Armies of Liberation

One escapes. Why don’t the drug dealers or tribesmen ever escape prison?

YP An Al-Qaeda suspect escaped from an Aden hospital, with reports suggesting an unknown group could have infiltrated into the hospital and helped him escape. Amin Al-Sayed was arrested along with four other terrorist suspects last week, and was hospitalized at the BaSuhaib military hospital. Last week, the authorities announced the arrest of almost ten Al-Qaeda suspects in Abyan and Hadramout, amid the continuous hunt for and large-scale operations against AQAP militants, mainly in southern, southeastern and eastern regions.

Yemen Post: A Yemeni court specialized in the cases of terrorism in Hadramout sentenced four suspected Al-Qaeda militants between three to five years in prison. (Read on …)

Very interesting, I’ve been waiting for more Sudan/Yemen news after the Yemeni fishing boat exploded in Sudanese waters and the Yemeni small plane crashed after take-off in the Sudan.

Cars waiting to take them to the Saudi border is well coordinated, indicates good communication and, for human trafficking to Yemen, elaborate. Landing is not the norm. Often the poor refugees get dumped from the boat and swim to shore; no one is waiting. Landing on the islands I think is new also. I wonder what the boats are taking back? Drugs, guns, diesel? Article is from the Yemen Observer:

Yemen’s Medi Island of Hajjah province close to the Saudi borders has become a new passing point for African refugees to the Gulf countries. The past few days witnessed the arrival of large groups said that an anonymous groups of African refugees from different nationalities-Nigerians, Sudanese, Chadian.

The Red Sea has become also the new passing through point for African refugees after it was only confined to Somalis and their fatal trips in the Gulf of Aden.

Yemen’s Coastguards have captured more than 500 Africans while attempting to sneak into the lands of Saudi Arabia. The coastguards also have captured 110 African refugees in the Medi Island after thie arrival on a smuggling boat. Sources at the coastguards said that there were several cars that were waiting for them to carry them to Hardh district located at the Saudi borders to smuggle them into Saudi Arabia. (Read on …)

OK lets get the deisel smuggling out of the way- daily shipments from Yemen to Africa of government subsidized diesel. (Related: Daily Star: US Navy rescues 52 stranded Somalis.)

The much bigger issue is the exploding fishing boat. Its unclear that any missile hit it at this point; its could have been laden with explosives or carrying an aged gas canister and blew up accidentally. Its important for the international fleet to remain vigilant about the danger of maritime terror attacks in the Gulf of Aden. There is good reason to assume a defensive position after the USS Cole bombing (and the later Limburg). The sailors on the Cole waved at the approaching boat; the Navy cannot repeat that mistake, especially now when its easy to be desensitized by having dealt with the Somali pirates for a year or more. The rules of engagement should not allow hapless lost Yemeni fishermen to approach military vessels, blame it on al Badawi.

A statement from al Qaeda Central called for naval jihad (May 26 2008), the October one by a Yemeni forecast a major event around Somalia. The links between AQAP in Yemen and al Shabab go back to the ICU and before. Its a predictable scenario that AQAP would attempt to outdo the Cole bombing when the waters are full of such tempting targets. And I don’t necessarily mean al Wahishi.

Why Yemeni fishermen are near the Sudan is another question. The Yemeni flight school for small planes that flies back and forth between Yemen and Sudan is something, what I don’t know. Its could be normal criminal smuggling activity, spotters for pirates or something entirely innocuous.
Yemen Post

Two Yemeni fishermen were killed and one was injured while the fate of a fourth one is still unknown after their boat came under an aggressive assault by one of the international naval ships patrolling the Red Sea near Sudan on Tuesday.

A source at the Coast Guard said Abdu Marwani and Muhammad Naj’e were killed immediately after their boat was totally destroyed by a missile which some suspect was an air strike. Sources at Yemen’s navy said it probably came from sea.

While the third fisherman made it to Sudanese coast and is now in critical condition. The fishermen came from the Midy area, Hajjah before their boat was hit near Sudan’s waters.

A coordinated investigation by Yemen and Sudan is underway to explore reasons for the attack.

Meanwhile, director of the Midy district Abdul Majeed Al-Himyari dismissed reports a Yemeni boat was attacked in Yemen’s territorial waters, saying the incident took place while the boat was in Sudan’s territorial waters. He told the media the survivor is being investigated by Sudan.

Tuesday’s attack comes in a series of attacks against Yemeni fishing boats by international forces patrolling the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.

Early this year, two Yemeni sailors were killed as their boats came under separate attacks by international troops in the Indian Ocean. Few others were hurt, with troops saying they suspected the boats were for pirates and then hit them.

And this month, the Interior Ministry said a Yemeni boat was provoked, with NATO’s mission in the region intimidating its crew.

The area where the boat was hit on Tuesday is witnessing large fuel smuggling, with eyewitnesses affirming boats smuggle diesel to African Horn States daily.

Yemen Post: Two Yemeni pilots died when a training airplane crashed in northwestern of the Sudanese city of Bur Sudan, Sudan’s Civil Aviation Authority reported. (Read on …)

al-Motamar

- The leaders of Sana’a Coalition have on Tuesday confirmed their full commitment to work for achieving security, peace and sustainable development the Horn of Africa region and in south of the Red Sea and solving disputes in peaceful ways.

In the closing statement issued by Sana’a Gathering 6th summit on Tuesday the leaders of the Gathering welcomed invitation of President Ali Abdullah Saleh to host the 7th summit in the Yemeni capital Sana’a.

The closing statement of Sana’a Gathering held in the Sudanese capital Khartoum emphasized the necessity of enhancing and developing the level of cooperation between the Gathering member states in all areas. The summit was attended by President Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen, the Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, the Prime Minister of Somalia Nur Hassan Hussein, the President of Djibouti Ismail Omar Guelleh who participated as observer. (Read on …)

Yemen uses Sudanese lands

[03 April 2008]
SANA’A, April 03 (Saba) – An official delegation is set to head next week for Sudan to discuss with Sudanese officials the executive steps of a Yemeni project for using Sudanese lands to plant wheat.

The weekly 26september paper said that the delegation will include officials from the ministry of Industry and Trade as well as businessmen.

The talks will focus on the details of the project aimed at planting wheat in the Sudanese lands to satisfy Yemen’s demand of this basic foodstuff.

The project comes within the developed Yemeni-Sudanese cooperation and amid the government efforts to diversify the resources of producing wheat whose price has recently soared.

It is noteworthy, the Sudanese government welcomed the idea and pledged to help Yemen to implement the project successfully.

????

(Excuse me if I think something may be up here. The recent weapons to Somalia were delivered by government aircraft. I get a little skeptical at claims of outright altruism.)

26 Sept
Yemeni plane have been arrived to Chad before last hours carrying aids and relief materials, while another plane will head to Sudan during coming few hours carrying relief materials and aids for the affected by the current events as a result of war erupted between the two countries.

The two planes included foodstuff, medical materials, clothes, etc. as expression of Yemeni people’s feelings towards the refugees in those areas to mitigate their suffers as a result of armed clashes sparked between the two countries.

Almotamar.net – Oil and minerals undersecretary Abdumalik Alama reveled Wednesday that Yemen has recently signed contracts with the Emirates Company of Al-Thani to carry out excavation work for gold in Wadi Binna and Kindy Mountain Company in Hajah governorate.

Alama told almotamar.net there are number of Arab and foreign companies that have shown their readiness to invest in oil sector among them the Kuwaiti Kopic and the Emirates Midas adding that was of the results of the investment opportunities conference held in the mid of this year.

He added that miming agreements have been signed with other companies for the excavation of lead and zinc from mines situated to the east of Sana’a. He pointed out there are indicators on possibility of discovery of new oil fields in the near future and consequently there will be investment in them.

On the question of Aden Refinery company privatization the undersecretary affirmed that the file has been closed for good because it was rejected by the parliament as it is being a sovereignty and strategic company.

ADEN, Aug. 15 — The Aden Refineries Company and the Sudanese

Ministry of Energy and Mining signed last Tuesday a minute of

cooperation in training the two countries’ cadres in fields of gas,

refining oil, and earthquake monitoring, serving the economical interests of both countries.

The two sides agreed also on having joint conferences, exchanging

technical proficiencies and visits, as well as benefiting from the countries’ experiences in this view.

The Deputy Minister of Oil and Minerals Abdul Malik Alamah and the Undersecretary of Energy and Mining Ministry Hamad Abdul-Qader Al-Nile signed the minute.

According to a report for the Yemen times, Alamah said that the agreement on this minute happened since the end of the second course, which held in Sana’a between Yemen and Sudan in the petroleum fields.

The Oil Ministry is serious in modernization Aden refinery for about $24-40 millions, he added. “We had, in the second course, clear and determined fields for the cooperation as well as the mechanisms of the implementation. We expect reaching clear and practical things in oil fields.” Al-Nile confirmed.

“The points of meeting between Yemen and Khartoum are that the old Bor Al-Sudan refinery and Aden refinery are from the same kind. But, Aden refinery has specific aims, where as Bor Al-Sudan refinery is stopped now”, he clarified

“The reason is, first and foremost, we wanted to establish a refinery, which fulfills the internal requirements. Now we are about to establish a refinery for exportation. Aden refinery produces internally and we hope to start with new and big units and to establish a new refinery which can export the products oversees”, Al-Nile stated.

He concluded his statement with saying that his visit to Yemen was completely successful, calling upon the implementation of agreement.

They denounce US intervention in Sudan, where two million Muslims are displaced and starving in desert, and the government of Kharoum is deploying rape as a tactic of war (and this is no myth).

SANA’A, April 8 — Marking its 60th anniversary of its establishment, the Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party organized a celebration on Saturday in Sana’a. The celebration was attended by ambassadors, including Syrian and Iranian Ambassadors, parties’ secretary generals and the party’s affiliates from across Yemen.

On behalf of the party’s secretary general Dr. Abdulwahab Mahamoud, Dr. Abdulrahman Saleh assistant secretary general delivered a speech in which he welcomed the attendees and recounted the history of his party and the long path it has been tracking. He also delineated his party’s attitudes of different national, Arab and Islamic issues, maintaining “The party has come from the womb of this nation and it is natural that it dedicates itself for the nation’s sake.

In his speech, assistant secretary general of General People Congress Sultan Al-Barakani commended the struggling of Ba’ath party and noted the party has kept struggling since its establishment despite all problems and challenges.

Similarly, Sultan Al-Atwani, secretary General of The Nasserite Unionist People’s Organisation, delivered a speech on behalf of the Joint Meeting Parties. Al-Atwani pointed out that Ba’ath Party was a reason for many victories achieved over the history of Arab Nation. He also stressed that Arab citizens still keep a good memories of the party’s immortal victories.

Al-Atwani also noted Ba’aths and Nasserites were the first parties to achieve a real unity in the modern history and this was between Egypt and Syria in 1958 under the name United Arab Republic; however, this unity did not last for long as “Imperialism managed to abolish this unity in 1961.

He added that Ba’ath Party was a key player in Yemen’s unity achieved in 1990, asserting such a unity should be the cornerstone for a comprehensive Arab Unity.

Hamas Movement representative in Sana’a Gamal Aisa assured Arabism and Islam are not separated and called upon Arabs and Muslims unit their efforts in order to stand against the Israeli project which does not target Palestine alone but the whole Arab World. He also noted that Israel is the real enemy of Arabs and Muslims.

“There is no option left except to unit and join our efforts for the sake of the nation, whether people, states or parties,” said Aisa.

In their released statement, the party denounced the American occupation of Iraq and its intervention in Arab issues like in Lebanon and Sudan. It also condemned the Israeli assaults against Palestinian people.

It also denounced the war escalating in Sa’ada and asked President Saleh to face and fight what they called “criminal gangs” in order to maintain the nation’s unity and stability. He also called all parties in parties in Yemen to stand against what they named as “Sa’ada sedition”.

Ba’ath Party was established in 1947 in Damascus’s Al-Rasheed Café by different Arab strugglers under the influence of Michael Aflaq and Head of National Relations Department. The party has undergone different challenges and hurdles of the course of its history. It suffered disintegration in 1964 at the hands of Syrian President Hafez Al-Asa’ad and since then the party divided into the Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party based on Damascus and Ba’ath National Arab Socialist Party based on Iraq.

The party also divided in Yemen following Yemen’s Civil War that took place in 1994 and exactly in 1996 after the party’s high ranking officials let in a conflict with the former secretary general Qassim Sallam and most leaderships headed to Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party.

Despite this, Naif Al-Qanes, head of national relations department at the Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party assured the two parties have in common more things than those that create differences.

He also revealed that there is a dialogue going on between Ba’athis at national and regional levels to restore their unity, maintaining that Syria has become a home for all Ba’athis after the collapse of Saddam Hussain regime in Iraq.

And the reason the families could sue the Sudan and not Yemen is that the Sudan is on the US State Department’s list of state sponsors of terrorism and Yemen is not, although perhaps it should be.

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) A federal judge has ruled that Sudan is
responsible for the terrorist bombing of the U-S-S Cole.

The judge ruled that there’s “substantial evidence” that
actions by the government of Sudan led to the 2000 bombing of the
Cole. The attack in Yemen killed 17 sailors.

Among them was Kevin Rux, a native of the northeastern North
Dakota town of Portland.

The families of the sailors claimed that the attack could not
have taken place without Sudan’s support. Specifically, they
accused the Sudanese government of offering safe haven and
financial support to al-Qaida since 1991.

The families sued for more than 100 (m) million dollars in
damages to be shared by 59 spouses, parents and children of the
bombing victims.

The judge says he’ll need some time to decide on the damages to
be awarded.

Iranian:
The U.N. under an African so far has shown no disposition to stop this campaign of eradication of black Muslims from Darfur. The UN Security Council on August 31, 2006 adopted Resolution 1706, which called for a transition from an African peacekeeping force of 7,000 to a UN force of 20,000 to be on the ground in Darfur by January 2007. 12 members of the Security Council, with China, Russia, and Yemen abstaining, supported this initiative. These abstentions are signs of trouble, especially when coupled with the refusal of the Sudan government to give its consent to a UN peacekeeping presence within its borders.

The situation seems deadlocked with time running out. The UN must overcome the reluctance of China and Russia, which have oil interests in Sudan, to persuade the government in Khartoum to let in the troops and humanitarian groups that can stop the exodus and genocide of its own citizens. The President of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir, has gone so far as to say that his country would respond to any UN effort to establish a presence in Darfur “as Hezbollah beat Israel.”

Justia:

Olivia RUX, individually and as next friend for I.M.O., a minor; Jamie Owens, individually and as next friend for I.M.O., a minor; Sharla Costelow, individually and as next friend for E.C. and B.C., minors; Novella Wiggins, individually and as next friend for J.R.M., Jr., a minor; Lorrie D. Triplett, individually and as next friend for Andrea Triplett and Savannah Triplett; Jennifer Clodfelter, individually and as next friend for Noah Clodfelter; Kenyon Embry, individually and as next friend for Capri Dumar; Ronald W. Francis; Jacqueline Saunders, individually and as next friend for I.S. and J.S., minors; Sandra Francis; Rogelo Santiago; Simeona Santiago; Sarah Guana Esquivel; Jesse Nieto; Thomas Wibberly; Patricia Wibberly; Theodis Triplett; Wayne Triplett; Reed Triplett; Gary Swenchonis, Sr.; Deborah Swenchonis;Shalala Swenchonis; Kate Brown; Sean Walsh; Kevin Roy; Lou Gunn; Mona Gunn; Jamal Gunn; Jason Gunn; Anton J. Gunn; Leroy Parlett; Etta Parlett, individually and as next friend for H.P., a minor; Kera Miller; Matthew Parlett; John Clodfelter; Gloria Clodfelter; Joseph Clodfelter; Toni Wibberly; Diane McDaniels; Teresa Smith; George Costelow; Dorothy Costelow; Frederica McDaniels-Bess, Plaintiffs-Appellees,v.REPUBLIC OF SUDAN, Defendant-Appellant
United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit. – 461 F.3d 461
Argued: May 24, 2006 Decided: September 1, 2006
Before WIDENER and DUNCAN, Circuit Judges, and HENRY F. FLOYD, United States District Judge for the District of South Carolina, sitting by designation.

Affirmed in part and dismissed in part by published opinion. Judge DUNCAN wrote the opinion, in which Judge WIDENER and Judge FlOYD joined.

DUNCAN, Circuit Judge:

1
In this action for damages brought against it by relatives of American sailors killed in the terrorist bombing of the U.S.S. Cole (“Plaintiffs”), the Republic of Sudan (“Sudan”) appeals an order of the district court largely denying its motion to dismiss. On appeal, Sudan argues both that the district court erred in denying its motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and also that this court should exercise pendent appellate jurisdiction over, and reverse, the district court’s denial of its motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction and improper venue. Sudan also argues that this court should exercise pendent appellate jurisdiction over and consider for the first time its motion to dismiss for lack of standing, an issue on which the district court deferred action. Because we find that the district court’s exercise of subject matter jurisdiction was proper and that there is no basis to exercise pendent appellate jurisdiction over the remaining issues, we affirm the district court’s denial of Sudan’s motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and dismiss the remainder of Sudan’s appeal. (Read on …)