Even mountains erode

Putting off urgent reforms in Yemen is reinvigorating the secessionists, warns Nasser Arrabyee

The unrest in southern Yemen has reached a turning point with the exiled former president Ali Salem Al-Beidh declaring himself a leader for the restive groups in the south who call for separation from the north.
The declaration came from Germany on 21 May, the eve of the 19th anniversary of the unification between south and north in 1990. Al-Beidh has been living in neighbouring Oman since 1994 when his first secession attempt failed after about 70 days of devastating all-out war, but delivered his manifestor from Munich.
He says he wants to correct the mistake he made by agreeing on unity with President Ali Abdullah Saleh and return the south to the southerners, getting them out from the "trap" they were all lured into. "We were looking forward to a unified homeland which is large enough for all, but the power in Sanaa was conspiring against us," said Al-Beidh.
On the same day, President Saleh was showing his might with a military parade in the capital Sanaa saying the unity is "deep-seated like the mountains". The three main opposition parties including the Socialist Party, which ruled the south before unity, were unlikely to agree, with the political process at a standstill. They are calling for a nationwide consultation process for achieving a genuine partnership in power and wealth to protect the fragile unity.
On the same day, disgruntled demonstrators, heeding Al-Beidh's call, clashed with security forces in the southern coastal city of Aden where dozens of them were killed and injured.
Al-Beidh, in his late 60s, said after "liberation" he will hand power to the young people of groups representing diverse political, social and ideological backgrounds and he willl be only an "advisor". The groups he claims to represent include Jihadists and tribal sheikhs who were openly hostile to him and his Socialist Party in the past. He appealed to the Arab nations to exercise pressure on President Saleh's regime to withdraw the forces from the "occupied south".
Officials played down the importance of the statements Al-Beidh made, saying he previously failed to divide Yemen when he had an army and weapons and declared secession in 1994.
Saleh's regime relies on international and regional support, more specifically, the United States and Saudi Arabia. Both fear the prospect of Yemen turning to a new breeding ground of terrorism like Afghanistan and Somalia if it falls into chaos.
The statements of Al-Beidh shocked the main opposition parties who always call for dialogue that include opposition leaders outside Yemen including Al-Beidh. "He who makes business with unity will go to hell," warned Sultan Al-Atwani, chairman of the Supreme Council of the Opposition Alliance which includes the three main parties of Islamists, Socialists, and Nasserites.
The Socialist Party does not support the calls for separation, but it calls for "removing the impacts of the civil war of 1994 and correcting the path of unity". The party leaders argue against trying to dictate unity by force. They argue that the war of 1994 ended the peaceful unity which was proclaimed in 1990, and produced a forced unity which created a schism worse than secession.
A senior official from the ruling party advised President Saleh to take brave decisions for creating a genuine national partnership in power, wealth and decision-making by getting rid of all the corruption around him even among those closest to him, if he truly wants to preserve unity. "Ninety per cent of the solution of the most difficult problems is in hands of President Saleh," said Abdel-Salam Al-Ansi, a member of Saleh's advisory council.
Hundreds of angry demonstrators marched on 25 May in the streets of the southern town of Habileen demanding the release of detainees and solutions for their problems promised by a presidential committee 15 May. The security forces kept silent although some demonstrators were carrying flags of the south and pictures of the former president Al-Beidh. Some of them were also carrying guns.
This demonstration came one day after President Ali Abdullah Saleh met with representatives from Al-Habileen, Radfan and Al-Dhalee in the presidential palace in Sanaa. "I'm sure you will remain faithful to the September and October revolutions," Saleh told local council members and tribal sheikhs from those districts, the stronghold of the secession supporters.
Saleh was referring to the southern revolution against the British on 14 October 1963, and to the northern revolution against royal rule on 26 September 1962. He said that about 10,000 young men from the south have joined the army during the past six months and promising to open camps for more southerners to protect unity.
The chairman of the presidential committee assigned to negotiate with representatives of the restive groups, Abdel-Qader Helal, said, "the reasons behind the south's problems are mainly the exclusion of the Socialist Party from power, unemployment, economic deterioration, illiteracy, poverty, and illness in Yemen in general and the south in particular."
Political and electoral reforms and local rule with full powers are necessary, Helal says

Foreign conspiracy behind Yemen's unrest, Zandani

By Nasser Arrabyee/27/05/2009

A Yemeni prominent clergyman said Wednesday a foreign conspiracy was behind the unrest in southern Yemen.

He said that the warships and fleets in the Arabian Sea were also a part of the alleged conspiracy.

"Do you think they came to breathe the sea breeze or spend holydays, or to strike pirates as they say, no , no, the matter is much bigger than piracy, it is flagrant interference in the affairs of the region including Yemen," Shiekh Abdul Majeed Al Zandani addressed about one thousand Salafi scholars who met in Sana'a to support and protect the unity from the calls of separation in the south.

"For the oil of Muslims in the Gulf countries, there was the invasion and war on Iraq, and for the oil of Muslims in Darfur, there is now this heated campaign against Sudan," He added.


But he said the religious scholars and the "obeyed" President Ali Abdullah Saleh still have the ability to get Yemen out from the current crisis.

"The solution is at the hands of the scholars and obeyed leaders. It's only them, when they anger, the people get angry, and when they get satisfied, the people get satisfied," He said.


Sheikh Al Zandani disclosed a new rebellious movement in the desert region of Yemen which includes Mareb Shabwa and AlJawf, and Hudhramout, in addition to the south movement.

"If this movement, which is in the region of oil, succeeds, then we'll have the Yemeni desert issue in addition to the Moroccan desert issue," He said.



Ahmad Al Mualem, southern leader of a Salafi association in Hadhramout, called for obeying the President and urged for standing against anyone who disobey him.

"We refuse disobedience of the ruler (President) and we call for combating anyone who rebels against him," he told the Salafis who held their first ever public conference, under the slogan of the challenges of the Yemeni unity.

"If standing against those who disobey the ruler is a must even if they were respected clerics, let alone those deviants who do not care for religion," he added, in an obvious reference to the secessionist groups and the religious scholars who support them in the south.


The Judge Hamoud Al Hetar, Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs, who participated in the meeting, said it was for supporting unity and refusing secession.

"This meeting of the scholars of Yemen is a sign of freedom," said Al Hetar, who was presented by the Salafi organizers as the inspirer and guide liner of the meeting.





For his part, Abdul Azeez Al Dubae, chairman of the Salafi Al Hekma Al Yamania, Charitable Association , which organized the meeting said," We here to confirm that we refuse sectarianism, regionalism and we would say that calls for separation are prohibited by Islam , and we are obligated to combat such calls."



The conference brought together Salafi scholars, and supportive tribal shieks, from the south and north like Hudhrmout, Shabwa, Abyan, Aden, Lahj, Al Dhale'e, Yafe'e, Taiz Ibb, Hodiedah and Sa'ada,


"It's a call for all Yemenis to come under the flag of Quran and Sunna, and reject the differences…, and refuse the calls of separation. And if there is corruption and mistakes we should treat them," He said.

The Salafis who organized this conference are viewed by observers as "liberal Salafis" compared to other Salafis who ban the associations and even posing for pictures, like the two Salafi centres in Ma'abar and Sa'ada who boycotted this conference.

The point that all sects of Salafis agree on is the obedience of the ruler, which always makes them all close to the regime.

Demonstrations resume in the south

By Nasser Arrabyee/25/05/2009

A group of citizens organized Monday a demonstration in the southern town of Al Habileen to demand release of detainees and solutions for their problems promised by a presidential committee 10 days ago.


" A number of citizens marched in the streets of Habileen today demanding for fair solutions for their issues and releasing detainees from the prisons of Al Dhale'e and Aden and also treatments of the injured and transferring the serious cases to outside Yemen for better treatment, " said Saleh Sa'ad, member of local council of Al Habileen.

He said that security forces kept silent although some demonstrators were carrying flags of the south and pictures of the exiled former President Ali Salem Al Beidh who called for independence last week from Germany. Some demonstrators were also carrying guns, he said.

This demonstration came one day after President Ali Abdullah Saleh met with representatives from Al Habileen, Radfan and Al Dhale'e in the presidential palace in Sana'a.

"I'm sure you will remain faithful to September and October revolutions," Saleh told local council members and tribal sheikhs from those districts, the stronghold of what's called the south movement.

Saleh referred to the southern revolution against the British colony on October 14th, 1963, and to the northern revolution against the royal rule in September 26th, 1962.

Saleh said that about 10,000 young men from those areas joined the army during the past six months promising to open camps for more young men of them to protect the unity.

"And if there are mistakes and problems, you are the most capable to solve them. We treated the problem of the retirees with 52 billion YR, (260 $US million) and about 10,000 young men joined the army and security institutions during the past six months," Saleh told them.



"Now we'll open military camps for new recruitments, so you will be the guards of unity and we will support you, we will leave the tanks and missiles and let the guards of unity defend their interests."







Meanwhile, a senior official in the ruling party called President Saleh to take brave decisions for creating a national partnership in power, wealth and decision-making.

Abdul Salam Al Ansi, member of Saleh's advisory council, Shura, urged Saleh to get rid of all corrupts around him even if they are the closet to him, if he wants to preserve unity.


"I'm still believing that 90 % of the solution of the most difficult problems is at hands of the President Saleh," Al Ansi said in statements published Monday.

Ex-ambassador to stand trial for 'supporting secession'

By Nasser Arrabyee/25/05/2009

A Yemeni former diplomat will be put on trial this week over charges of encouraging regionalism and disunity between south and north, official sources said.


The ex-ambassador Qasim Asker Jubran will stand trial over charges of inciting an armed disobedience against the authorities during 2007-2009, targeting national unity and breaking laws, posing threat to the society's security and inciting secession sentiment, the official news agency (Saba) said.



Jubran was also accused of calling for rallies at public places and roads, propagating false information to destabilize the country and sparking culture of hatred, the agency said.

Jamal Al Ja'abi, his lawyer, said the accusations are political and they are aiming at combating people who show solidarity with the "southern issue".


The lawyer said that his client denied the charges in investigations and that he told the investigators "he supports the southern issue and the demands of the southerners because they were wronged".


"Before that, he told the President Saleh to look into the southern issue and President promised him to do, but nothing happened since then," said the lawyer.


The ex-ambassador was arrested three weeks ago in the southern city of Aden. He served as an ambassador of Yemen to Mauritania from 2001- 2006.

Exiled former President leads 'south Yemen movement'

By Nasser Arrabyee/22/05/2009

The unrest in southern Yemen witnessed a new turning point this week. The exiled former president, Ali Salem Al Baidh, broke his 15-year old silence and declared himself a leader for the restive groups in the south who call for separation from the north.

The declaration, this time, came from Germany on Thursday, the eve of the 19th anniversary of the unification between south and north on May 22, 1990. Al Baidh has been living in the neighboring country of Oman since 1994 when his first secession attempt failed after about 70 days of devastating all-out war.

He says he wants to correct the mistake he made by agreeing on unity with President Ali Abdullah Saleh, and return the south to the southerners, and get them out from the “trap” they were all lured into.

“We were looking forward to unified homeland which is large enough for all, but the power in Sana'a was conspiring against us,” said Al Baidh in a press conference held in the German city of Munich on Thursday.

“I will lead a peaceful struggle until we get back the State of the south and then I will hand powers to the young people,” said Al Baidh, in his late 60s.

To reassure the disgruntled groups behind the protests in the south, who come from different political, social and ideological backgrounds he said, “I’m not in a party, and will not join any party, but after liberation I may like to be an advisor.” The groups he represents include Jihadists and tribal sheikhs who had long-standing hostility with Al Baidh’s socialist party.

He appealed to the Arab nations to exercise pressures on the President’s Saleh’s regime to withdraw the forces from the “occupied south”.

The officials played down the importance of the statements Al Baidh made, saying he previously failed to separate Yemen when he had army and weapons.

“The statements of the so-called Ali Salem Al Baidh do not mean more than there is a conspiracy against the unity. Al Baidh attempts only to commemorate his bad declaration of secession on May 21, 1994 when he still had army, tanks, missiles, and fighter jets, but he could not do anything, and he was defeated and unity was protected,” Said Abdullah Ahmed Ghanim, a senior official in the ruling party.

The statements of Al Baidh also disappointed the opposition figures who called for his return to Yemen as a key partner and discussing all issues in the framework of unity.

“The it’s the policy of the regime that made Ali Salem Al Baidh repeat the same mistake he made in 1994,” said Hamid Al Ahmar in a gathering organized Friday to condemn the use of force against protesters on Thursday in Aden when three people at least were killed and more than 20 injured.

“We are all with the south movement in their demands for justice and correcting mistakes,” Al Ahmar added.

One day before the Al Baidh’s controversial statements, Al Ahmar, who leads an extensive consultation process “to achieve National Partnership to Protect Unity and Build Modern State", called for the return of all southerner leaders in exile including Al Baidh.

Immediately after AlBaidh resumed his political activities, the Oman authorities revoked his Oman citizenship. He left Oman recently to Austria. Oman authorities gave Al Baidh and his wife and their son and daughter citizenships in 2004.

President Ali Abdullah Saleh and his official say the regional and international support for unity is in rise.

“Unity is deep-seated like mountains and is here to stay and the secessionists will not defeat the nation and will fail as they have failed before,” he said on the eve of the 19th anniversary of unity.
He repeatedly called all political groups and non-governmental organizations to join a national dialogue, but under “the ceiling of unity”.

Clashes in Aden and military parade in Sana'a on Unity day

By Nasser Arrabyee/21/05/2009


Three Yemenis were killed and more than 20 injured when police in the southern coastal city of Aden dispersed angry demonstrators calling for disunity.

The clash between police and protesters happened while a big military parade was taking place in the capital Sana'a to mark the 19th anniversary of the unification between the south and north of Yemen on May 22nd , 1990.

Eyewitnesses said that the disgruntled protesters, who were chanting anti-unity slogans, set fire to the flag of the unified Yemen and pelted the security men with stones.

The security authorities, however, described the demonstrators as outlaws and saboteurs. Many people were arrested, the eyewitnesses said.

Meanwhile, the opposition parties' alliance called for bringing back the brilliance of unity which is based on equal citizenship and genuine partnership in power and wealth.


While the military parade was taking place in Al Sabeen Square on Thursday 21st May, the opposition parties were concluding a two-day conference on "National Consultations to achieve National Partnership to Protect Unity and Build Modern State"


"We should celebrate with a development parade not a military parade, we are not in war with any one, we should celebrate secure and stable Yemen that respects others and that is respected by all," said Hamid Al Ahmar, chairman of the supreme committee for consultations.


"We should bring back the brightness of unity, and the partners of unity like Ali Salem, Ali Nasser, Haidar Al Attas, Tareq Al Fadhli, Al Khubaji and Al Shanfara," said Al Ahmar, an ambitious prominent opposition figure and famous businessman, in his speech to open the opposition conference. He referred to leaders of the south who are in exile now and also to those who are behind the south protests which are known as the south movement.

Only then we will celebrate the unity, he said.

Yemeni Jews to immigrate Israel

Yemeni Jews to immigrate Israel
By Nasser Arrabyee/16/05/2009


A group of Yemeni Jews will emigrate from Yemen to Israel this week in a secret trip organized by a Jewish agency, sources close to Jews said Saturday.

"About 30- 35 Jewish persons, from six families, from Raidah and Kharef, are scheduled to leave Yemen for ever on May 19th, 2009," said the sources who asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue.

"A delegation from a Jewish agency has been convincing these families and arranging the trip in Sana'a since the beginning of this month," the sources told me.

The Jews will be transferred from Sana'a to Tel Aviv via Amman, the sources added.

The only remaining 332 Yemeni Jews have been living under growing threats and fear especially after a Muslim extremist killed one of them last December in Raidah town, about 50 km north of the capital Sana'a.

A total of 267 Jews are living in the two areas of Raidah and Kharef in Amran, one of the most conservative and tribal provinces in Yemen.

The government failed to implement an order by President Ali Abdullah Saleh to transfer them to the capital Sana'a after the increase of threats against them.

The security agencies have shown concerns over the suspended transfer to Sana'a where they are supposed to be put in one or two buildings together.

"They can be easy target for the extremists or Al Qaeda, and a massacre may happen," a security official said.

After the promise of the government to relocate them last December, the Jews offered their properties and houses for sale, but nothing was bought until now. An extremist local mosque speaker urged the Muslim neighbours not to buy anything from the Jews.

Despite the continuous efforts being exerted by Jewish agencies to Immigrate the Yemeni Jews to Israel US, or UK, the poorly educated and religious Jews keep saying they will not leave their homeland whatever difficulties they face.

"We'll live and die here in our homeland, we can not live with the Zionists in Israel, we disagree with them in a lot of things," The rabbi Yahya Yousef Mousa told me.

Mousa is the rabbi of a group of 65 Jews who have been living in a luxurious compound "tourist city" in the capital Sana'a at the expense of the government since March 2007 after receiving death threats from Al Houthi armed rebels in Al Salem in Sa'ada province. Each person receives 5,000 YR (25US$) monthly in addition to food stuff.

"By virtue of Allah and virtue of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, we are very fine here in Sana'a," the rabbi Yahya Yousef said.

However, those who are not transferred yet, are very disgruntled and their position, in terms of wanting or not to immigrate, is not as clear as their brothers who seem comfortable and relatively safe in Sana'a.

"If the government keeps procrastinating our transfer to Sana'a, we will not wait to see them (extremists) killing us one by one, we'll go to the hell not only to Israel," said Haeem Yaeish, head and rabbi of the Amran group, told me.

They face economic and social problems because discrimination. For instance, the Jewish women, who represent about 70 per cent of this small community, face difficulties getting married.

"We either send them abroad for marriage or keep them in 'stores' like the farmers of grapes who store their grapes to make raisins," mocked Mrs. Nemah, mother of the rabbi Yahya Yousef.


The human rights activist, Mahmoud Taha, who is interested in Yemeni Jewish affairs, warned against immigration of Jews, saying this will harm the values of Islam in Yemen.

"Immigration of the remaining Yemeni Jews will tell the world that Yemen has no room for tolerance and can not coexist with others," said Taha who lives in Amran.

"But if there is no solution for their problem by transferring them to Sana'a and giving them houses and money to live, no one of them will be here by the end of this year," he said.

Yemen Guantanamo detainee attempts to kill himself

By Nasser Arrabyee/11/05/2009

A Yemeni Guantanamo detainee attempted to kill himself while in a meeting with his American lawyer in the detention, lawyers said Monday.

"Adnan Farhan Abdul Latif attempted to commit suicide during my meeting with him this morning," His lawyer David Remes told me from Guantanamo.

The meeting between Remes and his client Abdul Latif took place Sunday, May 10th.

"Without our noticing, he chipped off a piece of the stiff veneer on the underside of our conference table and used it to saw into a vein in his left wrist."

"As he sawed, he drained his blood into a plastic container and, shortly before it was time for me to leave; he hurled the blood at me from the container."

" It must have been a good deal of blood because I was drenched from the top of my head to my knees, including my face and arms, and I took a good splash in my right eye," Mr Remes added.

Mr Remes, who represents sixteen of the nearly 100 Yemenis remaining there, called upon both governments of Yemen and US to return Abdul Latif to his family.

Abdul Latif is being held in the Psych Ward. The tube-feeding has brought his weight up to 120 pounds. He is now being force-fed in bed, not in a "restraint chair", said Mr. Remes.

"For humanitarian reasons, I implore the US and Yemen to arrange for Adnan's immediate return to Yemen. His family understands that he needs treatment, and they are standing ready to help him." He said.

"Adnan is a very sick man, physically and psychologically. He should be receiving treatment. The only 'treatment' he is receiving from the US, however, is to keep him subdued - by drugs if possible, and by force if necessary - so he can continue to be held as a captive without causing disturbance. This is inhumane by any standard."

Mr. Remes, the Legal Director of the Appeal for Justice, a Human Rights and Civil Liberties Litigation Firm, also said he would be asking the court this week to allow him and his colleague lawyers to send an independent physician and psychiatrist to Guantanamo to examine, Abdul Latif.

Abdul Lati has been languishing in the detention for about seven years.

Yemen, make or breakState

corruption and unheard grievances have Yemen on the edge of a secessionist civil war, writes Nasser Arrabyee

South Yemen has been engulfed in violence since last April. Restive groups want to secede from the north on the grounds that they are politically "marginalised" by the central government that united with the south in 1990

On 27 April, southern groups celebrated the "declaring [of] the war against the south", pointing to a speech by President Ali Abdullah Saleh of 27 April 1994, after which civil war broke out.

Two days before the groups' celebrations, which turned to violence and riots in at least four

provinces in which dozens of people were killed and injured, President Saleh warned of a new civil war if calls for separation continue.

"Yemen, Allah forbid, will not divide into two partitions, south and north, but into villages and

small states, and people will be fighting with each other from door to door and from window to window," Saleh said in a large rally held in Sanaa 27 April 2009 and that brought together state officials and military and security commanders, notably from the south.

The marginalisation felt by southern groups is mainly expressed, since early 2006, in two major issues: the retirement or exclusion of thousands of military, security, and civil officials from their employment after the war of 1994; and the issue of lands in the south that were plundered by corrupted, influential officials after the war.

President Saleh and other officials admit to some mistakes, especially on these two issues, but say all wrongs must be corrected in the framework of unity. Saleh said his government treated the issue of retirees with 52 billion Yemeni Rials ($125 million). In 2007, Saleh formed special committees to fact find on the two major issues. The committees finally recommended that Saleh get rid of 15 senior officials who were responsible. However, not one of the 15 officials named was held accountable until now.

Tareq Al-Fadhli, a prominent southern tribal sheikh in Abyan, joined the groups of south movement only last month after he served as adviser to President Saleh since 1994. Al-Fadhli sponsored in his hometown of Zunjubar, 27 April, a large rally in which he called for unity in the south to "Drive away the northern occupation and have southern independence." The state-run media responded by saying that Al-Fadhli, a former Jihadist in Afghanistan, was "the biggest plunderer of the lands in the south".

Mohammed Al-Dhahri, politics professor at Sanaa University, says that what's going on in Yemen now is a crisis of partnership -- a national integration crisis, and economic and legislation crisis. "Shy official recognition of this crisis is not enough," he said.

Separation calls also receive political and media support from outside Yemen, mainly from socialist leaders who have been living in Arab Gulf countries since the civil war of 1994.

The government said it requested that the governments of Saudi Arabia and Oman hand over leaders who are politically supporting the southern movement. The most important three are Ali Saleh Al-Baidh, former president of the south, in Oman, Ali Nasser Mohammed, former president, in Syria, and Haidar Abu Bakar Al-Attas, former prime minister, in Saudi Arabia.

President Saleh accuses them of trying to push Yemen into new wars and of being agents of the British.

Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu Bakr Al-Querbi said in a meeting with Arab ambassadors in Sanaa last Sunday that calls for separation pose a threat not only to Yemen but the whole region. "Any action or speech that touches Yemen's unity is a red line," he said.

It appears that President Saleh's regime, faced also with the three challenges of armed rebellion in the north, growing Al-Qaeda activity, and the fall of oil prices that cover more than 75 per cent of the state's budget, depends much on regional and international support.

The United States said it supports Yemen's unity and stability, calling on Yemenis to solve their problems through dialogue not violence.

A press release issued by the US Embassy in Sanaa on Sunday read: "The United States was one of the first countries to recognise the newly unified Yemen in 1990. During the 1994 Civil War, the United States was a strong supporter of Yemen's unity and called for a ceasefire and negotiations between the opposing sides."

The United States believes that Yemen's unity depends on its ability to guarantee every citizen equal treatment under the law, and the opportunity to participate fully in the political and economic life of the nation, the release added.

Yemen to make or break

Yemen to make or break
By Nasser Arrabyee/04/05/2009

The southern Yemen has been engulfed in violence since late last April. Restive groups from the south want to secede from the north because of being politically "marginalized" by the central government in the north which united with the south in 1990.

The disgruntled groups say the unity is no longer peaceful since after the civil war of 1994 when the first separation attempt ended in failure.

The 27th of April this year was celebrated by these groups, south movements, as a day of "declaring the war against the south". They pointed to a speech delivered by President Ali Abdullah Saleh in April 27th, 1994, after which the war broke out.

Two days before the groups' celebrations, which turned into violence and riots in at least four provinces, in which dozens of people were killed and injured, the President Saleh warned from a new a civil war if calls for separation continue.

"Yemen, Allah forbid, will not divide into two partitions, south and north, but into villages and small states, and people will be fighting with each other from door to door and from window to window," Saleh said in a big rally in Sana'a on April 27th, 2009, which brought together all the State's officials, and military and security commanders, notably from the south.

The marginalization felt by the southern groups was mainly expressed in two major issues since early 2006: The retirement or exclusion of thousands of military, security, and civil officials from their employments after the war of 1994. The second is the issue of lands in the south which were plundered by corrupted, influential official after the war.


The President Saleh and other officials admitted to some mistakes especially these two big issues, but they keep saying all wrongs must be corrected in the frame work of the unity.

For instance Saleh said his government treated the issue of the retirees with 52 billion YR (US$ 125,000,000).


In 2007, Saleh formed special committees to fact find about the two major issues. The committees, at the end of the day, recommended that Saleh should get rid of 15 senior officials who were responsible for those wrongs of the two major issues, if he wants to preserve the unity. However, no one of those 15 official included in the presidential committee's report was held accountable until now.

Tareq Al Fadhli, a southern prominent tribal sheikh in Abyan, joined the groups of south movement only last month after he served as one of the President Saleh's advisors since 1994.

Al Fadhli in his home town Zunjubar, Abyan, he sponsored in April 27th, 2009, a big rally in which he called for unity of the south to "Drive away the northern occupation and have the southern independence."

Only then, the state-run media said Al Fadhli, a former Jihadist in Afghanistan, was "the biggest plunderer of the lands in the south."

On his part, Mohammed Al Dhahri, politics professor at Sana'a University, said what's going on in Yemen now is a crisis of partnership, a national integration crisis, and economic and legislation crisis. "The official shy recognition of this crisis is not enough," he said.

The separation calls also receive political and media support from out side the country mainly from the socialist leaders who have been living in the gulf countries since after the civil war of 1994.

The government said it had requested the governments of Saudi Arabia and Oman in particular to hand over those leaders who are politically supporting the south movements. The most important three leaders are Ali Saleh Al Baidh, former president of the south, in Oman, and Ali Nasser Mohammed, former president, in Syria, and Haidar Abu Bakar Al Attas, former prime minister, in Saudi Arabia.

President Saleh accuses them of trying to enter Yemen into new wars and of being agents to the British colony. "It's not the right of any one to claim guardianship on revolution, unity, or and the south," Saleh said.


The Yemeni foreign minister Abu Bakr Al Querbi, said in a meet with the Arab ambassadors in Sana'a last Sunday, that calls for separation pose a threat not only to Yemen but to the whole region.

"Any action or saying which touches Yemen's unity is a red line," he said.

It seems that the President Saleh's regime , which faces three other major changes: the northern armed rebellion, Al Qaeda growing activity, and the fall of oil price which cover more 75 percent of the State's budget, depends much on regional and international support for the unity.


The United States said it support the Yemen's unity and stability calling all Yemenis to solve their problems through dialogue and not violence.

In a press release issued by the U.S. Embassy in Sana’a on Sunday, it said it supports a stable, unified, and democratic Yemen.

“The United States was one of the first countries to recognize the newly unified Yemen in 1990. During the 1994 Civil War, the United States was a strong supporter of Yemen’s unity and called for a cease-fire and negotiations between the opposing sides,” said the statement.

The United States believes that Yemen’s unity depends on its ability to guarantee every citizen equal treatment under the law, and the opportunity to participate fully in the political and economic life of the nation, the release said.

Unity under threat in Yemen

By Nasser Arrabyee

Gulf News

Sana'a: Southern Yemen has been engulfed in violence since late last month. Restless groups from the south want to secede from the north because they are being politically "marginalised" by the central government in the north which united with the south in 1990.

The disgruntled groups say the unity is no longer peaceful since the civil war of 1994 when the first separation attempt ended in failure.

Rebellious groups marked April 27 as a day of "declaring war against the south". They pointed to a speech delivered by President Ali Abdullah Saleh on April 27, 1994, after which war broke out.

Two days before the groups' celebrations, which turned violent with riots breaking out in at least four provinces, in which dozens of people were killed or injured, President Saleh warned of a new a civil war if calls for separation continued.

"Yemen, Allah forbid, will not divide into two, south and north, but into villages and small states, and people will be fighting with each other from door to door and from window to window," Saleh said at a big rally in Sana'a on April 27 which brought together all the State's officials, and military and security commanders, notably from the south.

The marginalisation felt by the southern groups has been expressed in two major issues since early 2006.

The retirement or exclusion of thousands of military, security, and civil officials from their employments after the war of 1994. The second is the issue of lands in the south which were plundered by corrupt, influential officials after the war.

President Saleh and other officials admitted to some mistakes especially on these two issues, but they continue to say all wrongs must be corrected in the framework of unity.

In 2007, Saleh formed special committees to find facts about the two issues. The committees recommended that Saleh should get rid of 15 senior officials who were responsible for those wrongs of the two major issues, if he wants to preserve the unity.

However, none of those 15 official included in the presidential committee's report was held accountable until now. Tareq Al Fadhli, a southern prominent tribal shaikh in Abyan, joined the groups of south movement only last month after he served as one of the President's advisors since 1994.

Al Fadhli in his home town Zunjubar, Abyan, sponsored on April 27, 2009, a big rally in which he called for unity of the south to "drive away the northern occupation and have the southern independence."

The state was "the biggest plunderer of the lands in the south", said Al Fadhli, a former Jihadist in Afghanistan.

Mohammad Al Dahri, politics professor at Sana'a University, said what's going on in Yemen now is a crisis of partnership, a national integration crisis, and economic and legislation crisis.

The separation calls also receive political and media support mainly from the socialist leaders who have been living in the Gulf countries since after the civil war of 1994.

The government said it had requested Saudi Arabia and Oman to hand over those leaders who are politically supporting the south movement.