitate medical treatment to all, beyond prejudice or feelings of revenge. “Anyone injured or wounded must be able to receive life-saving health care without undue delay.”

Its really sad. The kidnapping of the three French aid workers, the dust up with the French ambassador and other incidents, after France expressed support for the revolution, is reminiscent of the two pedestrian suicide attacks on the British ambassador’s convoy after the UK made statements about the uprising in the south. An insider says the attack on the US Embassy was conceived by the security forces. While this all may seem a stretch for those who think it is a normal government, the Saleh regime’s utter lack of morality and rationality does not preclude the deployment of Islamic extremists as a extension of foreign policy as it is already an extension of domestic policy, for example deploying al Qaeda during the Saada War against the Houthis and residents.

Maritime Security Asia: [NMS: It seems that the mystery surrounding the whereabouts and status of the French yacht has been solved, sadly with a tragic outcome, with EU NAVFOR playing a key role in the interdiction of the attackers and rescue of the remaining crew. There are still rumours of another French yacht going missing at around the same time, although these have yet to be completely confirmed and have been denied by Yemeni authorities. The story illustrates the confusion that can result with pirate attack reports as well as illustrating the desperate measures some pirate gangs are resorting to.]

MARSEILLE – Pirates who attacked a yacht in the Gulf of Aden killed its French skipper before abandoning it, a close to the family said Sunday, the day after the dead man’s wife was found unharmed.

Christian and Evelyne Colombo’s family was informed overnight that the 55-year-old was killed during the attack and his body thrown overboard before their catamaran was found abandoned on Thursday, the same said.

A German warship found the couple’s catamaran, the Tribal Kat, adrift in waters off Yemen on Thursday after it broadcast a mayday appeal for help.

There were signs of struggle, including bullet holes and blood stains, and no one was on board, prompting commanders from the EU’s anti-piracy naval task force Atalanta to launch an air and sea search for the attackers.

Every transgression contained in the report is a habitual tactic of the Yemeni government and has been used in Saada War from 2004-2010, against the southern movement (2007-2010) and other communities and individuals in Yemen including: denial of medical services (including bombing hospitals), shooting ambulances, random fire into crowds, bombing residential areas, denial of international aid and access, bombing mosques and schools, arbitrary detention, incommunicado detention, horrific torture and the targeting of journalists and activists by thugs and security officers.

The UN is calling for an impartial investigation; however the UN has dropped the ball time and time again by failing to publicize and follow up slaughters committed prior to the outbreak of the revolution. For example, the Yemeni air force bombed a group of Saada War refugees,mostly women and children, on an open field, killing 83 in August 2009. The UN issued a similar call for an investigation and that was the end of it. Despite the fact that Yemeni security forces were shooting unarmed southern protesters week after week, and arbitrarily imprisoned thousands, the US deemed it an internal affair. Likewise the shelling and blockade of Dhalie was only broken by a peace convoy from Taiz, amid the staggering silence from the US embassy. There was enough evidence to bring Saleh to a war crimes trial in 2009.

Through two terms the Bush administration over looked these vast and continual human rights abuses, and Obama continued the failed policy of subordinating HR to CT. Yet the CT product was never there. The current re-branding of Saleh as a good partner on CT and John Brennan’s statement that “cooperation has never been better,” is overt duplicity in light of Yemen’s revolving door policy for al Qaeda (escapes, releases, rehabilitation and bogus trials and all the “hunting”) that is and has been coupled with a strenuous disinformation campaign.

Maybe the French will be the first to use the term “false flag attack” or “state jihaddists.”

Yemen: Urgent need to address dire humanitarian and human rights situation – UN human rights report

GENEVA – A report published Tuesday by a UN human rights assessment mission to Yemen calls for immediate action to protect civilians, respect the right to peaceful demonstration and to address the “deteriorating humanitarian situation” in the country.

The report by the UN human rights office also stresses the need for “international, independent and impartial investigations” into allegations of human rights abuses related to the peaceful protest movement in Yemen since the beginning of this year.

A delegation from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights visited Aden, Sana’a and Ta’izz between 28 June and 6 July this year. The team met many key officials, including the Vice-President, leaders of political parties and members of Parliament as well as NGO representatives, lawyers, journalists, doctors, human rights defenders, victims of violations and their relatives.

“The Mission observed an overall situation where many Yemenis peacefully calling for greater freedoms, an end to corruption and respect for rule of law were met with excessive and disproportionate use of lethal force by the state,” the report states. “Hundreds have been killed and thousands have suffered injuries including loss of limbs.”

The assessment team witnessed the deployment of tanks in Ta’izz and shelling of the city at night. It also observed signs of collective punishment, causing severe hardship to the civilian population, including disruption of access to electricity, fuel and water. (Read on …)

They place pro-Saleh opeds in western papers.

Bell Pottinger acted for controversial Yemen organization
September 1st, 2011 | by Melanie Newman Bureau of Investigative Journalism

Bell Pottinger, the London-based public relations firm, has been working for a little-known organization in Yemen with apparent strong links to the country’s president, the Bureau can reveal. (Read on …)

TOTAL, the French co with the concession on the LNG must be a bit concerned, especially after all the dirty deals. South Korea, a frequent target of AQAP, also has interests in Yemen’s LNG as an owner and production purchaser, but TOTAL has the lion’s share on both ends. Update: 1) I forgot to mention the kidnapping. On 23rd May, Bernard Valero, French Foreign Ministry spokesman, took a strong stance on Saleh in asking him to leave office and adhere to the (then new) GCC transition offer. On the 28rd May, five days after Valero’s statement, there was the kidnap of three French aid workers in Seyun/Shibam.

2) Yemen denies: SANA’A – Yemen denied on Tuesday reports of Suhail Channel that French ambassador to Yemen has departed the country due to harassments. An official source in the Foreign Ministry made clear that he left Yemen on Sunday, 7/8/2011, in an ordinary vacation. The French diplomat will return to Yemen to exercise his diplomatic duties, the official said.

3) MOre at the Yemen Post: Ahmed Saleh is believed to have warned that all French nationals were from now on unwelcome in Yemen. If it is the case, French run companies, such as TOTAL and YLNG might be in serious trouble.

Yemen Post In an unprecedented move and without much warning, the Yemeni government demanded the French Ambassador immediate departure.

According to government sources close to the palace, Ahmed Saleh, the president’s eldest son and contender to the presidency, would have ordered the ouster of all French embassy personnel since he felt that they were coercing against the regime by supporting the revolution. (Read on …)

Yemeni Youth’s Appeal to the International Community to Support Their Legitimate Aspirations for Change and to Prevent the Country From Sliding into a Civil War

We, the Youth of the Peaceful Revolution in Yemen, call on the international community to take immediate, strong and concrete actions to support the people of Yemen’s struggle and aspiration for a free, democratic, vibrant and united Yemen. Today, it has become clear to our people and the international community at large that this can only be achieved by bringing an end to three decades of ruling by a corrupt and repressive regime led by Mr. Saleh, his family and close associates and by building representative democratic institutions that put the interest of the citizens ahead and above the interest of individuals, tribes, or political parties. It is in the interest of regional powers and the international community that our people succeed in achieving these objectives. Only a democratic Yemen can be a trustable partner to ensure regional stability and contribute to global alliances against extremism. (Read on …)

The shipment of weapons is par for the course. Yemeni weapons shipments to Somalia are a leading cause of its instability and have been ongoing for years. The last shipment doesn’t necessarily show that AQAP and al Shabab are linked up in a new level of coordination; what it likely shows is that UN sanctioned weapons dealer Fares Manna is back in business. Its a very complicated relationship, check my category “Proliferation” or search “Fares Manna” for the chapter of the story about the shipload of Chinese weapons brought into Yemen with forged documents from the Defense Ministry. See Evaluating relations between Al-Shabab and Al-Qaeda for a review of the rhetorical and physical support between al Shabab and AQAP, including the arrest of Warsame. For earlier, see the 2006 arrest of eight westerners in Yemen (all later released) who were smuggling weapons to the fanatics in Somalia and the connection of Awlaki to those persons, who are hopefully all under the microscope now. Rahm’s report below seems to be from Sun Times: U.S intercepts ship suspected of carrying weapons for Al-Shabaab

Terror Free Somalia: The U.S Navy has intercepted a Somalia bound Yemeni cargo ship carrying weapons suspected to be for Somalia’s Al Qaeda linked Al-Shabaab militia.Somalia consulate in Yemen said the cargo ship en route from Yemen to Somalia coastline ended up in the hands of U.S Navy at the Gulf of Aden.The Somali consul Hussein Hajji Ahmed said U.S navy opened fire on the ship after the ship captain defied Navy orders to stop the vessel but later surrender to the United States navy.

He added that the ship is suspected of carrying military supplies for the Al-Shabaab militia in Somalia, a clear indication that Yemeni Al-Qaeda supports the militia in terms of weaponry.Ahmed said investigations into the issue are currently underway.He urged the Somali government to boost security along the country’s coastlines and seek supports from the neighbouring countries in making sure that no arms are illegally smuggled into the country through the coastal areas.The U.S has recently received critical information suggesting that Yemeni based Al-Qaeda network provides weapons and other military necessities to Somalia’s Al-Shabaab insurgents fighting the Somali government.

Video: Yemeni children in Arhab run for the caves as the bombing starts

Yemen owes Russia hundreds of millions for the same MIGs the regime is using to murder its own citizens. Russia is Yemen’s single largest bi-lateral creditor due to huge weapons purchases; the state is thought to have at least 18 MIGs in inventory. Russia along with China opposes regime change in Yemen and thwarted strong statements in the UN Security Council. Russia is also playing the al Qaeda card, saying the protests are hampering the regime from battling the fanatics.

The Russian article is titled Yemen fights with Al Qaeda: In the early hours of Tuesday, Yemeni forces had a fight with Al Qaeda militants in the region of Arhab in the country’s northeast. Over 20 militants were killed…Yemen’s authorities would have probably fought with Al Qaeda in their country more successfully, if not for the unstable political situation.

CNN: Fighting has been virtually nonstop for the past two months in the Arhab district, 40 kilometers (about 25 miles) northeast of Sanaa, after tribal leaders went against the government claiming that it killed four tribal members in an effort to create unrest in the district.

In the most recent bloodshed on Tuesday, witnesses said civilians comprised most of the dead from air attacks by the Republican Guard. At least 17 of the dead were children and women, they said, while only nine tribal fighters were among the killed.

At least a dozen fighters were injured, witnesses said. At least 45 tanks and armored vehicles were seen entering Arhab villages during early morning Tuesday, tribal leaders in the area said.

There’s a vid on FB that I am trying to get on Youtube of little children running from the bombing to nearby caves. Obviously some didn’t make it.

Unbelievable!! UN Envoy Jamal Benomar was in Yemen twice, for weeks, supposedly to conduct an investigation. He issued his report today, and apparently failed to recommend a war crimes trial for Saleh or even freezing his assets. Instead the UN SC issues a statement deploring the humanitarian situation and expressing concerns about al Qaeda. One of the opposition politicians called Benomar “Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the UN,” and I see why.

“All parties” cannot form “an inclusive government,” because Saleh and his regime have been excluded by the Yemeni people, who have a right to determine their own government. “Saleh’s followers” are his western-armed family and paid operatives. Saleh and his family are the problem and not part of the solution. The UN SC supports the GCC plan which is never going to happen without the consent of the governed, and they don’t consent. And after Saleh rejected it three times, the US, UN, UK are just looking foolish for acting as if there’s some shred of credibility to anything Saleh says. There’s not and has never been. What a total failure international efforts have been; well if their goal is slowing and delaying the transition then I guess they’ve worked as planned so far.

Al-Qaeda threat in Yemen: UN

August 10, 2011 – : The UN Security Council says al-Qaeda could exploit the power vacuum in Yemen to gain an even greater foothold in the country.

The 15-nation council urged followers of ailing president Ali Abdullah Saleh and the opposition to quickly settle Yemen’s fate because of the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in the country.

The UN body gave strong support to efforts by the six countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council to end the Yemen crisis. (Read on …)

WB Suspends $542 Million to Instable Yemen Yemen Post:

The World Bank suspended hundreds of millions of USD in aid to Yemen as from July 28 due to the political and security situation as the dueling protests and associated severe crises continue across the republic.

Independent sources cited a WB statement as saying that the decision came in harmony with the Bank’s rules that call for such a procedure in complicated circumstances to avoid negative impacts on its programme course in any country.

The Bank is sponsoring 21 projects in Yemen with $882 million, $542 million out of which has not been released yet, the source reported, citing the statement as saying that the Bank will be ready to resume its activities normally in the country when the situation returns normal.

There are a lot of murders that require an international investigation, many occurred before the rev, but any international investigation of the crimes of the Saleh regime would be a good step.

Sahwa Net- Alliance of Yemen opposition, the Joint Meeting Parties, has demanded to carry out an international probe on all mass murder atrocities in which hundreds of peaceful protestors were killed and wounded in Sana’a, Taiz and other governorates.

In a statement, JMP also demanded to investigate into the incident in which President Ali Abdullah Saleh and his aides were injured in a presidential palace attack and transferred to Saudi Arabia for treatment, pointing out that the Yemeni regime tries to blackmail opposition parties and other political opponents through accusing them of the incident.

In a statement, JMP said that the Yemeni regime still launches its war against Yemenis, kills peaceful protesters in Sana’a, Taiz , and other governorates.

Just reprint Yemeni government propaganda why doncha? China was a main impediment to the UN SC resolution and one reason for its weakness. More below the fold on an upcoming report by Jamal Benomar, the UN”s Special Advisor on Yemen.

Yemen not in power vacuum as President Saleh in Riyadh for treatment: minister
English.news.cn 2011-08-05

SANAA, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) — The Yemeni Minister of Legal Affairs Rashad al-Rassas said on Friday that President Ali Abdullah Saleh is in Saudi Arabia for treatment and there will be no power vacuum in the country.

“The allegations circulated by the opposition that Saleh’s presidential term has constitutionally expired and the country is in power vacuum after Saleh has been treated abroad for two months are baseless and has no constitutional context,” al-Rassas was quoted by the official Saba news agency as saying. (Read on …)

Obama would have to un-friend Saleh first.

Related: My article at Examiner: Yemen’s counter-terror chief accused of atrocities. The reason for the uptick in tension, threats against the airport and the new tribal coalition was not only the bombing of villages (and Ahmed got quite good at that during Saada 6) but the murder of tribal prisoners and the mutilation of their bodies.

Advocates: Yemen regime committed 27 crimes against humanity

2/8/2011 – Sahwa Net- : Professor of international law at Sana’a University, Mohammad Noaman, has revealed that the Yemeni regime committed 27 crimes against humanity under the Statute of the International Criminal Court and all domestic and international laws. (Read on …)

A Yemeni activist thanks the UN for sending an envoy. While it is a satirical note, the tribal Saleh regime employs collective punishment as a pressure point against its enemies on a regular basis.

Your Excellency, Mr. Ban-ki Moon,

In the name of the Yemeni people, we would like to express our appreciation to you in person for closely and regularly following up the situation in Yemen through visits made by the different UN missions. We are particularly grateful to the relatively long visits such as the one currently taking place by your envoy, and the one by the UN human rights mission earlier this month. These visits bring along significant improvement in the quality of the livelihoods of the average people. We suddenly have electricity for 12-15 hours per day ( instead of 2 hours only), the piles of garbage mounting for weeks in the different streets are cleaned up, the long lines of cars waiting for gas are cleared up (though the need left unfulfilled), and the gun fire in each city is silenced!

For that we are urging Your Excellency to give orders to your missions to remain longer if not forever! Of course, we would still be left with problems of gas availability, food prices rocketing to the sky complicating the malnutrition crisis in the country, and the rise of a hunger epidemic. In this regard, you may as well include us in the current Horn of Africa Crisis! Our “drought”, however, is not caused by an indirect intervention of man in nature, but rather a very direct and intentional one. The Saleh regime, intends to starve us in an attempt to have us give up our dream of freedom. They refuse to understand that we have chosen to live free or to die with our human dignity; the same dignity that UN charters and declarations have often spoken of. We shall compromise no more Sir, and we invite your envoys to come and witness that.

In peace (salam)

This Friday’s theme for the nationwide marches was “ An end to collective punishment” and millions in 17 provinces participated. Fuel, water and electricity have been essentially cut for some time, also hampering communications. (The Saleh regime cut off food, medicine and international aid to citizens in Saada and Bani Hushaish during the Saada War, so it is no surprise that he is punishing the country as a whole now that they all are in revolt.) However, the capital had 24 hours of uninterrupted electricity upon the arrival of the UN Special Envoy Jamal Omar. The Envoy met with the GPC, the JMP and Ali Mohsen, who still backs the GCC plan, in order to encourage dialog. Saleh et al will never agree to be overthrown. A coalition of protest groups is giving the transitional council another try after many refused the one announced by Tawwakol Karaman.

State violence is ongoing. Two civilians were killed and dozens wounded as Special Forces bombed Arhab with artillery. Counter-terror units have joined the fight against local tribesmen. The conflict began immediately after the Taiz massacre when tribesmen locked down the Republican Guard base near Nehm to prevent the security forces from deploying to the cities.

A child and her mother were killed in Taiz from random bombing by the Republican Guard among many other injuries.

10 killed Ten members of one family have been killed and five others wounded when Republican Guards, led by son of President Saleh, shelled a house in Bani al-Hareth in Sana’a on Monday, local sources told News Yemen.

The sources said that “Republican Guards camp in Bait Dahrah shelled Bani Jarmoz, killed Naji Dahrah, his wife, his two daughters and other members of his family. Local residents said that a number of houses in the area had been bombarded by the camp of the Republican Guards which clash with tribal gunmen.

According to residents the Republican Guards randomly attacked the villages of al-Boh, Shera, al-Wudiah, Zindan, Hataban and Ghola and other villages in Ahrab district with Katyusha rockets and tanks.

The brigades 63 and 61 of the Republican Guards also killed one citizen and injured 10 others early Monday. Republican Guards continue to shell neighborhoods in the city of Taiz and the areas of Arhab and Nihm in Sana’a for the second month.

The Joint Meeting Parties denounced the assassination attempt on Mohammad Al-Yadomi , holding the family of president Ali Abdullah Saleh responsible for the incident.

Paramount Sheikh of Saleh’s Hashid tribal confederation warns against attacks on protesters amid reports of state plans to attack: “We will not stand idly by toward any aggression against the peaceful protestors camped across 17 Yemeni governorates” (Sadiq) Al-Ahmar said in a statement.

AFP: Opposition spokesman Mohammed al-Sabri said the group, called the Alliance of Forces of the Revolution, would unify the demands of Yemen’s often scattered opposition to produce a stronger front…The alliance includes opposition parties, defected military units, media, and youth protesters who have camped out in Yemen’s public squares, al-Sabri said.

Statement by ITCHR and HOOD dated 7/4

Despite the presence of the United Nations Mission Taiz live nights terrifying artillery shelling

Civic organizations condemn the continuation of bombings in the province of Taiz and demands quickly stop the cycle of violence and terror daily (Read on …)