Armies of Liberation

Yemeni Political Leader exposed to drive by assassination attempt
by Abdullah A. Qaid, for Armies of Liberation

Sana’a, 14 June- Mr. Hassan Mohammed Zeid, the Secretary-General of Al-Haq, a Yemeni opposition party, said today he escaped an assassination attempt by 4 persons. The drive-by shooing occurred in the al-Jooraf quarter of Sana’a.

Zeid was targeted by a hail of bullets from two cars with official license plates. One was numbered 4760-Army and the other 212-Government, Zeid stated in a press release.

Earlier political violence against Mr. Zeid included an assault on his land in al-Jooraf. Police were forbidden from intervening in an attempt to prevent the abuse, the release added.

Zeid accused the Yemeni authorities of being responsible for the assassination attempt.

The al-Haq Party denounced the assassination attempt on its Secretary-General, confirmed the authorities’ responsibility for protecting Zeid’s life and demanded that perpetrators to be brought to the justice.

President Saleh has a lot of in-laws from his four wives. Many of these are also major land “owners” having confiscated public and private land. My 2006 list is of presidential relatives is here and includes economic holdings and stakes in corporations. For example, the head of Yemenia airlines is President Saleh’s son-in-law. Aden Press:

Below is a list of some of Saleh’s relatives that control key positions in the Republic of Yemen:

1. Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh – President’s son, Commander of the Republican Guard and Special Forces.
2. Yahya Mohammed Abdullah Saleh – nephew of President, Staff of the Central Security as a successor to his father.
3. Tareq Mohammed Abdullah Saleh – nephew of President, Saleh’s personal Guard Commander.
4. Ammar Mohammed Abdullah Saleh – nephew of President, the official in charge of national security. (Read on …)

Note the thieves are not going to jail (they never do), and the 300 landowners are not getting their property back. This announcement is very late and propaganda in advance of some hokey show about dialog that’s upcoming. Maybe Saleh is trying to split the opposition. The Yemeni government itself listed the government recipients of stolen land and exactly which plots of land, we published the document a few times already since it was issued in 2007. Then there’s unresolved land theft in other areas besides Aden and the personal appropriation of government owned land like that of the Ministry of Endowments. There are no real efforts to reform or diminish tensions through accountability.

Saleh order to compensate 300 southerners for lands
ADEN, Dec. 16 (Saba) – President Ali Abdullah Saleh has given orders to compensate 300 people in Aden for confiscating their plots of land, a move which comes amid solutions to the standing dilemma of properties in the south, an official said on Wednesday.

Director General of the Land and Survey Authority in Yemen’s business capital Sheikh Salim Ba Nafa’a said the president is very concerned with the 17-year standing issue of lands at the Hiswa area, ordering now to compensate those whose lands were confiscated under public urgency or due to other reasons.

The years-long problem is now resolved, he said, urging the compensated people to attend to the authority’s compound to finalize compensation procedures.

The Sa’ada War didn’t start as a sectarian conflict but a political one. The concern here is the clashes were in Al Jawf. There’s infiltration into Hajjah and Amran also, the Yemen Post points out in a detailed article.

SANA’A, Yemen (AFP) –Ten people have been killed in clashes over control of a north Yemen mosque between Shiite Zaidi rebels and militants from the country’s main Sunni opposition party, both groups said Monday. (Read on …)

In honor of President Saleh’s announcement that he will resolve land issues in Aden, I would like to re-publish my 1/1/08 post that reproduces an official list of Yemeni government officials guilty of land theft, according to the Yemeni government.

I invite President Ali Abdullah Saleh, as his first step of national reform, to throw all these people in jail along with his son Ahmed, another big crook:

Posted here Jan. 01, 2008:

A Yemeni Parliamentary committee issued a report in 2006 naming 26 persons who illegally profited from land confiscated in Aden following Yemen’s 1994 civil war. The list includes Members of Parliament and the Shoura Council, military and security force commanders, current and former judges and ministers. The Parliamentary committee recommended that the land owners receive compensation for their losses, however none has been paid.

The following is a translation of the document that includes a description of the individual’s position in brackets for the readers’ benefit:

LIST OF THE NAMES AND AREAS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO RECIEVED CONTRACTS FROM THE GOVERNORATE LEADERSHIP AND PREVIOUS MANAGER OF INTERIOR TRADING CORPORATION (HUSSEIN NASER OMAYER), ACCORDING TO THE (PARLIAMENTARY) FIELD SURVEY.

NAME (CURRENT POSITION) AREA DISPOSITION

1 NASER MANSOOR HADI
(The brother of Yemeni Vice President, Abdo Rabo Mansour Hadi, and Agent of Political Security Forces of Aden,Lahj and Abyan governorates)
received 4.6 ACRES,
sold to ALI SOLAIMAN DAHSH 2 ACRES, and ALAWADHI 3 ACRES

2 HUSIEN NASER OMAYER
(Previous general manager of Interior Trading Company in south)
received 20 ACRES
SOLD TO Gamal Qasem 7 acres, Salem Balfaqeh 2 acres, Abdul baset 1 acre

3 MUHAMMED SALEH AL-MOHAMMADI
received 3.0 ACRES
SOLD TO SADEQ ABDO MOHAMMED 3.0 ACRES

4 MOHAMMED SALEH TUREIQ
(General Manager of Sa’ada Security Forces, former GM of Aden Security.)
received 5.3 ACRES (Read on …)

Land dispute, maybe disgruntled businessmen, leads to soldier’s death at the ZincOx mine.
Yemen Post

A soldier from the Republican Guards forces, led by President Saleh’s son, was killed and an officer was injured in fresh clashes with Al Al-Dhahak tribe from Al-Jawf’s Nihm district. (Read on …)

(This is one of those out of sequence posts I referred to earlier.) The MAZ Corp is huge and is headed by Yahya Saleh, contrary to the law. But many large companies are headed by military personnel, and this fact is one of the fundamental distortions of the Yemeni economy. Yahya Saleh was also recently “elected” to head the Tourism Board. (Read on …)

There were 15 women, six children and a toddler in the compound when the assault began. Also a note: “Yemeni security forces are asking neighbours who live around Al-ayyam building (family home and office) to evacuate their houses as it seems a preparation for another attempt.”

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned the shocking disregard for safety of journalists and media staff who were caught in the crossfire of a battle between security forces and armed guards at a publishing house in Yemen.

“This is an appalling event where journalists and media staff have been endangered by the reckless use of violence,” said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. “Troops should be withdrawn, all armed men stood down and all sides should respect the use of democratic means to resolve their differences.”

According to reports, one man was killed and a number of others injured when security forces opened fire on the offices of the newspaper Alayyam, whose editor and publisher, Hisham Basharaheel, is facing arrest in a police investigation over a killing which took place last year.

Basharaheel is a fierce critic of the authorities and there is confusion over the attack on his newspaper which was surrounded by security forces yesterday. The publisher brought in his own armed security guards and a firefight broke out with journalists and other media staff trapped inside the building.

The IFJ fully supports the Yemeni Syndicate of Journalists (YJS), an IFJ affiliate, which is calling for an end to threats of violence and for the safety of journalists and media staff at the paper to be guaranteed.

“It is unconscionable to deliberately turn journalists’ workplace into a battle ground,” added White. “But, such an indiscriminate assault on civilian premises without clear warning for occupants to leave the place is the height of irresponsibility.”

For more information contact the IFJ at +32 2 235 2207

Says a lot, Yemen Online

Yemeni Sheikh closed “Ilb” Yemen-Saudi border crossing in Sa’ada governorate, calling for the implementation of the agreement terms between his grandfather and Saudi Arabia.
YemenOnline. March 01 – Armed elements believed to be followers to Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Moqait, Baqim district, Sa’ada governorate closed on Saturday morning “Ilb” Yemen-Saudi border crossing, denying entry and exit of people and vehicles to and from Saudi Arabia, learned tribal sources reported to Al-Ishteraki Net. According to the sources, hundreds of cars and trucks piling up on both sides of the border of Yemen Saudi Arabia since the early hours of Saturday morning To reopen the border crossing, Sheikh Moqait , a senior Baqim sheikh, demanded that both Saudi Arabia and Yemen authorities implement his terms, in particular allowing the people of his tribe to enter to Saudi Arabia and work there without having to obtain what is known as the Saudi “sponsor”.
According to Sheikh Moqait , Saudi Arabia is obligated to implement the agreement terms between “AL Saud” and his grandfather in particular allowing Yemeni-Saudi border tribes, including Baqim and Monabbih tribes, to work in Saudi Arabia without having to obtain work permits or a Saudi sponsor.

Notably, Ilb border crossing is one of the most important crossings between Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

The poor people. The state comes, knocks down your house and sells your land for a park, and there’s nothing to do about it because the authorities you would appeal to are the ones driving the backhoe.

The concentration of land “ownership” substantial and growing due to the daily confiscation of private property. Its not just political and commercial monopolies.

Yemen Post: Dozens of families in the western province of Hudaida have been left homeless after backhoes that were guarded by many troops destroyed their homes in a north area in the province. Websites said that the area was largely devastated as the backhoes eliminated everything; the people’s homes along with all properties at them.

The people in the area were shocked because they were not notified before that such measure would be taken.

As the backhoes were accompanied by many troops from the Central Security Forces, the appeals of the people were met by oppression.

Influential officials tried many times before to take over our lands in this area and displace us but they failed and now they came supported by government orders to do so, people in the area said. (Read on …)

Meanwhile Port workers are on strike.

YahooDUBAI (AFP) – The Emirati DP World group said on Thursday it has officially taken over container operations at the Yemeni port of Aden in a joint venture partnership with the Yemen Gulf of Aden Port Corporation.

“The agreement includes the lease of both Aden Container Terminal and of nearby Ma’alla Container Terminal, and a commitment by the joint venture to invest around 220 million dollars in further developing the port,” it said in a statement. (Read on …)

The concentration of economic power and political power is accompanied by the concentration of land “ownership”, possession would be a better word.

Yemen Post

State Officials Responsible for Land Theft; Weaker Citizens Suffer and Stay Hopeless

Last week, hundreds marched in protest to the organized theft of lands that takes place by state officials and high-ranking security and military officers. Locals in many governorates claim that their lands were looted, and because they are weak they cannot do nothing to get their property back.

In a letter handed to the governor of Shabwa Ali Hassan Al-Ahmadi, protesters voiced their rejection for the theft of lands and stressed they will spare no effort, blood and money to safeguard their lands.

Similarly, earlier this year, hundreds of people protested against the policy of looting lands in Aden and Lahj provinces. Former Member of Parliament Saleh Harbi accused 15 top military leaders and heads of the local authorities in Aden and Lahj of manipulating lands, pointing out that President Saleh knows those officials well and knows what they are doing.

The looting of lands is a crisis that has been spreading throughout the country since 1994. Economists consider this practice by government officials as a negative spot on the side of the country, which is supposed to attract internal and external investment.

According to government officials in Aden, 10,200 pieces of lands including lands belonging to overseas investors were looted by executive officials in the southern region of Yemen.

In parliament session, MP Sakhr Al-Wajeeh urged the government to hold back measures being taken by the Land and States Authority in giving the Military Economic Corporation a piece of land in Dar Saad of Aden, and keep the lands in the ownership of their legal owners.

Lately, Justice and Endorsements Committee in the parliament revealed a report accusing the Office of Endorsement in Aden of land looting. The committee also accused endorsement employees of robbing the endorsement’s registry documents.

The Yemeni Parliament also pointed to the governments’ weakness as it failed to protect investors from the frequent aggression on their properties, especially in Aden and Sana’a. The chief of Lands and Estates Authority Office in Aden, Yahya Ba Dwaid, admitted that some legal failures led to the crisis of land in Aden, which in result affected social peace in the governorate.

German development agency GTZ’s advisor, Gabrielle Hermann whose agency is now working with the Yemeni Court of Commerce to find faster solutions to people’s cases going through court procedures, said that most of the cases in courts were that of land looting. “Despite the fact that I obtained a court order reinforcing my rights to the land I bought in the capital, several men including President Saleh’s relatives still claim they are the owners of it “ said 46 year old Ali Hassan Al-Ezani, who bought a land in the capital more than 10 years ago.

Further, a number of citizens in Sana’a claim that their lands were taken away by authorities, saying that the land will be used for public parks, while they later realized that they were used to build private villas and houses for high ranking officials.

According to official estimates, conflicts over lands between the owners and looters result in 1,500 death cases every year; let alone the number of those injured in clashes.

A study conducted by the National Democratic Initiative revealed that 80 percent of revenge killings are motivated by disputes over lands.

However, land problems in Aden date back to the times of political conflicts when socialists were in power, particularly during the 1970s and 1980s. Citizens during that time were denied the rights to possess lands.

28 public funds cases completed in Hodeidah

HODEIDAH, Oct.06 (Saba)- Appeal Court for Public Funds in Hodeidah branch completed during the last nine months 28 cases with an executive seizer decision to pay public debts at $ 288,875, in addition to YR16 million.

In a statement to Saba, chairman of the prosecution judge Eshak Salah said that the prosecution has returned millions of meters of lands to the state during the period from January to September.

He added that the prosecution completed during the same period around 88 public funds cases and referred them to court and 7 cases which were referred to concerned bodies.

Land Dispute: Officials

(CNN) — A man opened fire at a Shiite mosque Friday in northern Yemen, killing six and wounding 12, state-run news agency SABA said. Three are in critical condition, the report said.

The shooter, now in police custody, was identified as Abdullah Saleh Al Qahhali, 24, according to SABA.

It was the second attack this month against Shiites in Yemen. (Read on …)

YO

Hamoud al-Hitar
Judge Hamoud al-Hitar, Endowment Minister, said that he will resign if he fails in protecting the endowment lands and property against those who commit transgressions against them. He also said that he enjoys the president’s support at facing the endowment trespassers, whatever influence or authority they have.

Al- Hitar added that none are superior to the law, considering the parliament’s approval of the endowment law and the formation of the supreme endowment council as a big support for the endowment property protection. (Read on …)

al-Sahwa

April 12, 2008- Over 30 armed men took over on Friday a government corporation in Joar ,Abyan, claiming their possession of its land

Eyewitnesses affirmed that shootout broke out between the gunmen and army’s forces.

Three gunmen were arrested while they were heading to the house of the governor of , Mohammad Shamlan to explain the reasons behind their act.

On the other hand, another government club was dominated by gunmen in Khanfar, Abyan, claiming that they possess the club which was nationalized by the government prior to Yemen’s unification.

PRI

SAN’A, Yemen (AP) – A Yemeni Interior Ministry official reports six people have been killed and five injured in a fight between tribesmen over land.
The official, speaking on customary condition of anonymity, says that the violence broke out Sunday and continued through Monday between the Abdullah and Bani-Ali tribes north of the capital San’a.
Tribal mediators are working to calm the furor.
Clashes between the heavily armed tribes in this impoverished nation are frequent and most men carry firearms despite an official government ban.

President’s directives are not followed

Yemen Times

SANA’A, Feb. 20 — Two Yemeni families are still suffering from the kidnapping of their children, taken by tribal groups eight months ago.

The story caught human rights organizations’ and the public’s attention, and they have demanded that the government take action. Abdul Allah Ali Saleh Al-Komim, 15, and Mohammed Yahya Naser Al-Komim, 17, were kidnapped by a tribe 50 kilometers outside Sana’a. For over eight months, these children have been kept away from their school, friends and families. (Read on …)

So if Saleh’s son, Ahmed, head of the Republican Guard, was in control of this land, who is Qatari paying paid for the land, the government or Ahmed? Also how did the Republican Guard get 440,000 square meters of land? It was just there? No one owned it? Yemen Post

The General Authority for Investment signed an agreement with Qatari Al-Diyar Company for Real-estate Investment to implement Tilal Al-Rayan project at Faj Attan area in Sana’a.

Built over a total area of 440,000 m2, the project’s total costs are about $500 million and will overlooks most areas of Sana’a.

In the past, the land that will be used for the project was among the locations where building is not allowed and it belongs to the Republican Guard Forces. The project will be implemented as of next April. According to a release by the company, the project will include a five-star hotel, real-estate areas, commercial offices, luxurious villas and residential apartments.

Yemen Times

Lots of issues here, including one of the occupiers is an MP.

In spite of investment reforms, the irony of discriminating against smaller investors is hurting the overall investment climate in the country; as large investors are granted free land to implement their project, smaller ones run the risk of bandits occupying their bought/ owned lands.

It is evident that the investment environment has seen quiet a transformation through the last few years, thanks to reforms including improving the investment legal framework, effectiveness of the General Investment Authority (GIA), enforcement of the investment law, and the granting of very lucrative tax holidays, free real estate, and other measures aims at attracting the big – and very big – investors, smaller and medium-sized investors have witnessed an intensification of measures that limit their business freedom, and their ability to go about their planned investment due to the partial implementation of all investment-related laws, to be limited only to the largest of investments. In this Interview, we speak to a Arwa Al-Hamdany, UK-based investor of Yemeni origin, who has been suffering from the system’s corruption and refusal of the implementation of laws that protect the rights of investors. Interviewed by AbdulQawi Sha’alan.

Ms. Awra, we understand that you’ve been suffering as a result of your decision to invest in Yemen, can you please inform the reader of the issue’s background?

My story started a few years ago and will not seem to end any time soon, I own two pieces of land in Aden governorate one of them was inherited to me from my father, where we had constructed a charitable school on one of the lands, however, several businessmen including a member of the parliament occupied that land and used the school building as a for-profit wood and carpentry workshop, and claimed ownership of the property.

After much disputed I obtained a court order reinforcing my rights to the land and forcing the occupiers to pay me rents for the period they used the land as a workshop. The occupiers refused to pay the rents and hired outlaw bandits in order to continue harassing me and – for the second time – occupying my property. (Read on …)