51 - Dec 18th thru Dec 24th 2000, Vol
X
Sultan
bin Abdulaziz to YT:
“Forces Withdrawal Will Take
A Few Months”
In a press conference following meetings of Yemeni-Saudi Coordination
Council, 12 round, held during 12-13 December 2000 in Madinah Al-Munawarah,
Saudi Arabia, and in an answer to YT question, his Excellency Emir Sultan
bin Abdulaziz, second deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Airforce,
confirmed that the Saudi forces would be withdrawn to agreed points inside
the borders within a few months. He also said that strives and opposition
of some Yemeni tribes at the border-line would be resolved through bilateral
and amicable means by the two countries.
He stated that the forces would withdraw to places agreed upon in the
Jaddah treaty signed on 12. 6. 2000 maintaining that the Yemeni side should
be sure about that.
In an answer to another question by YT about tribes’ sheikhs opposing
the treaty, he said: “This will be resolved by the two countries. Those
who oppose the treaty are motivated by some self-directed interests,” stressing
that the treaty had seriously considered all the circumstances of tribes
located on the borders and people residing there.
This happens at a time some sheikhs of tribes located on the border-line
including sheikh Mohammed bin Shaja’e, one of Wa’elah Sheikhs, Sheikh Amin
al-Aqimi of al-Jawf and al-Shaif of Daham explicitly state their opposition
to the latest treaty. They threaten to use force to prevent any Western
companies entrusted to demarcate the new borders if the two countries do
not heed to their requests which focus on al-Taif Treaty 1934 as the basis
for solving the borders dispute to ensure the unity of tribal lands and
to protect families from divisions between the two countries.
Of the important points that were discussed, but not included in the
final report was the Saudi request to put off withdrawing Saudi forces
from camps and military bases to at least two years from now. This was
denied by the Saudi side indicating that the withdrawal would be resolved
within a few months.
Some sources told YT that the Yemeni side has put down the Saudi suggestion
to put off the withdrawal of the Saudi forces for that may set off problems
and be in contradiction to articles of the treaty.
More information in economic page.
YSP
to Dissolve
 The
Committee for Parties Affairs has recently pointed to possible dissolution
of the Yemeni Socialist Party (YSP) following announcement of the new list
of members of the Central Committee which included elements accused of
great treachery. Sources from the opposition parties looked upon the implications
of the Committee as provocative indicating that the election of the YSP
held last August was an internal affair that the Committee had nothing
to do with.
The same sources felt doubtful about the timing of committee’s decision
pointing out that the aim might be hindering the party from participating
in the upcoming elections and referendum. A leading person in the YSP described
with regret the position of the Committee as undemocratic.
Political sources viewed the committee’s position as a reaction to
the report the ‘Al-Thawri,’ mouthpiece of the YSP, published about the
USS Cole incident in which it pointed fingers at some high ranking military
officers as involved in the incident.
Law men considered the move as unconstitutional and interference in
the internal affairs of parties.
HRW
2000 Report on Yemen
“Government Restrictions on
Freedom of Expression Worsened”
Human Rights Watch released last week its 2000 report on human rights
situation in Yemen. The report said that this issue showed little improvement
in 2000. “ There were credible reports of torture in state prisons as well
as in private jails and illegal detention facilities” the report reads.
It also said that the Yemeni authorities detained political opponents and
ignored court orders for their release or trial and that government harassment
of independent press and restrictions generally on freedom of expression
worsened as several journalists were questioned by security forces and
detained without charge, and opposition and independent newspapers were
the targets of defamation suits brought by the Ministry of Information
as well as by sources from outside the government like what happened to
the weekly al-Thakafiya whose editor was brought to trial on charges of
apostasy as he serialized” Sanaa is an Open City, a novel by Mohammed Abdulwali,
an issue that led to a political crisis between PGC and Islah parties.
“The PSO( Political Security Office) contributed to a general atmosphere
of political intimidation through its routine recourse to harassment, beatings,
and arbitrary detention. PSO plainclothes agents in past years infiltrated
the independent press, syndicates, and civic organizations to cease their
activities.” it adds. There was also focusing on institutionalized discrimination
against Yemeni women as well as kidnapping problem and government’s ruthless
response to it.
Full text on Law and Diplomacy page.
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