27 - July 2nd thru July 8th 2001, Vol
XI
15
Killed in Clashes between Aal Obeidah and Military Forces
THEY ARE CHALLENGING THE
STATE!
Pitched tribal clashes erupted Sunday evening between the tribes of Jahm,
one of Khawlan tribes, and Al-Jada'an tribe of Nahm. The fighting took
place in an area 30 km to the north of the city of Mareb. The clashes which
began at 6 o'clock Sunday evening were still raging between the two tribes
at the time of reporting the news, using heavy and light weapons. Six people
from both tribes have been reported as seriously injured. The fighting
led to blocking traffic on the Sana'a-Mareb road.
Tribal sources said that the cause of the clashes was a dispute over
ownership of a piece of land situated between the two tribes. Leaked information
indicated that the said area is rich in natural gas.
The Mareb province, 180 km east of Sana'a, had on friday seen a shootout
between army soldiers and tribesmen from Obeidah tribe resulting in the
death of seven soldiers.
Tribal sources in Mareb told YT that 15 soldiers out of 100 who went
to Obeidah to crack down those suspected of piercing the oil pipeline in
Serwah were killed last Thursday. The sources added that 2 tribesmen were
killed in the clashes, which also resulted in 28 injuries from the army
and 6 from the tribe.
Forty soldiers that were captured by the tribesmen following the incident
were released on Sunday evening. The tribesmen were agitated by the big
number of soldiers tracing the pipeline attackers and misconstructed their
purpose not to detain the attackers only but to attack the whole tribal
community. Soldiers were, eventually, attacked before they had reached
the village of the suspects.
Brigadier Ali Mohammed Salah, Deputy Staff Commander moved to the area
on Saturday to settle the problem with the tribesmen. The clashes were
stopped as most members of the military group were killed, injured or arrested.
Negotiations with the lawless tribesmen have been initiated to release
the arrested ones and sort out other differences.
Yemeni oil pipeline was pierced 28 times during 1997-1999, the last
of which was on April 28th. Thousands of barrels of oil were spilled. This
time the pumping of oil was stopped again causing the country a heavy loss
of revenue. The country has also to pay compensation to the company working
in the site. Demands of the bombers are not yet known but it is expected
that they are related to the implementation of development projects which
tribesmen always demand.
Political observers believe the government has been very lenient with
lawless tribesmen who have done incalculable damage to Yemen's reputation
as well as economy. The easy availability of different sorts of weapons
to these people has augmented violation of law by these tribesmen. The
government, in the past dealt with similar law breakers in other areas
very ruthlessly and was able to put them down.
Yemen
Strikes a Ship Deal with Poland
 President
Ali Abdullah Saleh attended Sunday a new craft reception function and the
inauguration of the second phase of training course 2001 held by the Navy
and Coastal Defense at Hodeidah Port.
Three state-of-the-art Landing Craft Utility NS-717 Design were received
by the Yemeni Navy. The Landing Tank Ship (Medium) NS -722 Design, will
probably reach Yemen at the end of this year.
 This
is part of a military logistic deal concluded by Yemen and Poland last
year.
In the function President Saleh delivered a speech highlighting the
importance of building the navy to protect the Yemeni coasts, stretching
over more than 2,000 kms, and to put an end smuggling that has a negative
impact on the Yemeni economy.
President Saleh visited the naval base and reviewed some of the new
naval pieces including Saba, Thamood and Himiar. He went aboard Saba craft
which headed for Hodeidah port where he reviewed the activities there.
CPJ
Sends Memorandum to President Saleh
The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) sent a memorandum
on Tuesday June 26 to the President of the Republic, Ali Abdullah Saleh
protesting the latest violations against the freedom of press. In its letter,
the committee expressed its deep concern over the recent ruling of the
Supreme Court in the capital, Sanaa to uphold a lower court's decision
to ban the opposition weekly Al-Shoura for six months, effective immediately.
The committee also expressed grave concern over the illegal arrest of Yemen
Times' journalist, Hassan Al-Zaidi who was released about 2 weeks later.
The ruling to ban Al-Shoumou newspaper was also condemned. Copies of the
letter that was sent to the president through the Ambassador of the Republic
of Yemen to Washington, Mr. Abdulwahhab Al-Hajjri, were sent to all prominent
human rights and freedom of press supporting organizations worldwide such
as Article 19, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, etc.
June 26, 2001
His Excellency President Ali Abdullah Saleh
c/o His Excellency Ambassador Abdul Wahab al-Hajjri
Embassy of the Republic of Yemen
2600 Virginia Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20037
VIA FACSIMILE +202-337-2017
Your Excellency:
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is deeply concerned about
government harassment of independent and opposition media in Yemen. In
recent weeks, we have documented a disturbing pattern of censorship and
intimidation of journalists in response to their professional work.
On June 11, the Supreme Court in the capital, Sanaa, upheld a lower
court's decision to ban the opposition weekly Al-Shoura for six months,
effective immediately. The banning stemmed from a 1997 libel case brought
against Al-Shoura and its former editors, the late Abdullah Saad and his
brother Abdel Jabbar Saad, by Islah Party leader Abdel Majid al-Zindani.
The Supreme Court also upheld Abdel Jabbar Saad's sentence of 80 lashes
and a ban on practicing journalism for one year. Saad was ordered to pay
damages of 100,000 riyals (about US$625) to Sheikh al-Zindani. Al-Zindani
has since withdrawn his case against the two brothers, according to Al-Shoura.
It is unclear what effect this will have on the Supreme Court's ruling.
This alarming decision comes on the heels of two other grave press
freedom abuses:
* On June 10, one day before the Al-Shoura ruling, state security agents
detained Yemen Times reporter Hassan al-Zaidi at the paper's offices in
Sanaa. No reason was given for the action. According to a source at the
paper, al-Zaidi was only told that there were "supreme orders" for
his arrest. The same source said al-Zaidi was apparently detained for interviewing
a kidnapped German tourist whom security forces were unable to locate.
Al-Zaidi was released on June 25.
* On May 28, an appellate court upheld
a lower court decision to ban Seif Al-Haderi, editor of the weekly Al-Shoumou,
from practicing journalism in Yemen for 10 months. The charges stemmed
from allegedly libelous articles published last year that accused the education
minister of financial impropriety. Al-Hadheri received a suspended six-month
prison sentence and was ordered to pay a fine of one million riyals (about
US $6,250). Al-Shoumou was closed for one month, effective immediately.
As a nonpartisan organization of journalists dedicated to the defense
of press freedom around the world, CPJ deplores these flagrant violations
of the universally recognized right of journalists to report the news freely.
We urge Your Excellency to take all measures within your power to ensure
that the unjust rulings against Al-Shoura and Seif al-Hadheri are reversed.
CPJ believes that no journalist should ever face criminal penalties for
their work, much less flogging.
We thank you for your attention to these urgent matters and await your
response.
Sincerely,
Ann K. Cooper
Executive Director
Qatar
Celebrates 6th Anniversary of Emir's Assumption of Power
 The
people of Qatar celebrated on Wednesday 27 June 2001 the 6th anniversary
of Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani's assumption of power. During the
recent years Qatar has achieved a quantum leap in freedom and democracy.
A central Municipal Council was elected through a free and democratic process
and censorship on press and mass media was lifted.
Principles of intellectual freedom, democracy and popular participation
were upheld and aspirations of the Qatari citizen have been fulfilled especially
after setting up a committee for drafting a permanent constitution.
The Emir Hamad of Qatar who has been keen on smooth governance of the
state and the country could during the past years usher in an economic
revolution through redoubling production and building great projects. The
natural gas project is a unique example of its kind. Great accomplishments
have also been achieved in the sectors of education, health, transport,
communications, culture, sports and youth and other public services sectors.
Diplomatically the Qatari foreign policy has been marked by openness
through the initiative based on joint cooperation, mutual benefits, respect
for sovereignty of states and non-interference in each other's internal
affairs. The Qatari foreign policy is also characterized by sisterly and
friendly relations, good neighborhood and supporting and defending common
Arab and Islamic issues.
The state of Qatar has also put an end to its border disputes with
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and signed the final maps of border demarcation,
a step welcomed by the Arab and the international community. Qatar has
also supported Islamic issues concerning activating the Organization of
Islamic Conference in unifying the Muslims and solving their problems.
Qatar has thus become a modern example of a state that achieved distinction
at both internal and external levels.
Yemen and Qatar have developed good and friendly relations under the
leaderships of president Ali Abdullah Saleh and His Highness Sheikh Hamad
Bin Khalifa Al-Thani. The state of Qatar was the major supporter of the
Yemeni unity move and preserving the gains of the economic and social reformation
in Yemen.
Yemen
Times "Wild Yemen" Now Available
 "Wild
Yemen," Yemen's first Ecotourism guide, is now available. The slim
guide's 24 pages are packed with useful information regarding 12 ecotourism
sites in the vicinity of Sana'a. Activities range from short walks to long
drives through some of Yemen's most beautiful countryside. Each site profile
features detailed navigation information and a summary of the site's natural
highlights. Sections on useful addresses, publications, and Yemen's wildlife
round out the publication. If you wish to buy copies of "Wild Yemen"
for private or commercial use, please contact Yusef Mohageb at Tel: 241
660 Fax: 241 665 or David Stanton at Tel: 207 059 Fax: 370 193. Inquiries
can also be made by email to yos@y.net.ye.
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