National Yemen Issue 28 by National Yemen Newspaper

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The Facts As They Are

Yemenis Handicapped by Poor Care, War Lack Aid

Hard-line Groups in Ibb Make Presence Known

President Abdullah Gul Discusses Yemeni-Turkish Relations

SUNDAY , Jan 16, 2011 I ISSUE 28 PRICE : YER 30 WWW . NAT IONALYEMEN

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Ali al-Kurdi on His “Jihad,” Old and New

Popular Uprising Ousts Tunisian Autocrat Tunisia’s 75-year old president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who seized control of the small Mediterranean country in 1987, has fled to Saudi Arabia after massive street demonstrations against his rule. His flight marked the first time that massive street demonstrations had

overthrown an Arab leader. Saudi Arabia has said that Mr. Ben Ali and his family are in the Kingdom, a day after they fled Tunis. Media sources had speculated that France would be his ultimate destination, but French President Nicolas Sarkozy apparently rejected the ousted

president’s last-minute requests for asylum. The departure came as a dramatic climax to weeks of violent protests against Ben Ali's rule in the north African nation and as the army struggled to confront groups of young men roving through Tunis, setting fire to buildings, both public and private, and pillaging local businesses. The unrest continued on Saturday even as Tunisia's Constitutional Court announced that the speaker of parliament, or Chamber of Deputies, Fouad Mebazaa, had been appointed the country's interim president. Mebazaa has up to 60 days to organize new presidential elections, per Tunisia’s constitution. Ben Ali had delegated Mohamed Ghannouchi, the Continued on Page (5)

UNHCR and EU Conference Discusses Refugees The 2011 UNHCR press conference, held Saturday in the Sheba Hotel, co-sponsored by the European Commission was chaired by the UN High Commissioner António Guterres and the EU Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response Kristalina Georgieva. The UNHCR, as one of Yemen’s leading humanitarian organizations and the EU, one of Yemen’s leading international donors set the foundations for closer coordination in their efforts to provide a better recep-

tion for asylum seekers arriving in Yemen. High Commissioner Antonio Guterres stressed that humanitarian aid based on need acted as an important instrument to build conﬁdence and consolidate peace among communities in conﬂict zones. Overcoming obstacles to access and indiscriminate distribution will be the primary focus of the joint UNHCR-EC mission, he claimed. During their three day visit both sides plan to engage with Yemeni authorities and al-Houthi

Antonio Guterres representatives to secure safer and broader humanitarian access in all areas in the North of the country.

Clinton Makes Lightning Visit to Sana’a Hillary Clinton became the first US Secretary of State to visit Sana’a in over two decades on Tuesday. Accompanied by Assistant Secretary of State Jeffrey Feltman, Ms. Clinton made a series of brief official visits during her stay in the capital, which lasted only seven hours. Ms. Clinton was preceded by James Baker in 1990, Secretary of State under the first President George Bush, who visited Yemen before its unification. Other high-ranking US officials, such as Defense Secretary Robert Gates, “Central Command” chief David Petraeus, and President Obama’s top counter-terrorism adviser John Brennan have also frequented Sana’a in recent years. Her arrival comes within the context of a Middle East tour meant to shore up the opposition of friendly Arab regimes to

“The Caliphate: Freeing the World from the Disasters of Capitalism;” mysterious grafﬁti appears around Ibb, see p.

Security Crackdown in al-Mukalla The “Reporters Without Borders” organization today condemned the government’s detention of journalist Fouad Rashid’s arbitrary arrest in Al-Mukalla, 500 km east of Sanaa province. Calling his arrest “arbitrary,” the group made an appeal for his immeidate release. The editor of the Arabiclanguage news website Al-Mukalla Press, Rashid was arrested on the street on the morning of 10 January and was taken to the headquarters of the city’s plain-clothes police. “Reporters Without Borders” has reported that the head of the

Al-Mukalla journalists’ union was able to talk with him for nearly two hours on the evening of 10 January. Born in 1970, Rashid used to be a member of the staff of the newspaper Al-Massila and to write for the newspaper 26 September before founding Al-Mukalla Press, which has regularly covered the unrest in the south of the country. In a separate development, a woman was run over and killed by a police vehicle and two other people were wounded Mukalla on Thursday during a demonstration demanding the release of southen movement militants,

witnesses and a medic said. The woman was fatally injured when she was hit by the vehicle when police intervened to disperse protesters, they said. A second protester was wounded by gunﬁre and a third by tear gas, witnesses said. A medical source conﬁrmed that the dead woman and the two wounded had been taken to hospital in Mukallah. During the demonstration, protesters chanted slogans demanding the release of jailed members of the secessionist Southern Movement. Courtesy Reporters without Borders, France 24

Sources: YR 2 million in Oil Revenues Embezzled in Shabwa A senior official in Shabwa has forged the official stamp the of office of the governor, Ali Hassan al-Ahmadi, local sources reported. As a result, YR 2 million of proceeds from oil extraction has been stolen from the local central bank. According to the same

sources, a high-ranking ofﬁcial committed had duplicated the stamp at the time of alAhmadi’s election, at which time the latter had pledged to combat all illegal and corrupt means of proﬁting from the governorate’s oil wealth. They added that the defen-

dant has been apprehended and referred to prosecution as the investigation continues. Local observers expressed surprise about the affair, and wondered how the central bank in Shabwa was incapable of revealing the on-going theft earlier.

Former Guantanamo Detainee Speaks Out By Saddam Alashmory Iran’s nuclear program, with other stops including the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Qatar. One of the main goals of Ms. Clinton’s trip was to convince a skeptical Yemeni government and populace that America’s recent intense interest in the country did not solely involve

combatting terrorism. Statements to that effect peppered her visit, yet few observers doubted that hours of private discussions with the Yemeni president and ofﬁcials focused especially on countering the threat of armed groups based in Yemen. Continued on Page (5)

A former detainee at the notorious Guantanamo prison camp in Cuba, al-Jazeera photographer Sami al-Haj demanded that the Yemeni authorities increase pressure on the United States until all detainees are released. Standing in solidarity with the Yemeni detainees at the prisons of Guantanamo and Bagram, Afghanistan, the

National Organization for Defending Rights and Freedoms “Hud” held a seminar on Saturday in the presence of a number of detainees’ families and human rights activists as well as Sami al-Haj, whom organizers described as “a prisoner and survivor of Guantanamo.” In a speech, al-Haj announce, “we and all freedom ﬁghters of

this world will continue petitioning the authorities, and this demand will take a long time and requires that its proponents are uniﬁed.” He added, “I came to Yemen in order to help in the return of our brothers in the prisons to a happy homecoming with their families. The American adminisContinued on Page (3)

Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011 Issue 28 www.nationalyemen.com

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After Ben Ali, Who’s Next?

The resignation and escape of the Tunisian President Ben Ali, is a serious precedent to the other Arab autocrats, many of whom have spent over two decades or more in their thrones, all the while ignoring the pressing need for development of their nations. These obscene incumbencies have led to disaster, and inevitably involve rampant corruption among a select group of crony yes-men. The uprising against Ben Ali was no less momentous than the Arab peoples’ battle against the British, Italian, French and Ottoman colonizers during the previous centuries, which resulted in their freedom and independence. Protests in Tunis built into a crescendo during the last three weeks, after a jobless man, in a raw display of hopelessness, set himself on fire in protest of dismal employment prospects in the country. Daily riots by justifiably angry youths were motivated by scarce access to basic necessities and jobs, as well as concern for very modern rights like open media and free communication. The massive strife finally gave the President no choice but to quit the country and seek safety in Saudi Arabia. Cutting prices of basic foodstuffs, dismissing ministers, promising future changes, and appealing for aid from other nations could not satisfy the Tunisian masses, who were irreversibly committed to a better future and fed up with the regime’s lies and outrages. They were literally dying for a better life. The example of Tunisia will

affect the whole Arab world, but mainly those presidents and monarchs who rely on the bankrupt wisdom of their inner circles. Some countries, like Jordan, Syria and Egypt, have decided to cut the prices of basic foodstuffs. Decision makers their have carftily revised their policies and addressed the dire needs of their populace. Yemen, Sudan, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Syria, Libya, and Algeria are facing the same threats as Tunis and may have the same fate if they decide not to take immediate action against dire political and social challenges. Governments and rulers are charged to serve their communities, and bad examples should be exposed to the public and made to answer for their errors and crimes. In this regard, will Yemen accept the new amendments to the constitution? Will the parliamentary election take place on time, on 27 April? Will the Yemeni government accept another round of negotiations with the opposition parties? And will the visit of Hilary Clinton affect the dispute between the government and the opposition parties? How will the government deal with rioting in the southern governorates after Tunis? How will Yemen handle the political situation over the course of the next two months? I think Yemen and some other Arab countries will have in mind a hundred questions, and they need to implement just as many serious changes in order to avoid the Tunisia debacle. The spectacle witnessed there will wake up hundreds in the Arab corruptocracies to the reality of their need to serve their peoples. The Yemeni Government could beneﬁt from the example set in Tunisia, and work urgently for the welfare of the people as a whole, and forget its petty disputes with the opposition party. Petty vendettas will harm everybody, and all players will lose at such a game and might soon ﬁnd no table to play at it again. Who’s next?

He also mentioned that the tration lied to everyone with its survival of the detainees is not a false promises. stigma attached to America, but “We were all happy when a shame on the rulers of regional Obama got elected, yet he lied to states. his nation and said that the U.S “Ten Years later and these government would release the prisons still exist,” Barman said, pointing out that there are still detainees.” Abdurrahman Barman, 116 detainees in Guantanamo, executive director of Hud Organi- two died and 21 were released, zation, said that Sami al-Haj was but another 91 are still detained. "We need strong cries from selected by the group for a global campaign to demand the the media, families and all the closure of Guantanamo and free press for the release of the Bagram. detainees,” he concluded. Fakhri Hassan Al-Arashi Publisher & Chief Editor

Will Carter Managing Editor

Several government employees were killed and injured during an attack carried out by gunmen on a vehicle belonging to the Ministry of Electricity in Abyan on the al-Jawlah roadway between the cities of Jaar and Zinjibar, at 9AM on Sunday. National Yemen was informed that gunmen on two motorcycles intercepted the car of the electricity workers while they were on their way from Jaar to Zinjibar. They reportedly ﬁred a hail of bullets leaving four dead , and four others wounded, and proceeded to steal the money that the employees were conveying to the Central Bank, estimated at one million and a half Yemeni riyals. They proceeded to escape to unknown destinations. Radwan Mohamed Hydra, Nasser Abud al Nasser Jaber, Mahfouz Mohammed Omar, and Ghassan Mohammed Salam were killed on Sunday morning, while Wad Yasslim, Abdullah Hanash, Mohammed Akil al Kasma and Hydra Saleh Mabruk were wounded. Eyewitnesses reported that their bodies had been dumped on the road for almost an hour,

in full view of passing cars, without being approached or rescued because citizens were afraid either of being harmed or subjected to legal accountability. Similar attacks on cars delivering electricity payments have been witnessed in the past, which have resulted in casualties and the theft of vast sums belonging to the Ministry in Abyan. The incident on Sunday was the worst of its kind to date. In the meantime, local security forces have proven

themselves incapable of apprehending the assailants or even discovering their identities in the past few months. Citizens in Abyan expressed their indignation and resentment at the increasing incidence of murder, carjacking and robbery, and for not having recourse to local authorities and the security forces. Salem Naji al-Fagir, Director General of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Abyan said, “Unfortunately, killings have increased mysteriously and we have become no

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longer safe. Security chaos, the targeting of military posts, and acts of banditry reﬂects the State’s total incapacity in confronting the crisis.” He appealed the State to assume its responsibilities towards citizens and establish a state of justice and law which must apply to everyone. Arif al-Hajj, a teacher in the Ofﬁce of Education in Abyan governorate said, “I believe such heinous acts will lead to disastrous consequences. It is unreasonable to see your brother or one of your relatives having his blood shed on a road, like what happened today in the case of the electrical workers.” Then he said in a tone of grief, “what have the electrical workers done to be killed and thrown on the road. I was in a taxi and I saw the dead bodies lying on the side of the road and wondered, have we reached this level of chaos? Is the blood of Muslims so easily shed? “Through you, I appeal to the Interior Ministry and security forces in Abyan to arrest those who have committed these heinous crimes against innocent citizens, who were only performing their duty.”

Obama condemns Yemen President Saleh informs attacks, Offers Support Qatari Emir on Houthi violations

US President Barack Obama condemned the recent attacks on Yemeni security forces attributed to al-Qaeda. The President offered support for Yemen in battling the Islamist group, according to a White House statement. Obama's counterterrorism aide John Brennan called President Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen on Monday to relay Obama's "personal condolences" on the deaths of Yemeni security forces in attacks over the past two days, said the White House. Brennan said Obama "strongly condemned the brutal attacks, which reﬂect the group's clear intent to kill Yemenis who are valiantly seeking to stop Al-Qaeda's attempts to carry out terrorist attacks in Yemen as

well as in other countries." Brennan told Salehthat "the United States is determined to stand with the government and people of Yemen in confronting Al-Qaeda and that President Obama is committed to continuing the provision of security, economic, and development assistance to Yemen." Al-Qaeda militants killed 10 soldiers last Friday in separate ambushes on two military convoys in the restive southern governorate of Abyan, Yemeni ofﬁcials said. In a separate incident the next day, armed separatists killed two Yemeni soldiers and wounded another in an attack on a military checkpoint in southern Lahj province, according to a security ofﬁcial.

President Ali Abdullah Saleh has accused Houthis in Sa'ada, northern Yemen, of carrying out violations against Qatarbrokered executive program to make peace in the province. In a phone conversation on Wednesday, President Saleh informed Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa al-Thani that Houthis continue to “attack citizens in Sa'ada, reject to free abductees and military vehicles, disturb security and set new checkpoints,” ofﬁcial Saba reported. Saleh highly appreciated

Qatar's efforts to held Yemen make peace in Sa'ada, but threatened Houthis of “bad consequences” unless they commit to the peace deal. The government has recently released more than 428 Houthi detainees under the supervision of a Qatari mediation team. Houthis have also handed over 21 military vehicles to the Qatari mediation committee and announced they have released all military equipments they took over during conﬂict that came to end in February 2010. courtesy News Yemen

Army Kills 8 in Hadramawt Members of the armed forces of the 37th brigade in Hadramawt killed a number of citizens from the Bani Mura tribe in the Amad valley directorate last Friday, according to local sources. The soldiers allegedly ﬁred on a protest organized by the tribe over a job dispute with a Chinese company Mohammed Al-Asaadi Editorial Consultant

operating in the area. Two citizens, Ali Nasser Bin Shamlan and Mahrous Bin Helaby have been exposed to various injuries during the shooting, which units of the army carried out while protecting facilities of the Chinese company "Nova Lei,” located on the highland plateau which

Fuad Al-Qadhi Business Editor

overlooks the Amad and Haridh directorates. The victims had been approaching the company’s headquarters in order to sign off on agreements proposed by the authorities and ofﬁcials of the Chinese company regarding employing residents of the area in construction activities. In a

resultant dispute, the tribesmen were ﬁred upon. Eight of their ranks were arrested after the altercation. The Bani Mura tribe held an emergency meeting to discuss the situation and attempts to seek retribution from the government and the release of their detained members.

Shukri Hussein Jihan Anwar Amel Al-Ariqi Aden - Abyan Correspondent Staff Journalist Social Editor

The Facts As They Are

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Deadly Robbery Of Electricity Vehicle In Abyan

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National Yemen

Yemenis Handicapped by Poor Care, War Lack Aid By Abdul Ghani al-Yusuﬁ According to official information, there are nearly two and a half million handicapped in the country, whose conditions range from motor disability to deafness, point out that the main causes of disability in Yemen are spinal fever, traffic accidents not treated in a timely manner, the inheritance of diseases due to poor primary care for children, lack of treatment and health services, the incidence of diabetes, and war wounds. Dr. Amt Al-Razaq Ali Hamad, minister of Social Affairs and Labour ,reported that the government allocated 5% of the proportion of governmental jobs for the handicapped in Yemen. During Yemen’s celebrations on the international day for the handicapped Dr. Hamad confirmed, "The political leadership represented by President Ali Abdullah Saleh has given special attention and outstanding care and for the handicapped." “The last two decades have witnessed legislative actions at the national and international levels in the care and rehabilitation of the handicapped, including the issuance of Presidential decree No. 25 of 1991 to reform the National Supreme Committee, headed by the Prime Minister. “Also the issuance of law No. 61 of 1999 which ensures care and rehabilitation of the handicapped, as well as the law No. 2 of 2002 to establish a fund for the handicapped and ratify the International Convention of the rights for

Children handicapped by mines According to government statistics, the number of the handicapped in the governorate of Ibb exceeded that of all other governorates in Yemen, exacerbated by natural disasters, wars and mines, and traffic accidents in cars and motorcycles. The information indicates the number of the handicapped is 44,880 people in the census of 2004. But the same information shows that aid reaches only 30% of the total number of the handicapped in the province and the rest do not receive the assistance of governments and humanitarian organizations. Many directorates of Ibb province experienced the scourge of conflict, and the brief 1994 conflict between

regions of Yemen had suffered from marginalization in the seventies and eighties, and received little in the way of official services and care. An especially intense war zone was the al-Nadera directorate and its environs. Many live mines are still believed to be spread around the area, which consists of 3700 square meters. Some of the fields have been referred in 2007 to the Committee of Demining, which has cleared 37 fields around eight villages. Still, the areas around 33 villages remain uncleared and still highly dangerous. A total of 26 mines were detonated in 2006 and another 444 in 2007. Najib al-Halmi, chairman of the local Committee for Social Affairs and Labor reported that mine explosions in the isolated villages of al-Fajra, al-Ariza, and al-Sharnamt had killed four women and disabled 33 others in recent years.

broken bodies keep us from helping our large families. There are others who were injured throughout the land, well near two hundred and fifty people – they live in a tragedy and can’t put chicken or vegetables on the dinner table, and we can’t even teach our children. Although we heard about assistance, we have not received help from the international, local, or government organizations – all this while there are men and women who were injured and had their limbs and hands amputated and they are now in a deplorable state.” he said.

‘‘

“There are no means of transportation to our ofﬁce for many rural resiA victim tells dents, making it so his story that we cannot so operate and provide The region is Kahlan Fort services effectively and Nqil Saleh on al-Aut in the governorates

the handicapped.” Dr. Hamad, continued, "the allocation of government jobs to the handicapped in Yemen is a positive step taken by the Government to alleviate their suffering and integrate them in daily life.” The governorates of the Republic witnessed rhetorical and artistic celebrations on the occasion of special day. In Ibb governorate, the local authorities announced that it had allocated a quota of ten percent of official jobs for the handicapped of the governorate – an increase of five percent from the Cabinet resolution.

the North and South especially affected the area, during which ghastly incidences of bloodshed and even people being butchered in front of their parents, including women and innocent children, were witnessed. During this period, those areas suffered attacks from Communist militias associated with the South, which flooded the area with weapons and landmines, the number of which exceeded twice the region's population, which led to hundreds of man-made disabilities. Previously, the central

mountain and the story’s narrator is a mine victim whose leg was amputated after a mine explosion that occurred when he was just 16-years old, in 1981. But he was not the only victim, as his brother was killed, his father was injured, and a third boy was wounded to the extent that his ankle is still impaired. This narrator is a popular poet and a former soldier, forced into earlier retirement by his wounds – 45-year old Abdu Saleh al-Halmi. We visited him in his modest home, a squat, one-floor building housing a family of eight located in the suburbs of Ibb city. His salary barely reaches YR 22 thousand. Above all, he hopes to find his son Izzedine a government job to help pay the family’s expenses and to alleviate the burden on his father. He then narrated some verses of poetry that reflected his personal tragedy. “Those who planted these mines were honored today, they are the deans and colonels. But we are retired with the private’s rank. Our minds are shattered and our

The directorate of al-Seda also suffered. Aiss al-Kobri, chairman of the local handicapped assembly, pointed out that the number of handi-

capped in the area is 1,100, including 350 women – almost all as the result of mine explosions. He demanded that government and international organizations help assure these victims’ civil rights by providing technical, educational and material assistance. In addition, he made an appeal for the training and compensation of the handicapped and to deliver those who planted the mines and escaped prosecution to be brought to justice, no matter the delay. In the directorate of (Sabrp , Alrdmh Baddan and al Shaer), there are no statistics on the handicapped because the lack of official interest in their plight. There is a need for intervention from humanitarian organizations to carry out adequate studies in order to provide more adequate assistance. The total number of beneficiaries in the province of Ibb from the Handicapped Fund stands at 10,374 cases, estimated at a mere 9.5% of the total number of cases in the governorate. According to the Director of the Social Affairs Office in the governorate, Naser al-Baadani, Ibb has been promised a greater share of handicapped-related assistance than any other governorate, under the aegis of the International organizations(AC DM) . The program is slated to start work in the province at the beginning of this year, starting pilot programs in Al mshnh and Jibla, which were chosen for their general accessibility and the relatively high levels of infrastructure and community interaction. The assistance aims at reducing the disability rate and spreading community awareness through education and media campaigns, which will emphasize the role of religion, school, and civil society in alleviating the suffering of the disabled. Besides, the program envisions building schools and training centers as well as implementing courses on teaching and providing the means of specialized training for the labor market. Also, awareness of the dangers to society of motorcycles, cars accident, natural disasters, and wars will be raised, with the assistance and supervision of the Office of Social Affairs, Health, Education, and Information. Committees will expand

Soldiers clear mines in the rural areas of Ibb governorate

their activities to rural areas, in an attempt to provide rehabilitation, assistance, and treatment. Much of the early success of the plan is due to Ahmed Abdullah al-Hajri, governor of Ibb, who enthusiastically attended workshops in Taiz and Sana'a, and advocated on behalf of the initiative. The handicapped Federation in Ibb consists of seven affiliated advocacy groups which represent deaf, mute, physically handicapped, blind, and war victims. The Fund for the Handicapped in Ibb Province The director of the handicapped Fund, Muhyeddin Kashaf, stated that the number of beneficiaries in Ibb and its surrounding areas was 1,290. He reported that the Fund provided them with medications and other aid, such as 100 sets of crutches and 200 electric and ordinary wheel chairs in addition to various walkers and mobility aids, which provide only a small amount of relief compared to the huge number of the handicapped. In the mean time, assistance has not been forthcoming from the donor organizations. Asked of subsidies originating from nongovernmental organization, donor countries, or domestic authorities, Kashaf responded, “the revenue allocated to the governorate is estimated at YR 40 million annually and is projected to reach YR 50 million this year.” “Only, bureaucracy in dealing with the funding authorities is hampering our work. There are cases which need urgent treatment and first aid, it is essential that we have swift access to facilities and funding – so far this is lacking. “There are no means of transportation to our office for many rural residents, making it so that we cannot so operate and provide services effectively in the governorates – Ibb governorate is sprawling, as is neighboring al-Dalea. “Patients are unable to go to the provincial capitals to present their applications for aid because of poverty and disability, and we lack an adequate budget for the branch so that we can continuously monitor cases. “We just have one operation room, which receives cases and generally transfers them on to Sana'a, where they may wait for months for proper attention.”

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Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011 Issue 28 www.nationalyemen.com

Continued From Page (1)

“I want to be frank about the fact that there are terrorists operating from Yemeni territory today,” Mrs. Clinton said to an audience of parliamentarians, businesspeople and students at the Movenpick Hotel in Sana’a. “Stopping these threats would be a priority for any nation, and it is a priority for us.” At the same gathering, Ms. Clinton afﬁrmed the United States’ commitment to Yemen’s development as well, though she claimed that the country’s economy had been “sapped by terrorism,” which intimidated potential investors and tourists who could reverse sagging fortunes. "Over the long run, Yemen's economic and political development and its security are deeply intertwined," she claimed. The Secretary of State’s motorcade also made a quick visit through Old Sana’a’s streets en route to the presidential palace. Security for the trip was high, and members of her staff were reportedly agitated that news of the surprise visit had been made known to local news outlets before Mrs. Clinton’s arrival. America sent $130 million to Yemen in nonmilitary aid in 2010, up from $17 million in 2008, an increase that almost meets its military aid for 2010, which stands at $170 million. Relations between the Yemeni and American government are generally considered to be at a low ebb, in the wake of unprecedented US pressure for the country to combat al-Qaeda, and recent embarrassing diplomatic leaks which painted both parties in a poor light. Ms. Clinton told reporters: “I could have a big picture of the world and it could say: ‘The Apology Tour,’ because I have been very, very much involved in reaching out to leaders and others who have concerns about either the general message of our conﬁdential communications

being ex¬posed in this way or specific questions about their country or themselves.” It had allegedly been resolved by the Yemeni side that bilateral meetings between high-level officials would be suspended as an expression of resentment over the revealing episode. But a three-hour meeting between Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh and Ms. Clinton at the presidential palace indicated that tensions between the two sides had eased. Discussions reportedly revolved around economic and social development, cooperation on counterterrorism, and ongoing political tensions. Mrs. Clinton urged President Saleh to open a dialogue with the opposition, saying it would make Yemen more stable. She had emphasized this point at her Movenpick appearance: “We support an inclusive government. We see that Yemen is going through a transition. It could one way or the other. It could go the right way or the wrong way.” Clinton’s visit to Yemen follows a strong condemnation by the ruling party, aligned with the president, against American “foreign interference” in Yemeni discussions on constitutional amendments and elections scheduled for April. A statement by a State Department spokesman two weeks ago urging comprehensive dialogue between all Yemeni political factions was perceived as a sign of official US disapproval of amending the constitution. Ms. Clinton announced, "We will support whatever agreement Yemen's political parties reach together as they negotiate electoral reform." Proposed changes, slated for a popular referendum in the up-coming elections, would ban presidential term limits and make it far easier for the incumbent president to continue his

rule indefinitely. The president stood silently with Mrs. Clinton at the news conference after their meeting. Shortly before, he gave her a silver necklace made by a Yemeni-Jewish craftsman; he placed it around her neck before escorting her from the palace. She had told the meeting “There are terrorists operating from Yemeni territory today, many of whom are not Yemeni, some of whom, I’m sorry to say, are American citizens. So this is an urgent concern for both of us.” Mrs. Clinton then proceeded to the heavily fortified US embassy, in which she addressed local staff, “I hope that you recognize how much those of us in Washington understand that Yemen is really on the front lines. “It’s on the front lines of so much that matters to the American people. And obviously, our fight against the terrorists is critical here.” Clinton, Feltman, and Ambassador to Yemen Gerald Feierstein then met with a group of prominent opposition politicians on the embassy grounds to discuss Yemen’s current political impasse. Attendees included President of the Joint Meetings Party Mohammed Abdul Malik al-Mutawakkil, Secretary General of the Islah party Abdul Wahab al-Ansi, head of the National Dialogue Mohammed Salem Ba Sendwah, Secretary General the Haq party Hassan Zaid, Secretary General of the Unionist Nasserite Party Sultan al-Atawani, Assistant Secretary General of the Yemeni Socialist Party Abu Bakr Ba Dheeb, and Assistant Secretary General of the Baath Party Ahmad Haidar. Journalists were not allowed to attend the meeting, which lasted only around an hour. Still, the Yemeni government was enraged by the discussions, and a day after Ms. Clinton’s departure

implemented a new policy whereby ofﬁcial permission is needed before private citizens could visit any foreign embassy. “It is strictly prohibited for any person to enter any embassy or headquarters of a foreign mission with only his personal credentials and identity card; advance coordination with the relevant security agencies is for the safety of everyone and achieves the interest of all,” an ofﬁcial source told the Saba news agency. Also, Aref al-Zawka, president of the ruling party’s youth league, blasted the opposition leaders at a party rally on Wednesday, calling for their “speedy trial” due to their

Continued From Page (1) prime minister, to act as head of state before leaving the country, and the latter had appeared on state television to announce his stewardship over an interim government. The Constitutional Council, Tunisia's highest legal authority on constitutional issues, also announced that the departure of Ben Ali was permanent. Earlier, a statement released by Saudi monarchy said the decision to welcome Ben Ali was based on appreciation of the "exceptional circumstances" in Tunisia. "Out of concern for the exceptional circumstances facing the brotherly Tunisian people and in support of the security and stability of their country... the Saudi government has welcomed President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and his family to the kingdom," the statement said. The unrest in the country began on December 17, after a 26-year-old unemployed graduate set himself on fire in an attempt to commit suicide. Mohammed Bousazizi's act of desperation set off the public's growing frustration with rising inflation and unemployment, and prompted a wave of protests across the country.

A statement from president Obama’s office on Saturday announced, “The United States stands with the entire international community in bearing witness to this brave and determined struggle for the universal rights that we must all uphold, and we will long remember the images of the Tunisian people seeking to make their voices heard.” The role of media in the uprising is significant, but debatable, with many observers claiming that social networking sites like facebook and twitter aided in protestors’ ability to coordinate and publicize their activities. Many credited al-Jazeera’s relentless, daily coverage of the unfolding unrest with encouraging the overthrow. Also, recent Wikileaks disclosures of US diplomatic cables exposed American misgivings about Ben Ali’s authoritarian rule and the corruption of his family and inner circle – which led some analysts to believe heartened Tunisian dissidents. In a final bid to placate the protesters, Mr. Ben Ali had already pledged to hold parliamentary elections in six months. Those elections are now expected to include a

presidential contest as well. But open elections would be a first for Tunisia, in which Ben Ali typically won electoral mandates well over 95 percent. In his last days Mr. Ben Ali cycled through a series of attempts to placate the protesters, firing his interior minister, pledging a corruption investigation, promising new freedoms and a resignation at the end of his term in 2014, and finally dismissing his whole cabinet. But the measures ultimately proved incapable of containing Tunisians’ anger.

“treason against the country, their betrayal of the homeland, and their plotting with foreign powers.” “These people are traitors and agents of outsiders,” he told supporters in the capital. President Saleh made a speech at the same event later in the day, but made no reference to the meetings or his colleague’s accusations. At the end of the day, Mrs. Clinton brieﬂy met a former child bride, Nujud Ali, who as a 10-year-old in 2008 had stood outside a courthouse until a lawyer ﬁnally agreed to handle her divorce from her 30-year-old husband. Mrs. Clinton said of Nujud

that she was an example for all Yemenis who aspire to a better future, saying of child brides that “Their lost potential cost their families, their communities and their country.” “Now I hope I can say hello and thank you personally to a number of you as I leave and go on to Oman. Once I’m up in the air I’m no longer your responsibility, and you have earned a wheels-up party,” Clinton said to the embassy staff. The exhausted secretary of state proceeded to stumble and fall while boarding her ofﬁcial jet – a scene which circulated widely to voyeuristic, if sympathetic, viewers on the internet and American news outlets.

Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011 Issue 28 www.nationalyemen.com

REGION

National Yemen

Saudi Kingdom Challenges al-Qaeda in Public Eye Revelations Coaxed from al-Qaeda “double agent” Ms. Clinton was preceded by James Baker in 1990, Secretary of State under the first President George Bush, who visited Yemen before its unification. Other high-ranking US officials, such as Defense Secretary Robert Gates, “Central Command” chief David Petraeus, and President Obama’s top counter-terrorism adviser John Brennan have also frequented Sana’a in recent years. Her arrival comes within the context of a Middle East tour meant to shore up the opposition of friendly Arab regimes to Iran’s nuclear program, with other stops including the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Qatar. One of the main goals of Ms. Clinton’s trip was to convince a

skeptical Yemeni government and populace that America’s recent intense interest in the country did not solely involve combatting terrorism. Statements to that effect peppered her visit, yet few observers doubted that hours of private discussions with the Yemeni president and ofﬁcials focused especially on countering the threat of armed groups based in Yemen. “I want to be frank about the fact that there are terrorists operating from Yemeni territory today,” Mrs. Clinton said to an audience of parliamentarians, businesspeople and students at the Movenpick Hotel in Sana’a. “Stopping these threats would be a priority for any nation, and it is a priority for us.” At the same gathering, Ms.

Clinton afﬁrmed the United States’ commitment to Yemen’s development as well, though she claimed that the country’s economy had been “sapped by terrorism,” which intimidated potential investors and tourists who could reverse sagging fortunes. "Over the long run, Yemen's economic and political development and its security are deeply intertwined," she claimed. The Secretary of State’s motorcade also made a quick visit through Old Sana’a’s streets en route to the presidential palace. Security for the trip was high, and members of her staff were reportedly agitated that news of the surprise visit had been made known to local news outlets before Mrs. Clinton’s arrival.

America sent $130 million to Yemen in nonmilitary aid in 2010, up from $17 million in 2008, an increase that almost meets its military aid for 2010, which stands at $170 million. Relations between the Yemeni and American government are generally considered to be at a low ebb, in the wake of unprecedented US pressure for the country to combat al-Qaeda, and recent embarrassing diplomatic leaks which painted both parties in a poor light. Ms. Clinton told reporters: “I could have a big picture of the world and it could say: ‘The Apology Tour,’ because I have been very, very much involved in reaching out to leaders and others who have concerns about Muhammad bin Nayyef

Hard-line Groups in Ibb Make Presence Known By Abdul-Ghani Al-Yusuﬁ / Baadan

Ibb governorate has witnessed a recent state of security unrest, including a spate forcible confiscation of lands by influential people and signs radical activity have began to appear on

walls. Graffiti has been posted on the sides of houses on the al-Sayyaani hill. A flag, reminiscent of that used by the al-Qaeda organization that appeared in Abyan, was

depicted in some instances, along with the statement "The Caliphate… power is on its way." The wall art consists of three parts: white paint, a brief message, and then the

drawing of a black flag on which is written "The No God except Allah and Mohammed is His Prophet." On Sumara Mountain, lying in the South of the governorate in central Yemen, eight scawls were drawn on both sides of the road, in addition to two others on the top of the mountain near the security zone to its South, and a checkpoint to its North. Messages include, “the Caliphate is the Promise of Allah,” “the Caliphate is the pinnacle of duties,” “Caliphate, Caliphate, Muslims, it is your obligation, the source of your power that will defeat your enemies and liberate your land,” “the Caliphate will save the world from the catastrophes of capitalism,” and the “the Caliphate is the power of the Muslims.” Photographs of these posters were made with great caution. It is notable that the appearance of the stencils coincides with proposals

made to amend the electoral law and to form an electoral oversight committee consisting of several judges – both of which opposition parties fiercely oppose. There are those in the area who view the phenomenon as the last signals of the opposition, to the effect that it can incite underground organizations through inflammatory statements in their conferences and in Friday Sermons with regards to the southern cause, the restive North, and the killing of

innocent Yemenis by US airstrike – without the knowledge of the leadership. An opposition mantra has been, "It is clear that the people and the world know who supports terrorism, sabotage and taking control of Yemen." A security source in Ibb said that the drawings on the road were made by hard-line groups and were put there in the severe cold of the winter season and that the security services are in the process of investigating them.

Is the U.S. Recycling Saudi Petrodollars into Weapons Sales? Chris Pockock I have long suspected that the main U.S. purpose in supplying huge arms packages to Gulf countries is to recycle petrodollars. Uncle Sam pays heavily for its reliance on imported oil, but offers in return a shopping list of shiny new weaponry from the U.S. defense industry. Like kids in a candy store, the Arabs take up these offers, although with not enough thought given to how they might absorb and operate the kit. Some evidence to back my theory is available courtesy of Wikileaks. Secret reporting by State and Defense Department ofﬁcials in 2009 and 2010 reveals their determination to proceed with the latest, recordsetting package to Saudi Arabia, despite objections from Israel and their own doubts about the capabilities of the Saudi armed forces.

In 2009 meetings between U.S and Israeli officials to discuss American plans to sell no fewer than 84 more Boeing F-15 Strike Eagles and 178 helicopters to Saudi Arabia, Israeli officials warned their American counterparts that “moderate Arab countries could in the future become adversaries.” They added that some of the proposed U.S. sales to the Gulf had no relevance to countering threats posed by Iran–the major rationale put forward by Washington to justify them. In particular, Israeli officials objected to the inclusion of AESA (active electronically scanned array) radars, enhanced Paveway II bombs and the joint helmet-mounted cueing system on the new F-15s for Saudi Arabia. They also opposed the possible basing of Saudi F-15s at Tabuk in northern Saudi Arabis,

close to the Israeli border. We learn from another Wikileak that King Abdullah is in favor of attacking Iranian nuclear sites. But he wants the U.S. to do it. All those shiny new Saudi F-15s would stay firmly grounded. Eventually, it may be the Israelis who solve this particular dilemma, by striking the sites with their own F-15s. Indeed, the U.S. agreed in 2009 to quietly supply Israel with GBU-28 laser-guided bombs designed specifically to eliminate hardened targets. So what are the new Saudi F-15s for? The existing fleet of F-15C/D interceptors could be upgraded to meet any conceivable threat from the Iranian air force, which has been seriously weakened by decades of sanctions. In a justification of the latest package sent to Congress last November, Secretary of

Defense Gates cited “terrorist groups and other regional threats,” including attacks by the Houthi rebels along the Saudi border with Yemen in the south. But what do we learn from Wikileaks about that conflict, which flared briefly in late 2009? The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh reported to Washington the poor performance of the Saudi armed forces against a lightly armed guerilla force, despite round-theclock artillery barrages and many air strikes by F-15s and Boeing AH-64 attack helicopters. King Abdullah was said to be angry about the time it took to expel “the ragtag Houthi fighters” and about the high number of Saudi casualties, “many apparently from friendly fire.” Two months later, the U.S. ambassador met Saudi Deputy Defense Minister Prince Khalid to voice concern that some Saudi

air strikes had struck civilian targets, even though the U.S. provided classified satellite imagery of the border area. “If we had the Predator, maybe we would not have this problem,” was Khalid’s reported response. (Khalid also noted that the Yemeni government had provided some questionable targets–including what turned out to be the headquarters of that country’s northern area military commander, who is a political opponent of Yemeni President Saleh.) There was another undesirable outcome of this border conflict. The Saudis expended so many munitions that they were obliged to ask the U.S. for an emergency supply. The tardy response from Washington led to complaints from Prince Khalid and senior Saudi Air Force officers. Did the U.S. deliber-

ately slow the resupply, to remind the Saudis that it retains a degree of control–in secret–over how and where Americansupplied weapons are used? Such concerns are probably the main reason why the Saudis pursue alternative options for the supply of some defense kit. The UK has been the main beneﬁciary of this strategy, notably through the Al-Salam agreement to supply 72 Euroﬁghter Typhoons. Problems in the progress of the deal were reported last year. But the Saudis will probably proceed, not the least because the Europeans seem less concerned about Israel’s security being threatened by the kingdom than the Americans. We also learn from Wikileaks that the Saudis are thought likely to base some Typhoons at Tabuk. courtesy AIN Blog

National Yemen

POLITICS

Ruling Party in Ibb: Delay of Polls will cause “Lawlessness, Rioting” By Abdul Ghani al-Yusuﬁ

The Ruling GPC party and its allies in Ibb governorate stressed that parliamentary elections must be carried out on time during a conference last week. The country has witnessed internal political tensions and protests in recent weeks over the procedure and oversight of the polls, scheduled for April. Many analysts foresee political disaster and even the outbreak of violence as a result of the current deadlock.

The GPC, the national democratic alliance parties, and local civil society organizations in Ibb governorate characterized the conduct of the parliamentary elections on 27 April 2011 as a constitutional and legal necessity, which cannot be disrupted by any party or partisan political forces in Yemen or abroad. The ofﬁcial statement of the meeting conﬁrmed the importance of completing all the elections procedures on the

scheduled date. It also warned that, if any further delay is made to the proceedings of the current Parliament is made, the constitution will “lose its value,” subjecting the republic to “political tensions which may move us from a state of law and order to a state of rioting.” Al Barakani commented that a signed agreement between the opposition Joint Meetings Party and the GPC had already extended the term of the House of Representatives for two years at the request of the JMP to approve all constitutional amendments. In addition, such changes to normal procedure “tended to disrupt the national dialogue, and introduce obstacles and difﬁculties. They have even demanded the release of prisoners accused of banditry, murder, and disturbing national unity. “This results in divisiveness, and support for terrorist elements such as the Houthis and al-Qaeda, but all the while the JMP denies terrorist acts.”

Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011 Issue 28 www.nationalyemen.com

JMP Rally in Shabwa Blasts Ruling Party The opposition Joint Meeting Party coalition organized a rally al-Jabiya region of Southern Shabwa governorate last week. The activities were managed by Ali Mohamed Amer al-Khulaifi, a local JMP leader. He delivered a speech on behalf of the coalition saying, “The ruling party doesn’t want to resolve problems peacefully. It seems they want the country to be plunged into further crisis, so they have a decision to make.” Al-Khulaifi appealed to the ruling party to respond to the demands expressed by a wide array of dissenting political parties. He called on the ruling

party, the authorities, and civil society organizations to shore up constitutional legitimacy and not to “rig the elections in advance.” “Respond to international warnings and respect the principles of the revolution, the foundations of unity, and back off on the proposed election date," he warned, saying that otherwise, the JMP, along with all aligned parties would resist the “coup on constitutional legitimacy through all peaceful means.” Addressing the citizenry of Yemen, he declared, "you should reject the constitutional amendments that call for the perpetuation and extension of the ruling party. They will not fulfill their promises.

“Say no for the proposed changes," he concluded. Appeal was made to improve the situation of the southern provinces and to reconstruct what the war of the summer 1994 had ruined. He noted the importance of equal citizenship in the eyes of the law, and equity in the distribution power and wealth. Also, al-Khulaifi called for an inclusive national dialogue which will “resolve all crises in the homeland and involve all people in the range of issues facing the country.” Throngs of citizens and leaders of the JMP attended the event, hailing from Ataq directorate and other parts of Shabwa governorate.

Clinton Neglects Southern Issue, al-Beidh Despondent Former South Yemeni president Ali Salem al-Beidh refrained from any official statements or political activity during the last two days after Hillary Clinton's visit to Yemen as a sign of protest, after the Secretary of State neglected to even mention the Southern Movement, according to a source in the South News Network, His protest even extend to like-minded dissidents, as he refused to communicate or even respond to fellow separatist leaders during their activities on the anniversary of January 13. Al-Beidh delivered no statement, despite repeated attempts to contact him. The same source declared that al-Beidh is suffering from severe anxiety and has been advised by doctors to

rest and to curtail his political activities. Many of his detractors in the movement would approve, as he seems to have proven himself incapable of unifying separatist ranks. The same source at the South News Network

confirmed that al-Beidh was informed a few days ago that the movement had been infiltrated by government authorities, including some leaders whom he trusted and paid large sums of money, which was severe shock to the reclusive leader.

Fears that Election Day May Devolve into Civil War Many politicians warned that the next April 27th might turn into a spark of civil war. Calls have been made for ofﬁcials to appreciate the gravity of the situation, as the republican regime and stability in the country are in jeopardy, especially since the parliament approved the concept of holding constitutional amendments amidst the opposition’s refusal at the beginning of this month. Opposition ﬁgures have called the move a coup that involves bars the possibility of an inclusive government while returning Yemen to the pre-revolution period. Mohammed Al-Dhaheri, Professor of Political Sciences in Sana’a University, stressed the need to consider the people in cases of constitutional amendments. He deemed the political regime’s repeated extension of its mandate as a “squandering of the objectives of Yemen’s revolution and its republican regime.” Mr. al-Dhaheri warned of a precarious stage that may lead to

perpetual rule by the current authorities. He said that the new amendments are part of a pre-emptive plan to extend the presidential term after 2013, at which time the president’s mandate is scheduled to end, per the constitution. Al-Dhaheri continued, “in case the draft law is voted upon, it will turn Yemen from a republic into a monarchy under the name of a ‘republican regime.’” He pointed out that the essence of amendments is summed up in article 112 and that it is a “justiﬁcation by any ‘crisis’ of a caliphate and maintenance of power in the interest of one individual.” Yemeni political circles hold hopes that the United States, which has entered into the rhetorical arena of the Yemeni elections, however tardily, succeeds where the leaders of the political equation in the regime and opposition have failed. The ruling party and the opposition are deep in a

quagmire of disagreements about the next parliamentary elections and the draft law of constitutional amendments, which the opposition describes as reducing political freedom to zero and making monarchy and autocracy a permanent ﬁxture of Yemeni politics. Still, the current political game is not devoid of excesses made by both sides. The opposition, which includes various political trends, has attempted to sow the current political situation with various crises in order to make changes that can level the playing ground in their favor before the elections It expects to gain big results by exploiting the political and social tension in the South, the Sa’ada issue, and the generally deteriorating quality of life in the country. On the other hand, the General People’s Congress (GPC) attempts to buy time to maintain its electoral base and stymie the attempts of the opposition to exploit various crises to

their advantage. After the opposition Joint Meeting Parties’ (JMP) announcement that they would suspend dialogue with the president indeﬁnitely, the President adopted the carrot and stick approach: either adhere to the elections on time, whether the opposition likes it or not, or accept constitutional amendments. Both artiﬁces have the potential to create turmoil that can ravage the security and stability of Yemen. Obstructing the planned elections is the opposition’s obvious strategy, based on the JMPs’ announcement that they will not allow the ruling party to approach the voting boxes, which foreshadows a strategy of fomenting chaos through its armed tribal partisans. The chairman of the Executive Committee’s branch of the National Dialogue in the province of Ma’arib, Mursal Ali al-Qabali, has called on the JMP to come out to streets, carry out a

civil disobedience campaign, and “offer a group of martyrs in order to liberate the people.” He also called the JMP to move on from the stage of peaceful protest to the stage of making demands by force, after the channels of peaceful dialogue have been exhausted. Al-Qabali’s statements came one day after being elected chairman to the committee’s branch in Ma’arib during a conference of a coalition of the tribes of Marib and Al-Jawf. The gathering came in the context of the conference of National Salvation, called for and organized by the Preparatory Committee of the National Dialogue under the chairmanship of Mohammed Salem Ba Sendwah. Al-Qabali’s statement is considered a signal by the JMP, as the call came from two extreme and intensively armed provinces of a tribal nature. It is believed that the president’s unilateral holding of elections will increase the

tension in the political arena and may even stoke further separatist sentiments. On the other hand, postponing the elections until a later period in light of the lack of trust between the parties will create a catastrophic constitutional vacuum. Also, it will hold government procedure hostage to the various agreement or disagreement between the GPC and the JMP. But this schism hardly represents the whole political scene, in light of the existence of thousands of political activists in civil society and more than ﬁfteen registered and acknowledged parties beside the GPC and the ﬁve parties of the JMP. It is mentioned that the provision of the planned constitutional amendments will abolish article 112 from the constitution, which limits the presidential term at two. That is, it extends the presidential mandate for President Ali Abdullah Saleh to rule the country for life.

Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011 Issue 28 www.nationalyemen.com

SPECIAL FEATURE

National Yemen

Ali al-Kurdi on His “Jihad,” Old and New An interview with president of “Committee for the Defense of Unity” were right, and that the Russians had usurped the country and were destroying the place. I saw it as my religious duty to go to Afghanistan. After my return, I saw that the place for jihad was in Yemen, for the sake of unity, before even the jihad in Afghanistan and in Palestine, and then against the southern movement, and then against the Jews and Christians.

Ali al-Kurdi, nicknamed “Abu Israel,” a former “mujahid” in Afghanistan, discusses the Popular Committee which he founded in Yemen to defend the country’s unity against calls for secession, and on the period of his “jihad” in Afghanistan. He discusses the present and future of the political and military situation in the South of Yemen as one of the ﬁercest opponents of the Southern Movement, admitting openly that he and his group are ready to conduct “suicide operations” against the secessionists. Text of the interview follows: By Arafat Madabish, Special to National Yemen Q. How did the idea of establishing this committee come about? The idea started when we thought of establishing a “Unity Forum of the Sons of Aden,” and when we saw young people and their willingness to defend the unity of Yemen. So we started the Committee and I was elected as its chairman, and of course the support for it came from my side, and to this day it does not have any support from the state. We are among those from the South who have suffered the scourge, prison, and oppression because of our religious devotion. When we used to pray, people from al-Dalea and Yafi would urinate on us. We suffered severely [during the socialist rule of the South], and we were not able even to build homes or prosper. We endured a lot in those days, and we looked to the tribes for authority, whether in Abyan, Shabwa, Al-Dalea, or Radfan. Q. You say you sons of the South have suffered, but are not the people of the areas you just mentioned also the sons of the south? Yes they are from the South, but any person governed exclusively by his tribe. I mean to say, it was factional and territorial, and there was no real freedom: no freedom of press, no freedom of religion – only freedom for degeneracy and alcohol and such things. Persecution and slaughter continued since the British colonialists left in 1967 until the establishment of unity between the two parts of Yemen (North and South, in 1990). Back then we used to be rounded up every day, under the guise of some charge or another, sometimes as «leftist provocateurs» and other times as «right-wing reactionaries», once as part of a supposed «gang» or «clique», but the

mother of all crimes was the massacre our ranks on January 13. Q. Some say you are using in the committee as a means to bludgeon the government’s opponents in the South. Your response? By God, we, even today, have never been a tool of the authorities. But if we were to be used by them, this would be an honor for us – we will continue to work under our own leadership. But it is a grave shame to work for a foreign agenda, and to be agents of foreign powers which aim at striking the country and harming its people in the interests of other countries. And if I were an agent of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, I would take pride in this, but I'm not liked by his government. Political Security has raided my house and this caused my sister’s miscarriage. I was thrown in prison. This issue is national, and is not limited just to the defense of the regime. We want to move this country towards better things, and also want to eliminate corruption and do not want to slide back again to the days of “North and South.” All those who lost power engineered the “Southern Issue” and so on, and we’ve been manipulated since the days of Britain. There were those who chanted “Aden for the Adenis,” and this was the slogan for those who wanted secession and who did not want any Bedoiun or al-Dhalai to enter Aden. This was the face of racism and secessionism during our time, but thanks to God and thanks to the men who fought for unity in the 1994 civil war – because of their efforts, we had this new birth as a nation. Me and my comrades were condemned to death in 1994 by

The “Popular National Committee to Defend Unity” ofﬁce in Aden

Ali al-Kurdi Ali Salem (former Vice President) and Saleh Munasir Al-Sayyali (former Minister of State Security), but when the troops of Ali Abdullah Saleh, the tribes, and the Mujahideen entered, we escaped the death penalty. Q. Since you founded the Committee for the Defense of Unity, have you received sums of money from the government? Unfortunately not. I went to the Standing Committee (Central Committee of the General Congress Party, the ruling party) more than once in order to get support for the body, but so far, no one has supported us. By God Almighty, I support the committee with money I could instead be using to better support my children. Q. There are those who call you the «Peshmerga» or «Janjaweed», in that you are an ally of the government used to cope with the southern movement. What is your response? My brother, I ate yesterday a meal for 100 YR of roti and beans. And I was thrown in prison in 1988 because I used to pray – they lied and said it was a political issue, and that I was a follower of the «Muslim Brotherhood», but I knew nothing about them. Also, they charged me with collaborating with the North. This is the reason I do not want to go back to separation; we are ready to fight and sacrifice ourselves and our families in order not to split the country, and we do not want «federalism». The President has announced to the former rulers that if they want to rule, they should return to the country, but we in the South do not want

them to rule. [Ali Salem] al-Beidh has a death sentence against him, on behalf of the sons of the South, and Yasin Said Nu’man (current Secretary General of the Yemeni Socialist Party), who was prime minister at the time, did not lift a finger against the slaughter that took place in Radfan against the children of Abyan. The people were being slaughtered like cattle and those who were silent supposedly speak now on behalf of the sons of the South?? Q. Brother Ali … I want you to tell me about your Jihad in Afghanistan and on how, in your view, the jihadist ideology can defend the unity of Yemen? Before I went to Afghanistan, we were following in the Media of the «Democratic Republic of Yemen» what was being said about the Mujahideen “pawns,” and I was eager to fight alongside the Russians against the «Mujahideen» because of the brainwashing that we were exposed to.

‘‘

Q. Do I understand from your words that if you were asked to carry out an armed operation against the southern movement, you would agree? If there were clashes and the leaders of the movement were to rove around the southern regions armed, my companions and I are ready to repel any attack or any armed action. But the issue now is political, and the ball is in the court of the state, and we do not want any fighting in Yemen like there is in Somalia and Darfur. We want Yemen to be stable state; people are hungry and do not want to enter into a war, but if the Southern Movement insists on violence, we are ready to counter it, even if through martyrdom operations. Q. Do not you think that your words to me are the same kind of words al-Qaeda and other militant jihadist groups use, and that these ideas do not comply with official Yemeni policy? I know that this will not please the state, but in my view, al-Qaeda is a global Islamic group which wants to end the American-Jewish occupation of the Muslim world. This is the mission of al-Qaeda in the West, but I will speak about my mission, which is in Yemen. I must defend it against any foreign colonization. You, as a journalist, know that there was a conspiracy to divide Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Iraq. Iraq is divided, and now Sudan, and they are heading towards Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

there was a conspiracy to divide Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Iraq. Iraq is divided, and now Sudan, and they are heading Q. What is the nature of your towards Yemen and activities in defense of unity? Saudi Arabia.

But when I joined the army, I learned that the holy warriors

We educate people about the dangers of conflict and division and the risks of tribal factionalism. We alert people to the dangers of separation, in particular that, if Yemen is

separated and ends, that means the end of Mecca and Medina too. Because Yemen is their defence; even the Turks, who ruled Yemen, realized this. We advise people not to cultivate hatred and tell them that they are brothers and that there is no difference between non-Arab and Arab or between Yemen and the U.S., only piety. If these are our activities, how are can we be called radicals? Q. What is the strength of your committee? It is estimated at up to 1000 members, mostly those who have lost loved ones during the rule of the totalitarian party (SPD), including women and the families of the missing, including my deputy, who lost her husband in the events of 1986. Q. How do you look to the assassinations in Abyan and Shabwa targeting some officers and employees of the Political Security? Frankly, they themselves are responsible for the security chaos and assassinations. Officers detain people, and those people enter prison, and by the time they leave have their heads filled with revenge for the State. This explains some of the momentum the southern movement has. Q. What do you make of demands for «disengagement»? Are these legitimate demands? Among the southern movement are people who were state officials; some of them were ambassadors abroad and military leaders and the like. After unity, the population increased dramatically, and is not reasonable to keep these people on as they were. So these same people, acting in their own interests, began to act as if they were speaking on behalf of the people of the South. But I, a southerner, could not get a home, and we sometimes witnessed 4 or 5 families living in one house. Those who spoke out in the name of the South at that time were massacred; the South was a wasteland, and now it is growing, as evidenced by the success of the «Gulf 20», and that is a complement to the backers of unity in the South.

Separatist ﬂags ﬂy over al-Malah town in neighboring Lahj governorate

National Yemen

BUSINESS

Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011 Issue 28 www.nationalyemen.com

Oil Minister Suspended over Inequitable Diesel Distribution Abyan / Shukri Hussein

A gas station in Sana’a Lacking Fuel Diesel fuel and oil have been in critically short supply in recent weeks, causing disturbances to the industrial, commercial and agricultural sectors and affecting everyday life for ordinary citizens. The President Ali Adullah Saleh issued a major decision to suspend the

functions of the Minister of Oil and Minerals, Amir al-Aidaroos and the Executive Director of the Yemeni Oil Company, Omar Al-Arhabi, because of a serious shortage which affected several governorates, including the capital Sana'a. Cars waited in long lines

in the capital last week at gas stations, while many facilities ran out of product, causing their managers to protest to the authorities. The freezing of the oil minister is a novel event, almost the first of its kind in Yemen. Political analysts say that the decision arises from the fear that the

current situation may heavily affect oil prices and lead to even greater difficulty in obtaining petroleum products, as it in previous eras of crisis. Also, the shortage increases the possibility of smuggling and other criminal activity. Amir al-Aidaroos was a successor to Khalid Bahah

as Minister of oil. Aidaroos’s tenure was characterized by unprecedented power to guide policy, and few members of the government were known to intervene in his decisions. The Third Conference on oil and gas was one of the most important projects carried out by the Minister of oil last year, and Yemen has witnessed a slight rise in the prices of oil profits under the minister’s supervision In the meantime, the governorate of Aden, along with Lahj, Abyan, and al-Dalea together obtained a subsidy of 6,611,107 liters daily, which was reduced after the global financial crisis and the depreciation of the dollar to 800,000 liters per day, which amounted to a drop of 88%. But the directorate of al-Mukha in Taiz governorate received 4,611,800 liters daily, even after the crisis. It is notable that the directorate, whose population does not exceed 30 thousand people, obtains such a massive proportion of oil – a full 530 percent

more than the other far more populous provinces combined. On this basis, many have begun to raise questions about why the al-Mukha coastal directorate is being provided with such a large amount, and whether massive corruption by local or national figures is involved in the discrepancy. Also the effect of smuggling on the national economy and, accordingly, the steady supply of oil products to the Yemeni people, as well as the funding of government programs, remains a serious concern.

mented 70 projects in the amount of 360 million euros. The German Foundation for Developmental Services in Yemen, one of the executive organizations specializing in developmental cooperation, opened its doors in 1979. The institution focused on primary

health care as well as urban development and reconstruction of historic buildings. Germany supports Yemen through the Reconstruction Bank and between 1969 a d 2009, provided approximately 600 million euros of financial support.

Amir Al-Aidaroos

German Development Minister: Development in Yemen Depends on Reform Dirk Niebel, Federal Minister for International Development Cooperation in the Federal Republic of Germany, who visited Sana’a last week, confirmed future assistance of Yemen depends in large part on the implementation of a national agenda of economic reforms. In a press conference with the Yemeni Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Mr. Niebel emphasized that Germany has been supporting development in Yemen for decades and it will continue its support to Yemen in order to improve the standard of living for the Yemeni citizenry. Niebel noted that Germany is cooperating with Yemen in the three basic areas, foremost among them education, which aims to combat illiteracy and improve the lives of citizens. Also, it aids in the field of water and sewage treatment, which aims to protect water resources in Yemen to maintain sanitation and cleanliness. Thirdly, Germany aims at improving governance in the Central Organization for Control and Accounting by combatting corruption. Niebel called on the Yemeni government to set its developmental agenda, stressing that it should be realistic and easy to implement. He reported that the coming German-Yemeni discussions scheduled for next June will discuss the next

five-year plan of assistance, as well as areas of aid-implementation in Yemen. The German minister expressed his country's desire to support Yemen in all possible areas, but lamented, “we want to improve Sa’ada, but unfortunately the situation isn’t reassuring.” “Germany and its European partners want democracy to be bigger and larger than it is now because the correlation between democracy and German aid is high,” Niebel added. With regard to the issue of Germany's support to Yemen in combating terrorism, Niebel stated, "Yemen is a key partner in combating terrorism and there are contacts between Yemen and Germany, especially since the visit of the German Interior Minister to Yemen,” noting that bilateral contacts and discussions intensified after the explosive parcels affair." He asserted that Germany promotes the process of development in Yemen both to improve people's living conditions and to reduce support for terrorism. Germany has been supporting development in Yemen for more than four decades. The first subsidy was in 1969, which Germany provided through the Reconstruction Loan Bank for the purpose of constructing Sana’a International Airport, as well as the maintenance of roads, such as the one between Sana'a and Taiz.

German aid in the field of human development has included the provision of clean drinking water, reproductive health support, and family health. In terms of business, its government has aimed to provide small business loans, improve the

general environment for investment, and supported monitoring, audits, and combating corruption. Subsidies implemented through the German Agency for Technical Cooperation began in Yemen in 1983. The Agency has so far imple-

Somali pirates hijack and loot ﬁshermen’s’ boat Ataq A group of Somali pirates hijacked and looted the boat of a group of Yemeni fishermen in the region of Bir Ali in coastal al-Radum directorate in Southern Shabwa governor-

ate, according to official sources. Somali pirates reportedly fired a hail of bullets into the fishermen’s craft, which hailed originally from the Western port of al-Hodeida.

Its civilian captain Hassan Ali and his shipmates were fishing in the coastal area of Bir Ali when the pirates looted their catches and promptly fled. Fishermen in al-Radum directorate condemned the

security forces for not preventing Somali pirates from endangering their livelihoods. Similar incidents have been reported in the territorial waters of Yemen several times in recent years.

Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011 Issue 28 www.nationalyemen.com

National Yemen

REPORT

Army Deploys to Radfan to Face Southern Militants By Abdul Malik Al Assar Al-Bowaibin region in Al-Malah, Lahj governorate has witnessed fierce battles between the security forces and armed elements of the southern movement. Light and heavy weapons were employed, such as heavy machine guns and mortars, which government forces used to bombard the militants. The militants managed to seize the military base of the general security in the same region, in addition to killing five soldiers and injuring of eight others. It was reported that after the general security office was occupied, a large amount military-grade weapons and ammunition were confiscated. Eye-witnesses said to the National Yemen newspaper that MiG-29 military aircrafts still roam the skies often, in preparation to strike positions and targets where armed elements of the southern movement are believed to be hiding. Informed sources said that the intensifying overflights came after arrival of intelligence that there are elements of the al-Qaeda organization that joined the ranks of the armed southern movement elements in Radfan and that they possess advanced weapons. The sources said that the residents of villages neighboring the conflict region were asked to evacuate the region in preparation for a possible military strike, especially after brigade 119 stationed there allegedly asked for military reinforcements. The brigade was furnished with armored vehicles, missiles, and other heavy weapons in preparation for the anticipated battle. Eye-witnesses and military sources in the al-Anad military base affirmed that the military reinforcements dispatched by the Ministry of Defense includes infantry battalions from the Republican Guard brigade in Dhamar province. These military reinforcements followed other previous reinforcements sent by

the army forces after fighting between the two sides erupted two weeks ago and continued until yesterday evening. The violence has resulted in a number of deaths and injuries on both sides. Military sources said that the purpose of the campaign is to subdue the region of Radfan and its four surrounding directorates so that the government can regain authority over the area, which the southern movement's had previously controlled totally.

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intensifying overﬂights came after arrival of intelligence that there are elements of the al-Qaeda organization that joined the ranks of the armed southern movement elements in Radfan

The same sources noted that the al-Dhale', al-Habilain, and Aden roads have been blocked and oil deliveries were prevented from reaching the region and also telephone telecommunication lines were cut, supposedly so that army units can approach rebel hideouts without advance warning. Radfan representatives have called for the soldiers of the 119 Brigade to vacate the area, calling their demand a "Message of Peace." Local councils in the area had resolved in 2008 to stop the establishment of new military posts, and the move was formalized by a decision made by the presidential committee in 2009. The message stated that "all the sheikhs of Radfan, local councils, merchants and social figures have unanimously agreed to the refusal of the deployment of the military forces outside their permanent camps – a position which we have maintained since 2007." The message addressed the commander and soldiers of 119 Infantry Brigade, saying "your presence is a breach of all relevant agree-

ments, and a provocation of our feelings, which is unacceptable." Military sources mentioned that the mountains to the east of al-Bowaibin region in al-Malah directorate in Yafe', Lahj governorate, have been regained after they had been combed by army elements. According to locals, a nervous calm prevails after the army forces have cleared the area of rebels. The residents there have demanded that the state's sovereignty be imposed in their regions, which are experiencing security chaos. Armed separatists, rumored to have the support of elements belonging to the al-Qaeda organization, are killing their local opponents, local officials have claimed. The southern movement leader Hasan Ba Oum has arrived in Radfan region after he was released by the government and was received amid disagreements among the southern movement. He called on them to unify their ranks and forget old differences and divisions among its leaderships, and meetings with local activists

were reportedly convened to advance that vision.

‘‘ “all the sheikhs of Radfan, local councils, merchants and social ﬁgures have unanimously agreed to the refusal of the deployment of the military forces outside their permanent camps”

Last Thursday, thousands of the people in Lahj governoate in the four directorates of Radfan in addition to the directorates of Al-Sabiha and parts of the two directorates of Toban went out in a large demonstration on the 5th anniversary of the drive for “Southern Tolerance Recon-

ciliation” in 2006. Attendees raised placards in both Arabic and English which expressed the “tolerance” and “reconciliation.” They stressed in a number of statements their desire to end of differences and clashes of the past within the moveent. The demonstrators repeated slogans in support the southern movement, which demand the return of a Southern State by peaceful means. They also raised pictures of the former vicepresident of the unified state, Ali Salem al-Beidh and the leader of the southern movement, Hasan Ba Oum and a number of those who were killed in peaceful demonstrations during the last five years. Those present hailed mainly from Radfan, al-Dalea, Yafe and Al-Sabiha in Lahj. The condemned the supposed siege carried out by the Yemeni army forces on Radfan, while claiming that telecommunications have been cut for five days in al-Dalea, as part of an “economic siege” on the towns of Radfan, Yafe' and al-Dalea.

National Yemen

SPECIAL FEATURE

Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011 Issue 28 www.nationalyemen.com

President Abdullah Gul Discusses Yemeni-Turkish Relations During the ﬁrst visit by a Turkish head of state to Yemen, President Abdullah Gul oversaw the signing of several bilateral political and economic agreements during a two-day visit to the capital Sana’a this week. Military cooperation, of an as-yet unclear nature, was also broached in the discussions. Reﬂecting the importance of the visit for Turkey, the Turkish delegation included Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arnich, Foreign Minister Ahmed Davutoglu, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul,

Health Minister Recep Akdag, along with Turkish legislators, and businessmen. Many analysts depicted the visit in the larger context of Turkey growing regional and international clout, and few doubted that theYemeni economy is badly in need of investment and cooperation with Turkey, which dominated Yemen under the Ottoman Empire until 1918. The text of an exclusive interview with Mr. Gul by the ofﬁcial SabaNews agency during his stay follows:

The state-run 26september weekly has conducted an interview with Turkish President Abdullah Gul on the outcomes of his visit to Yemen and the historic relations between the two countries. In his interview, the Turkish president also touches on a host of issues, including the Turkish role in the region, his position from the documents published by WikiLeaks on Turkey, and Turkey's accession to the European Union. Responding to a question on the outcomes of his visit to

dent added. Answering a question about the Turkish role in the region, particularly after Turkey emerged as a regional power playing a pivotal role in many issues, Gul noted: "We do not seek to play a certain role; rather, we focus on reforming our internal system on economic, political, and cultural levels. However, we do know that the stability of our country will reflect on the general atmosphere of the region's states. Also, the stability and security in the whole

whether he sees any impact for this on US-Turkish relations or Turkey's confidence in US diplomacy, Gul said: "International relations are not built on the basis of the diplomats' reports or correspondence sent within this context; rather, they become integrated with each other and take hold according to the common interests and international and bilateral conventions." The Turkish president then added: "Our relation with the United States is based on mutual cooperation. We do not see that such things should affect the right and developing track of these relations." Regarding whether he feels that the new and active Turkish role in the region is causing problems for Turkey, particularly with some brotherly and friendly states, Gul pointed out: "Our relations with any particular country cannot be at all at the expense of our relation with another country. We want that the region enjoys security and prosperity, and, as you know, we mentioned more than once that we do not have secret agendas; rather, we reach out with love and a sense of common responsibility to all our friends and brothers."

President Gul prays before the graves of Ottoman dead

publicly in an unprecedented way on the other hand, Gul said: "We, in Turkey, do not want that our relations with any state witness tensions. For this reason, we seek to develop our relations with all the states of the region and the world. However, our constants come first. We had shared with Israel the hope to reach a permanent and just solution to the Palestinian case, and our efforts in the indirect negotiations between Syria and Israel had reached very advanced stages. However, what happened in Gaza afterward, and the attack that occurred in the international waters against unarmed peace activists, disrupted this track."

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Any way, the reforms that have taken place and are taking place right now in Turkey are of great importance to us Yemen and his discussions with President Ali Abdullah Saleh, Gul says: "we regard this visit as a historic one, for it is the first visit carried out by a Turkish president to Yemen. Also, we regard it as a response to the visit of President Saleh to Turkey. For this reason, we attach great importance to it, whereas a very large delegation of ministers, state officials, scientists, and university professors are accompanying us, in addition to a large delegation of businessmen and investors. Without any doubt, the visit will contribute to the rapprochement between the two brotherly countries and comes as a kind of respect for our common history. On the other hand, such visits open the way in front of enhancing cooperation between the two people." "The relations witnessed in the recent years openness in the field of preventing double taxation, encouraging investments, land transportation, and economic cooperation. Many files are expected to be studied during my visit to Yemen, including encouraging investment and scientific and economic cooperation and offering aid", the Turkish presi-

Answering a question about Turkey's success in striking a balance between its own desire to be part and parcel of Europe on the one hand and reintegrating with its Arab and Islamic environment on the other hand, Gul said: "We do not see that there is any conflict or contradiction in this respect because Turkey is proceeding in its efforts to be a full-fledged member of the European Union [EU] and sees that the European criteria in this respect are compatible with the reform movement that has accelerated in recent years in Turkey." "Our relations with the region's states reach far back into history. Similarly, we For this reason, have good relations with the Turkey seeks to states of Central Asia, the extend a helping Balkans, and the African states. For this reason, we see hand to defuse that the integrated relations crises before they can enrich these links and do occur, in case it is not conflict with another role requested to do so. or constitute a replacement for it." Regarding the explanation that he can give to the deteriorating Israeli-Turkish relations that have reached their worst levels on the one hand and the Asked about his position remarkable advance in Arabfrom the documents published Turkish relations that are by WikiLeaks on Turkey and proceeding officially and region will bring prosperity and progress to all its countries." The Turkish president further says: "For this reason, Turkey seeks to extend a helping hand to defuse crises before they occur, in case it is requested to do so. The positive Turkish policy had resulted in a proved success in this respect, which pushed many states to praise it and demand integration with it."

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"Israel knows what it has to do in case it wants to normalize relations with Turkey. Apologizing for what happened, [financially] compensating the relatives of those who had been martyred in the incident, and lifting the siege imposed on the Palestinian areas are things that must

be taken into account. Otherwise, Israel will be the party that keeps itself away from the right track of bilateral relations." Responding to a question on the role that Turkey can play to restore security and stability to Iraq and maintain the unity of its territories and its political entity as a one state, Gul said: "Turkey has proved that it is at an equal distance from all the Iraqi spectra. Here, in Turkey, we have received all the leaders of the Iraqi spectra without exception. We realized that they value the positive Turkish role on the Iraqi arena, which aims at respecting Iraq's sovereignty and the unity of its territories. A number of conventions for cooperation and economic integration were held with Iraq, and a mechanism for strategic dialogue was established with this country. Moreover, there are scores of Turkish companies working in Iraq that are participating in the reconstruction of this country." Concerning his position on the Iranian nuclear file, the ways of resolving its complications, and whether Turkey has any role to play in this respect, including a mediation between the West and Iran, Gul noted: "Our position is clear and obvious in this regard. Turkey does not agree on the quest [of some states] to acquire weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, and wants to see a Middle East free of nuclear weapons. However, Turkey acknowledges the right of any state to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes." "We believe in the principle of dialogue to resolve problems and avoid the escalation of positions in the press or through [making]

tense statements. We approve of following diplomatic ways and using the channels aimed at defusing crises and helping not to escalate the situation in order to spare the region conflicts and acute crises." Asked about the reason behind Turkey's delay in accessing the EU and whether there are subtleties and secrets behind the positions of some states that oppose Turkey's accession to the EU, Gul said: "The EU track is a long and thorny way. The requests of some big countries to join the EU have been rejected more than once. Turkey was unanimously nominated as a candidate state for a full-fledged EU membership after completing the study of the necessary files proving that it meets the Copenhagen criteria, and that is the important thing." "Any way, the reforms that have taken place and are taking place right now in Turkey are of great importance to us. These steps will continue regardless of the nature of the EU accession track." Concerning the alleged Turkish-Iranian competition and race for regional hegemony and the conflicts of interest that could affect the future of the stability and security in the region and establish a state of categorization and new polarizations, Gul noted: "We reject the policy of axes, and we believe that the region's states are sovereign states and able to make their own decisions in their affairs, and we respect their privacy. There is no race or competition - whether with Iran, Egypt, or any other state. We seek to make security, stability, and peace prevailing factors in this region and in all the states of the world."

Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011 Issue 28 www.nationalyemen.com

National Yemen