NationalYemen, issue 40, by National Yemen Newspaper

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The Facts As They Are

Yemen Crude Output and Exports Slashed

US Eyes Yemen in Wake of Bin Laden Death

Balloons Carry Yemen's Protest Message: Leave, Ali

SUNDAY , May 8 , 2011 I ISSUE 40 PRICE : YER 30 WWW . NAT IONALYEMEN. COM

Scramble For Weapons As Yemen Unrest Grinds On

Saleh calls for raising security alert

President Ali Abdullah Saleh, the Supreme Leader of the Armed Forces, stressed on Saturday the necessity to raise the security alert and to deal strictly with everyone who may think to harm Yemen's security and stability. During a meeting with military and security leaders, the president accented that the armed and security forces would remain the honest guard to the people and country's achievements. He conﬁrmed the leadership's keenness on modernizing the aptitudes of the afﬁliates of the military and security institutions and reinforcing defense and security capacities of the country. During the meeting, president Saleh reviewed with the security and military leaders the developments on the national arena and the negative repercussions of the underway crisis on the citizens' lives as a result of the terrorist, sabotage and banditry acts committed by outlaws and terrorists to disturb the country's peace, stability and economy. A number of security and military issues, topped by the armed and security forces' role in maintaining security, stability of the country and upgrading the defense and security institutions were also touched upon in the meeting.

Continued on Page (6)

Barbed wire separates soldiers of the First Armored Division (left) and the Central Security Forces on Friday, in front of the residence of Vice President Abd al-Rabu Mansur Hadi

Al-Qaida Vows To Remain 'A Curse' Al-Qaida has confirmed the death of Osama bin Laden in a fiery, four-page screed that vows revenge. The message, dated May 3 and signed by "the general leadership" of al-Qaida, was just released on Islamic and other websites and warned Americans that their "happiness will turn into sadness." It is the first word from the group since bin Laden's

death Monday in Pakistan, and analysts say it clears the way for succession. "We stress that the blood of the holy warrior sheik, Osama bin Laden, God bless him, is precious to us and to all Muslims and will not go in vain," read the statement, which was translated and posted overnight on the SITE Intelligence Group's website.

Civil Disobedience Cripples Daily Life in Aden By Nayif Alsayyid - Aden, al-Tareeq

Saturday morning May 7th, 2011 a campaign of civil disobedience launched by anti-government protestors crippled life completely in Aden city throughout various districts as a response to the continuous protest events organized by the youth entities

opposed to the regime. Since dawn of Saturday employees from all districts of Sabra , al-Tawwahi, Mualla, al-Mansura, Khor Maksar, Sheikh Uthman, Dar Sa’ad, and al-Qahira declined to go to their work and all shops and malls were closed.

Aden Reﬁnery Halts Production

US Airstrike Reportedly Targeted al-Awlaqi

Sources close to the petroleum industry in Aden reported that Aden Refinery stopped all its production last week. One of the distillation units in the refinery had been subject to maintenance and update for three months and is ready to operate now. The other second distillation unit’s capacity is increased, and is supplying the other production units of the refinery, represented in the gasoline improving unit of the and liquefied natural gas treatment plant which supplies

The U.S. drone aircraft attack that killed two midlevel al Qaeda militants in Yemen on Thursday was targeting the leader of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, a U.S.-born radical known for encouraging attacks on the United States, U.S. media reported. CBS News and The Wall Street Journal, citing Yemeni and U.S. officials, said on Friday that Anwar al-Awlaki was not hit when a missile was fired at a car in southern Yemen on Thursday, killing two brothers believed to be al Qaeda militants. "We were hoping it was him," a U.S. official told CBS News. The U.S. Defense Department declined to comment on the reports. Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, or AQAP, is estimated to number about 300 fighters with strongholds in remote mountain regions in the provinces of Shabwa, Abyan,

the domestic market with oil products and gas. Stocks of crude oil may run out in the tanks of the refinery due to lack of receiving sufficient Marib crude oil, forcing the Aden Refinery Company to stop producing and to take advantage of the suspension period for maintenance work in all other production machines, including the power plant. Local markets are witnessing a crisis in the receiving gas and gasoline supplies nowadays.

Jouf and Marib. It is thought to be behind numerous attacks on government targets. The group is said to have inspired attacks by Muslims inside the United States -including the Fort Hood, Texas, shootings in which an Army psychiatrist is accused of killing 13 people and wounding 32 -- and twice smuggled explosives aboard aircraft headed to the United States. Yemen's Defense Ministry confirmed Thursday's drone attack had killed two al Qaeda

militants, identifying them as brothers Musa'id and Abdullah Mubarak al-Daghari. Washington considers the Yemen-based al Qaeda branch the world's most active terror cell. With the killing in Pakistan earlier this week of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, some officials believe Awlaki's group now represents the gravest danger to the United States and other Western nations. Courtesy Reuters

Authors and Writers Union condemns the crime - The Secretariat of the Union of writers and authors received the news of the crime committed against the poet and Waleed Muhammad Alrumaishi, where criminal elements cut his tongue as a deliberated punishment for his view on the events taking place in the Yemeni squares The union confirms the following: - The union holds the authority responsibility to account all perpetrators and arrest them and bring them to justice - The union also expresses its rejection of the practices that was exercised by opposition and ruling elements in the recent period and target writers, authors and activists and that the union is monitoring such practices which targeted authors such as MuhyidContinued on Page (3)

Sunday, May. 8, 2011 Issue 40

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National Yemen

BUSINESS

Yemen Crude Output and Exports Slashed Yemen’s production and export of light crude oil from its offshore terminal in the Red Sea have come to a standstill after a mid-March blast on its main oil pipeline, shipping sources said on Wednesday. The poorest Arab country’s output of 110,000 barrels per day of Marib Light crude from its offshore Ras Isa terminal closed three weeks ago after an explosion on the main pipeline carrying oil. “There have been no exports of crude from Ras Isa for the past three and a half weeks,” one shipping source said. “There has been no production of Marib Light crude since then.” Yemen produces a total of around 280,000 barrels per day of crude oil. Around 110,000 barrels of that is light crude, which is in short supply globally after the loss of Libyan output in February. The pipeline blast occurred in the central Marib province, where several oil and gas fields operated by international companies are located. “It is thought that tribesmen, angry with the government, were responsible, and it is linked to the current unrest,” a second shipping source based in Yemen said. The impoverished Arabian Peninsula state has been rocked by weeks of demonstrations, with both pro- and anti-government supporters appearing to resort increasingly to violence in the struggle. Meanwhile, workers an another Yemeni field operated

by Canadian company Nexen returned to work late on Wednesday after a brief strike during the day, a union spokesman said. An Oil Ministry official and the union spokesman said earlier in the day that production was halted at the Hadramout oilfield due to the strike. But a spokesman for Nexen in Canada said, “Production activities and export shipments continue to be unaffected as we continue with the mediation process with the union.” The workers agreed to remain at their jobs for five days while talks continue toward a more permanent accord, the union spokesman said. The field produces about 150,000 barrels per day of oil, most of which is exported, trade sources said. The oil terminal at Ras Issa is operated by the SAFER Exploration and Production Operations Company, based in Hodeidah and under the Ministry of Oil and Minerals. Oil extracted from the Marib oilfield, east of the capital Sanaa, is pumped to the coast to a shore terminal and then carried by sub-sea pipeline to SAFER and then discharged to ships that take it either to Aden refinery or to other countries as exports from Yemen. Around 65 percent of the 110,000 bpd Marib crude is normally sent to Aden refinery, but the lack of crude from the field has also forced a shutdown of the 130,000 barrel per day refinery for at

least a week, shipping sources said. “There have been serious shortages of petrol in Sanaa recently, with massive price hikes,” a second shipping source said. He estimated the price of 20 litres of fuel from non-government suppliers, who still had stocks, had jumped to 6,000 Yemeni rials from 1,500 rials a few weeks ago. “There’s no petrol, there’s no diesel,” the first source

Growing concerns about food security in Yemen Yemen is one of the countries that suffer from the problem of food provisions in the Arab world because of its heavy reliance on food imports. Yemen is severely affected by the growing global food prices. In addition, Yemenis are worried about the crisis in the markets of food and consumer goods in light of the deepening political crisis and the continuing protests and demonstrations. The World Food Program of the United Nations has recently conducted a rapid assessment of food security in the poorest provinces of Yemen and found that 24% of households have low food consumption, in addition to the fact that 35% are living near the previous ratio. The draft of the National Strategy for Food Security prepared by the Government in cooperation with the International Institute for Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in Washington showed that 32.1% of Yemen’s population is food insecure, which means that about one third of the Yemeni or 7.5 million people suffer from hunger, and 57.9% of all children suffer from malnutrition, which hinder the future development of society and economy of Yemen. The Yemeni government said it has a strategic stock of food sufficient to cover the needs of Yemenis for six to eight months to come. The

Yemen Economic Corporation (YECO) confirmed that it is keen to provide the needs of Yemeni citizens of different food items, and at fixed prices through exhibitions open over the various governorates of Yemen. Also, it has confirmed that its transport fleet of food has been subject to looting by outlaws to impede its role of securing the market’s needs of food, as well as domestic gas. The Assistant Director of the Yemeni Economic Corporation, Mohammad Abdul Jabbar, showed that the institution was exposed to constant interruptions and attacks by subversive elements, especially on the road to Sana’a which caused a crisis in basic commodities especially in the cooking gas. According to economic data, Yemen suffers from the problem of food dependency on import at a time the country productions does not satisfy more than 15% of the requirement. According to an economic study prepared by Dr. Speer Harazi, Professor of Agricultural Economics at the University of Sanaa, cereal production in Yemen is one of the most important strategic issues which highlights the

challenges facing the country which is one of the national requirements. He pointed out that the total production of cereal is characterized by continued volatility from year to another where it reached in 2008 about 714 000 tons, thus showing an increase of about 68 thousand tons, or about 10 percent compared to 1997 which is equivalent to 658 000 tons. The aim of the national strategy for food security is: (1) finding sustainable solutions to secure the citizens needs of food, (2) providing a comprehensive analysis of the current situation of food security in Yemen, (3) determining the major challenges, (4) establishing an executive plan that includes seven priorities to be carried out to ensure the successful implementation of the national strategy for food security. If the implementation of these seven axes is successfully executed, Yemen will reach the objective of food security and become a country of a secure food supply by the year 2020. Source: yallafinance.com.

said. “What Yemen is doing at the moment is importing petrol and diesel from Saudi Arabia,” the source said. One vessel carrying 15,000 tonnes of diesel from Saudi Arabia has already arrived at the Hodeida port, he said, adding the imports would continue. “There will be another two vessels coming from Saturday onwards, carrying gasoline,” the source said, adding that each vessel would carry about 15,000 tonnes of the fuel.

The coastal terminal of Hodeida handles small tankers. Separately, a spokesman for Yemen LNG, a Total-led liquefied natural gas plant, said on Wednesday operations were running normally. Yemen has stopped production and exports of crude oil from its offshore Ras Isa terminal in the Red Sea for over three weeks after a March attack on its main oil pipeline, a Yemen-based shipping source said on Wednesday.

"There has been no exports of crude from Ras Isa for the past three and a half weeks," the source said. "There has been no production of Marib Light crude since then." There were no currently available figures on the volume of oil exported through Ras Isa. Yemen produces a total of around 280,000 barrels per day of crude oil. Around 110,000 barrels of that is light crude. courtesy Reuters

National Yemen Optimism Turns to Fear

The movement for change in Yemen has taken many different rhythms in reaction to events on the ground, in which there has been a general trend from optimism for a smooth transition, to fear of a stalemate and collapse have set in. Initiatives and mediators are somewhere between failure and diplomacy and are now on their third and probably last effort to get Yemen’s squabbling rivals to set aside their differences. The EU and the US have also been taken along for the nerve-wracking diplomatic ride. The details became much more important than the main ﬁve points in the Yemeni actors’ eyes, and they have turned into a bad excuse for wasting time, and trading accusations. The ongoing tussles among President, his supporters, the youth, and the Joint Meeting Parties (JMP) may push the GCC to give up their mediation and let the Yemenis solve their issues by themselves, in their own ways. This would likely be a disaster, which could only be avoided if the parties accept the deal for the safety of all Yemenis, and to secure their own legacies. In the midst of all this, many scared Yemenis are counting their blessings daily, and waiting anxiously for each passing day and to pass safely.

The political disagreements are mounting, and threatens to turn into a nightmare scenario along the lines of to Libya and Syria. Having toured around the capital city of Sana’a and raised the question of who controls whom, and where the border of each party starts and ends. I have noticed that the citizens are the subjects of those elites who have manipulated their loyalty and patriotic fervor. In 50 kilometer square, you have to identify yourself as a supporter to, variously, the republican guard, Central security, First Armored Division, tribesmen of the al-Ahmar Family, Islah Party and so many armed groups otherwise you would be considered either a terrorist or Baltaji, and likely face bodily harm. It seems that it would be impossible to be considered a victim serving no one’s interest in these groups’ eyes. The modern revolutions proves the small value of individual who seeks his or her own rights, opinions, and aspirations. The truth is, most of seek not political privileges for them, but good lives, but this violates politics as usual in Yemen. Opportunities for party members and a hard time for the rest of citizens remains the general rule. Discrimination, neglect, and poor governance are the reasons of the current rebellions movements in Yemen. The new era of revolutions may lead to change or drive people again to street to practice their favorite hobby of changing regimes and corrupted corrupt ofﬁcials. The upcoming political players should strongly consider quick and effective reforms to generate more opportunities, otherwise they will fall immediately and be labeled just as corrupt as their predecessors.

Open Letter from the Somali Community in Yemen Yusuf D. Hasan Deputy Chairman Somali Refugee Committee Sanaa, Yemen The Somali community in Yemen is appalled and saddened by recent reports falsely claiming that refugees are being recruited by the government as mercenaries. In addition to categorically denying such claims, the Somali community reaffirms its apolitical role within Yemen and pledges to stay neutral and not support any side amidst the ongoing crisis. The Somali community would also like to highlight the fact that Somali refugees in Yemen are facing a tenuous sitution due to the current unrest – like so many other people. In addition to being negatively affected by the

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restriction of movement which jeopardizes the livelihood of so many refugees who rely on daily wages, the Somali community is also worried about an escalation in violence and being caught in the middle of it. During the civil war in 1994, a number of Somalis lost their lives or were injured as a result of being caught between cross-fires of the two opposing sides; it is our hope that past incidents are not repeated. We would like to express our continued gratitude to Yemen for generously welcoming us by granting ‘prima facie’ refugee status to all Somali nationals. Finally, we would like to extend our sincere sympathy to all the lives that have been lost during recent months and hope for a peacful resolution to the current crisis.

Fakhri Hassan Al-Arashi Publisher & Chief Editor

Noah Browning Deputy Editor

LOCAL

Sunday, May. 8, 2011 Issue 40 www.nationalyemen.com

Canadian Nexen Staff Escalate Strike The union committee of Canadian Nexen continues its negotiation with the ministry of oil and minerals and Nexen management to put an end to the ongoing strike at both company headquarters in Sana’a and the field of Block (14) and block (51), east Alhajr. At the same level the union asked the employees to start the second phase strike as per an earlier plan to escalate their action against the company in phases, and it will turn into halting the operation and production activities by the end of this week. The strike comes as a result of company’s alleged neglect

of its workers labor rights, since the latter’s first formal complaint in 2007. Sub-contractor employees have also gone on strike, demanding direct employment with the company, and they have been demonstrating in large numbers in front of the doors of company, which has prevented work in the Sana’a office. Canadian Nexen is the largest oil producer in Yemen working for almost 20 years in Block (14) in al-Masila, Hadramawt. The production sharing agreement (PSA) of the company with the Yemeni government has expired and the company submitted to hand

over the business operation to the government by the middle of December 2011. “The headquarters of Canadian Nexen Inc. in Calgary is seeking to renew the agreement with the government and the ongoing problems over the issue of employee’s rights is an attempt to push on the government to sign on the renewal contract” said a union member. Yemen is facing a severe petrol and gas crisis, and the majority of the oil production companies in Marib and in the al-Jawf basin have suspended their operations due to the continuous bombing of the oil pipeline in Marib by restive tribes.

After Sixteen Year Absence, Former President’s Image Returns To Aden Pictures of the former South Yemeni president Ali Salem al-Beidh appeared again in the city of Aden after an absence of more than 16 years, when al-Beidh failed in his attempt to regain independence. Since 1994, all media outlets, especially the official media, declined to show any picture of Ali Salem, who was described by media as the leader of the separatists. The organizers of a seminar held by the League of Aden on January15th, 2011 surprised participants by showing off large-size images of the leader. The front yard of Ibn Khaldoun Hall in the Faculty of Arts, which organized the symposium, was filled with a number of photos of controversial former political leaders, including a huge portrait of Ali Salem and the flags of the South that existed until the year 1990. Displaying these symbols became taboo in recent years after separatist calls launched by the southern movement, who

regularly lift up pictures of al-Beidh and the ﬂags of the former Southern Republic. At an earlier event, Aden University President Dr. Abdulaziz Bin Habtur, mentioned in one of his speeches that the act was aimed at consolidating and approach of tolerance and reconciliation, although “there are extremists in every time and place.” He also called for consolidat-

ing the values of tolerance, and confronts all calls for destabilizing the situation in the South. In 1990, Ali Salem al-Beidh signed a unity agreement with then President of the North Ali Abdullah Saleh to share power. Bit on May 5, 1994, Civil War broke out and continued until 7th July of the same year with the support of some Gulf countries. Al-Beidh, after losing the war ﬂed to neighboring Oman,

which provided him with political asylum and then citizenship on the condition that he doesn’t get involved in any political activity. In May 21, 2009, n the anniversary of the unity between the two parts of Yemen, and in response of calls for peaceful secessionist movement in southern Yemen, al-Beidh traveled to Europe and announced his intention to seek to break the union between the Republic of Yemen and the former People’s Democratic Republic. He demanded that Arab States and the world support his claim for regaining Southern independence, claiming that the process of peaceful reuniﬁcation ended after the 1994 war, resulting in the occupation of the South by the North. Al-Beidh was supported by elements of the Yemeni Socialist Party and southern sheikhs and independent Islamic leaders all unafﬁliated under the banner of peaceful movement of secession, who aim at disengagement.

Yemeni Youth Group Addresses the World A call for all humans in the world to support and stand with our peaceful revolution in YEMEN The Coordinating Council of the Youth Revolution of Change We urge all Yemeni woman, man, child, elders in Yemen and abroad and those who love YEMEN and the people of YEMEN to stand for a moment of silence starting this Monday May 10th at 12:00 noon time according to your local time, please set your daily alarm. Moment of silence for the excessive force use by Air Force

and army against the people while the world, Security Council, President Obama and the International Leaders kept SILENT!! For inﬂowing the streets of Aden with tanks and armored cars, and removing the peaceful demonstrations, threatening and scaring families and children in their houses while the world, Security Council, President Obama and the International Leaders kept SILENT!! For the heavy and excessive use of live bullets, weapons, the use of forbidden gases and

weapons against the peaceful protesters, for the massacre that killed so far 425 among them 10 Children and 5 women and injured over 12,000 while the world, Security Council, President Obama and the International Leaders kept SILENT!! For the false local media which turned pro-government to savage people and gave them the right by low in the false parliament to attack or kill any anti-government in the streets without being subjected to court while the world, Security Council, President Obama and the

International Leaders kept SILENT!! For the females among them doctors and nurses along with males that were kidnapped by force where no one knows if they were still alive or have been murdered or tortured while the world, Security Council, President Obama and the International Leaders kept SILENT!! For the people of YEMEN and their ongoing revolution for over three months by now while the world, Security Council, President Obama and the International Leaders kept SILENT!!

Continued From Page (1) din Jarmah and bushra Almaqtari starting from the last crime committed by regimes’ bullies and forces and other practices executed by the JMP’s bullies against activists like Arwa Uthman and huda Al-Attas ending with Alrumaishi’s crime. Mohammed Al-Asaadi Editorial Consultant

The union also mentioned that Alrumasihi’s crime and what he has been subjected to reflects a new tend to suppression in the Yemeni history against the freedom of expression The union confirms that it will not stand idly against the

Fuad Al-Qadhi Business Editor

Shukri Hussein Abyan Correspondent

practices of repression and abuse and that it is to launch a major campaign to stand in the face of unjust dictators All in all the union of writers and authors called his members to hold sit ins in the capital on Saturday may 6th, 2011

Jihan Anwar Staff Journalist

Naila Bamehriz Translator & Coordinator

The Facts As They Are

Mohammed Abdalaleem Shabwah Correspondent e-mail: info@nationalyemen.com website:www.nationalyemen.com address:al-qiada st.

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Will Carter Anatoly Kurmanaev Bushra Al-shareef Managing Editor Int’l Journalist Intern Translator

Saddam Alashmory Qasim Al-Hadi Akram Almosbahi Wardah Al-shawesh Hind Al-Eryani News Journalist SeniorTranslator Technical Director Graphic Designer P.R & Marketing Mohammed Anees

Sunday, May. 8, 2011 Issue 40

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National Yemen

REPORT

US Eyes Yemen in Wake of Bin Laden Death Two alleged Al Qaeda militants were killed when their car exploded Thursday in southern Yemen, an incident that bore the marks of a U.S. missile strike. The deaths, reported by the Yemeni Defense Ministry, came a day after six Yemeni soldiers were killed when their military vehicle exploded near a market in Zinjibar, an Al Qaeda stronghold. Surviving soldiers opened fire, killing four civilians, a local journalist said. Witnesses to the explosion Thursday reported seeing a drone aircraft in the wake of the incident, suggesting an American missile struck the car. The U.S. military began flying unmanned aircraft over Yemen last year, although at the time they were used for surveillance rather than strikes on militants. Pentagon officials had no comment on Thursday's incident. The deaths cast a spotlight on the continuing fight against Al Qaeda in the wake of the killing of its leader, Osama bin Laden, by U.S. Navy SEALs in Pakistan. Bin Laden's demise is not likely to weaken the Al Qaeda affiliate in Yemen, where members are believed to be exploiting recent public unrest in the capital, Sana, to expand their influence in impoverished rural towns and villages. Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, the latest iteration of Al Qaeda in Yemen, has drawn the attention of Western and Saudi intelligence agencies in recent months, more than Al Qaeda affiliates in South Asia. The group has been linked to multiple international terrorism plots, including planting bombs aboard U.S.-bound planes last fall. Experts believe an Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula member built the bombs used in the failed attack by Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab on Christmas Day 2009 and in another failed suicide attack that year, on Saudi Deputy Interior Minister Prince

Mohammed bin Nayif. Unlike other Al Qaeda offshoots that relied on Bin Laden directives, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula's members have sworn oaths of loyalty to Nasser Wuhayshi, a former Bin Laden associate with the authority to order his own domestic and regional attacks, said Gregory Johnsen, a Yemen expert based at Princeton University.

‘‘

In 2009, Awlaki was promoted to the rank of "regional commander" within Al Qaeda, according to U.S. officials, and he has since used Facebook and YouTube to exhort Muslims around the world to kill Americans "Bin Laden's death will not affect the issue of extremism in Yemen. Al Qaeda has many cells throughout the world and in Yemen, and even if the head of the organization is cut, other cells will come," said Murad Azzany, a professor at Yemen's Sana University who studies Islamist groups. "Extremism in Yemen flourishes primarily because of the political situation here. When rulers lack legitimacy, their people search for other sources of inspiration." In Yemen, the 3-month-old protest movement to unseat

President Ali Abdullah Saleh has provided opportunity for Al Qaeda to consolidate gains, particularly in the impoverished tribal south and east. This week, as Saleh spurned mediation efforts by leaders of nearby Persian Gulf countries that would have had him step down in return for political immunity, Yemen appeared to be nearing either fundamental reform or civil war, each with profound consequences for the future of Al Qaeda. "The organization in Yemen is very eager to conduct operations inside the country, in the region and abroad," Johnsen said."It remains to be seen whether, after Bin Laden's death, more people will want to join the Yemeni organization and carry on a kind of link with his personality." One powerful, motivating force is likely to be U.S.-born imam Anwar Awlaki, believed to be hiding in southeastern Yemen, who has inspired terrorist attacks against the West. In 2009, Awlaki was promoted to the rank of "regional commander" within Al Qaeda, according to U.S. officials, and he has since used Facebook and YouTube to exhort Muslims around the world to kill Americans. "He is emerging as a voice for recruiting individuals in the West," Johnsen said. "This is not at all like the traditional recruitment practices of the organization under Bin Laden's command in previous decades." But Johnsen said Awlaki's appeal, though potent, is unlikely to draw Al Qaeda operatives to Yemen en masse, particularly from strongholds such as Pakistan. "Al Qaeda wants to be as active as possible in as many places as it can," Johnsen said. Within Yemen, the general populace does not appear to be swayed by Al Qaeda appeals for jihad. But Saleh's opponents argue that he has allowed Al Qaeda affiliates to thrive and launch attacks.

"Terrorism in Yemen depends on a lack of transparency, and on the grievances produced by a corrupt and inefficient government," said opposition party leader Muhammad Ali Abu Lahoum. If Saleh's government were replaced, he said, "the dark spaces in society in which these groups hide will be lit up, and their resources and appeal would be diminished." Yemen's military split in late March, with several units joining protesters, and armed Islamist groups assumed

control of broad swaths of the southern provinces of Abyan and Shabwa, some of them aligned with Al Qaeda. Those attempting to stem the expanding influence of Al Qaeda leaders insist that they need help from the central government to stop their spread. "It's a very dangerous situation for us here," said Sheik Abu Abdullah Ba Hormuz, who lives in the southern city of Lawdar, which in recent years has witnessed repeated battles

between government forces and suspected Al Qaeda militants. He said Yemen's security forces recently left the areas to the local tribes to defend. Government officials urged them to form groups to defend themselves, but that may not be enough, he said. "Al Qaeda has taken over in some towns and villages, but we will stay and face them, no matter what the cost," Hormuz said. "These people are killers, and there is no religion to what they do."

Yemeni reaction on the assassination of Bin Laden Lawyer and human rights activists Khaled Al-Anisi considered the death of Osama Bin laden a historical turning point for the declaration of the end of the violence and a beginning of peaceful change He said that Bin Laden’s death is a symbol and that the death of the al-Qaeda leader comes at a time when Arab countries are passing through revolution and change, and that the event is a big indicator to the advent of peaceful change. Journalist and activist Mansour Abu Ali pointed out that Bin Laden’s death is a real success for counterterrorism campaign, and that this news would weaken Al-Qaeda in Yemen Engineer Ammar al-Dalei said that America has succeeded in directing a powerful strike by killing Bin laden, noting that Yemen is one of the countries most targeted by this terrorist organization and caused its

destabilization of security and stability. Ahmed Saber said, “America succeeded in taking revenge on Al-Qaeda by killing Bin Laden, who has been responsible fro the death of innocent people and the occupation of many countries.: He considered Bin laden ultimately responsible for all the terrorist attacks which the world has witnessed in recent years. He added that his death is a big defeat for terrorists. A sheikh and the imam of a mosque in Sana’a al-Madhhaji said that Al-Qaeda leader, Bin laden is “a Muslim and Arab, and we ask Allah to bless his soul.” He added that his assassination was a mere continuation of the U.S campaign against Islam and Muslims. Al-Madhhaji added, “Al-Qaeda is an ideology which will remain as along as the American dominance in the Middle East. Al-Qaeda is a product of Zionist occupa-

tion of Palestine, the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, and the West’s attitude towards the Arab and Islamic countries. Abdul Jalil al-Sharafi, a young activist, said “Bin Laden’s death has caused President Saleh a great loss, as he presented Yemen as the country which Bin Laden comes from. With his death he lost the chance to exploit the world’s fear of terrorism.” Abdurrahman Wasel, a human rights activist, said, “we all know that Bin Laden is responsible for what happened to many countries and his death wont stop terrorism in the world, as he established his thoughts and allies all over the world.” One of people who visited Afghanistan recently said that his death was a big strike to Al Qaeda and that the west and American shouldn’t be happy about it because that will increase the persistence and determination of Mujahideen to take revenge.

Talal Thabit, 42 “Osama bin Laden has no relation to me or to Yemen. Everything he has done has funded and manipulated by other forces. As far as I am concerned, he and the corrupt President Ali Abdullah Saleh are the same.

‘‘

“Bin Laden is a martyr and he will go to heaven, God willing”

They are destined for the same “paradise.” They kill and lie to Muslims, and work in the interests of the West.? “How could he justify killing innocent people and children? Hearing about his death, I feel nothing. My focus is on unseating our corrupt government and building a better future for all Yemenis.” Imad Nasser, ployed

18,

unem-

“We don’t know for sure that he is even dead, and we can’t believe the things that have been said about him in the media. We respect him as a Muslim, and we mourn his death. It is not right to speak ill of the dead.” “Everyday we see on television killing and aggression in Afghanistan and Iraq. We know that these things are actually happening. But on Osama bin Laden’s life nothing has been proven to us, and we know that vicious lies

have been spread about him.” Abdulrahman 22, shopkeeper

al-Sowaidi,

“He was a Muslim, and we respect what he did during his life. America always accuses and kills whomever they like. If he were a criminal, why was he not charged and brought to trial? It’s not true what they have said about him. There is no justice in just killing him.” Ammar Majid, 46, farmer “Bin Laden is a martyr and he will go to heaven, God willing. The events of September 11th were planned inside the United States itself, and there is no proof for any of the accusations against him. Since the invasion of Kuwait, to the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan, America and Israel will use any excuse to make war on the Islamic world. May he rest in peace.”

National Yemen

REPORT

Sunday, May. 8, 2011 Issue 40

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Balloons Carry Yemen's Protest Message: Leave, Ali Hundreds of thousands of Yemenis seeking their president's ouster found a new way to get their message across on Friday, releasing balloons that drifted over the presidential palace with the message "Leave, Ali" painted on them. The tens of thousands of colorful balloons were blown across the capital and over top of the palace, where a smaller rally of President Ali Abdullah Saleh's supporters listened to the embattled leader deliver a message of his own denouncing his opponents as terrorists, looters and killers. Saleh has refused to put an end to his 32 years in power despite tremendous pressure from three months of street demonstrations and from neighboring Arab nations fearful that Yemen's growing instability could spill into their wealthy oil-producing lands. What began as a sit-in on a university campus in the capital, Sanaa, has grown into demonstrations by hundreds of thousands across the country. Like the other Arab leaders forced from power or under threat in the Arab world's uprisings, Saleh has used a mix of concessions and brutal force to try to quell the outpouring. Despite the killings of more than 140 protesters, the crowds continue to gather. Rival rallies by Saleh's supporters and opponents have become a fixture in the capital on Fridays, although the anti-Saleh crowds far outnumber those of his backers. This Friday, the anti-Saleh rally was dubbed a "Day of Gratitude to the South" to honor southerners who in 2007 renewed their own protests against what they say is government neglect of their onceindependent region. Those protests swelled into a full-scale secessionist movement, one of several key security challenges testing Saleh's rule even before the nationwide anti-government protests broke out in early February. Among the other threats are the deadly al-Qaida offshoot that took refuge in the country in recent years and an on-andoff armed rebellion in the north. Yemen is also the Arab world's poorest nation and is wracked by corruption and unemployment. Protesters in the capital on Friday again occupied a five-mile (eight-kilometer) section of a major western boulevard and released balloons in the red, black and white colors of the flag with the anti-Saleh protest cry of "Leave, Ali" written on them. Demonstrators then turned south, where tens of thousands of Saleh supporters were rallying outside the presidential palace and chanted for him to go. "The people want the end of the regime," they shouted, using the slogan first heard in Tunisia and later around the Arab world. Meanwhile, Saleh briefly addressed his supporters. "You say 'yes' to the regime, 'no' to chaos, 'no' to revenge, 'no' to hatred," Saleh said. About his opponents, he added: "These are outlaws. They are against the regime. They are looters. They are terrorists. They are killers." Saleh has spurned mediation efforts by a bloc of powerful Gulf countries that would have had him relinquish power in

return for immunity from prosecution. The mediation plan put forward by six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council looked close to success a week ago, with both the opposition political parties and Saleh agreeing to it, until the president balked just days before the signing ceremony. The plan called for Saleh to step down within 30 days and for a national unity government to run the country until elections are held. Saleh in his speech Friday made no mention of the initiative. A senior Saleh aid told The Associated Press that the president now wants revisions to the deal that would ensure an end to the protests. That would be difﬁcult to work out because leaders of the street protests did not participate in the talks and reject anything short of Saleh's immediate departure and trial over corruption and the killings of protesters. They say the opposition's established political parties, which have taken part in the talks, do not represent them. The aid said the president also wants the deal to include a return of army commanders and soldiers who defected to the opposition. The aid, who is also a senior ruling party ofﬁcial, spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject. Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani, general secretary of the Gulf Cooperation Council told journalists on Thursday that no changes would be made to the proposal. The protests have posed the most serious threat to Saleh's rule and his offered concessions, including that he not run again in the 2013 election or allow his son to succeed him, have failed to quiet the protests. Saleh has continued to cling to power thanks in part to the key backing of Yemen's best trained and equipped military units, which are under the command of one of his sons and other close relatives. The Impasse As April moved into May, scenarios were buzzing like the

shoes tossed at Salih’s visage on the giant screen. The accord that was supposed to be signed May 1 remained a work in progress up to the eleventh hour. The basic plan was for President Salih to transfer power to his vice president, the relatively impotent ‘Abd al-Rabb Mansour al-Hadi, within 30 days. Under a new power sharing arrangement, the ruling General People’s Congress would retain 50 percent of the 301 seats in Parliament, the opposition JMP would acquire 40 percent and 10 percent would go to independents, including, presumably, representatives of the youth movement. Within a week a transitional unity government expected to be lead by a JMP prime minister, preferably from the former South, was to be formed. Senior statesman ‘Abd al-Karim al‘Iryani, the current secretarygeneral of the GPC, having

until recently remained aloof from the fray, was dispatched to the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh to participate in negotiations with the GCC. Crucially, but vaguely, the proposal speciﬁed an end to the demonstrations. The remaining 70 loyalists in Parliament further demanded that Salih retain his leadership of the GPC. It was not clear if a popular opposition demand that he and family members resign their military posts was really part of the deal. The arrangement was too ambiguous and riddled with loopholes for either Salih or the protesters to accept by the May 1 deadline. In the end, only the GCC monarchies and the JMP leaders were ready to sign. Salih ﬁrst offered to have either al-‘Iryani or Vice President al-Hadi verify the accord on his behalf in Riyadh, and then promised to sign in Sanaa in the

presence of the GCC’s al-Zayani. At the last minute, he acquiesced to sign in his capacity as head of the ruling party but not as president. This refusal scuttled the negotiation. Salih scoffed at a basket of carrots that left him with his arsenal of sticks. Although Salih was the one who nixed the deal, it was clear that the GCC plan did not have popular backing, either. It had not been negotiated so much as cobbled together. On April 24, a group signing itself as the Youth Popular Revolution Committee already rejected the provision of immunity from criminal prosecution for the president and his family, which could easily amount to carte blanche for excessive force during the month-long transition. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch shared these concerns. It was unclear, moreover, how the JMP could

disperse the sit-ins and roadblocks. As commentator Jamila ‘Ali Raja told Al Jazeera, the formal parties could invite their own members to abandon the barricades, but not give orders to the tens of thousands they do not represent. The failed GCC push to reach an accord by May 1 turned out to be the opening gambit in a complex negotiation that seems unlikely to be concluded soon. More and more, personalities from bygone dramas are now weighing in from exile: rebel leader Yahya al-Houthi and former South Yemen leaders Haydar Abu Bakr al‘Attas, ‘Ali Salim al-Bayd and ‘Ali Nasir Muhammad, to name a few, seek to claim the initiative. If there is to be forward momentum, their views and constituencies, such as they are, will have to be taken into account. And yet these additions to the mix can only complicate matters. Yemen is now in political limbo and not far from the road to hell. No one believes that the president can continue in office or that he will relinquish power. The popular movement has come too far to back off and yet sees no clear path toward social justice. Gulf monarchies and the Obama administration appear to lack the diplomatic wherewithal, the strategic imagination or the humanitarian decency to envision a solution to the impasse. And yet daily the status quo becomes more untenable. Loyalist patrimonial forces are wont to shoot, and may yet provoke either a mutinous response or a full-fledged rebellion by armed citizens. The spirit of “Silmiyya,” which served Tunisians and Egyptians so well, can persevere only so long in the face of live fire. In March and for part of April, it was possible to envision an orderly transition to a civilian coalition transitional government. The month of May may bring more bloodshed. courtesy MERIP

Sunday, May. 8, 2011 Issue 40

National Yemen

SPECIAL

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Scramble For Weapons As Yemen Unrest Grinds On Yemen’s current events have rendered the weapons sold widely in the country’s black markets unusually expensive. But at the same time, the crisis which Yemen is undergoing has contributed to the dissemination of arms with in large quantities, including heavy weapons and tanks in as a result of the looting of some military and security camps by tribal armed men in Al-Jawf, Marib, Abyan and Shabwa provinces. According to tribal sources, armed tribesmen looted thousands weapons when military facilities suffered incursions by groups opposing the regime in recent weeks. The phenomenon has only added to the high availability of lethal weapons in Yemen. According to some arms dealers, there are four main illegal markets of guns, in al-Jawf governorate, east of Sana’a, which sell various kinds of ammunition, pistols and Kalashnikov weapons, machine guns, anti-aircraft ordnance, shoulder-launched missiles, rocket-propelled grenades, missiles, and armored vehicles.

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Rush to Buy Weapons Many Yemenis have watched the developments with concern, a fact which is clearly reflected in the rush to buy weapons. Markets were reportedly stagnant in recent years, but in the last few months, political events prompted citizens to buy more arms and ammunition from the arms markets in many cities of Yemen, leading to a spike in prices. According to arms dealers Yemeni markets, the scramble was inspired by the popular uprising, as many customers fear the situation could turn into a scenario resembling Libya’s. Juma’an, a famous arm dealer in Amran said, “there is unprecedented demand for purchasing personal arms and light arms, like Kalashnikovs, pistols, and ammunition, especially after the launch of the so-called youth revolution of February 3rd of this year.” He also indicated that the Kalashnikov price reached to

300 thousand (YER), up from the usual price of 150,000 (YER), while the Russian version of the gun has climbed from 100,000 (YER) to 200 thousand YER. The cost of a singly Kalashnikov bullet reached to 230 from 115 YER. President Saleh implicitly called Yemeni citizens to protect themselves with arms in the exceptional meeting of parliament held on 2nd February, a day prior to the beginning of the popular uprising. According to Mohammed Hamid, a follower of a prominent Yemeni sheikh, this is tantamount to a green light, and pointed out that the escalation of violent acts between pro- and anti-regime forces can’t be resolved except through armed confrontation, which had inevitably led citizens to turn to the arms market.

Heavy Weapons Hands of Sheikhs

the

Tribal sources have reported that a number of proand anti-regime sheikhs have purchased a large quantity of weapons from the arms markets during the last few weeks. Also, sources from the Hashid tribe said that forces affiliated to republican guards in Harf Sufyan confiscated four vehicles belonging to Sheikh Hussein Al-Ahmar, who announced his defection to the side of the young people in the end of February. Sources also said that after he joined the revolution, he returned to the Hashid region from which he hails and readied a large amount of weapons and vehicles that he owns, which had previously been in storage.

Government’s Vain

Efforts

Developing new arms markets and supplying these markets with large quantities of weapons in addition to the heavy weapons would mean serious trouble to the Yemeni government, after its efforts in recent years to curtail the arms trade. Authorities have allocated billions of riyals to buy weapons from both markets and citizens, and it has arrested 25 people from among the arms dealers and seized 246 thousand pieces of unauthorized weapons, from every single governorates in the country during the last year 2010. The effort has been led by the ministry of interior since 2007, and has resulted in the closing of the most high-

profile markets and shops selling weapons. Before this time, there were thought to be up to 18 markets for arms in all governorates of the Republic and 300 smaller shops for selling arms ammunition and explosives across the country.

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According to arms dealers Yemeni markets, the scramble was inspired by the popular uprising, as many customers fear the situation could turn into a scenario resembling Libya’s.

The ministry also took serious steps including activating a plan to combat arms trading, as the Ministry of Interior decided to cancel all permits for weapons that do not bear signature of the Minister of the Interior.

Also, tightened security controls on arms dealers and their black markets have been put in place. They also expanded their effort to include coasts, which are used by smugglers to bring illegal weapons onto Yemeni territory. Process continued government efforts

despite

Last month, an arms shipment hidden inside a furniture container coming from Turkey heading to Yemen was seized while in transit in Dubai last month. The weapons were allegedly destined for arms markets in Yemen, but Emirates authorities confiscated the lode. The shipment consisted of 16 thousand smuggled guns, and security sources confirmed the arrest of the members behind the smuggling operation, six of whom were Arabs living in the UAE. Emirates authorities added that the shipment was bound specifically to Sa’ada. Each Yemeni house contains arms, and the practice of gun ownership is also part of Yemeni tribal custom. A majority of citizens considers them one of most important necessities of life in Yemen, and despite the recent campaign, anyone can get weapons from arms markets in the five major governorates, without need for a license or official documents. These arms markets are based in al-Bayda, Shabwa, Marib , Dhamar , Amran, Sana’a, and Sa’ada. Unofficial estimates claim that around 50 to 60 million weapons are present in Yemen, which makes it the biggest concentration of small arms in the Middle East, and the second country in the Photos by Fuad al-Harazi world after the United States of America.

National Yemen

Sunday, May. 8, 2011 Issue 40 www.nationalyemen.com

Sunday, May. 8, 2011 Issue 40