Dr. Mohammed Amin Al-Maidani is a researcher and the director of the Arabic Program in the International Human Rights Institute (Strasbourg, France), He has recently visited Yemen, upon an invitation by the Supreme National Human Rights Committee and the Human Rights Training and Information Center in Taiz, to participate in the first national human rights conference.
During his visit, Dr. Al-Maidani delivered lectures on international mechanisms and regional covenants for protecting human rights.
Interview by Dr. Salah Haddash

Q: Is this your first visit to Yemen?
A: No, in fact I was here five years ago, in 1993, to participate in a conference organized by the International Human Rights Institute, The Arab Human Rights Institute and Sanaa University. It was a regional conference in which many Arab human rights activists took part, to discuss international and regional issues in human rights.

Q: Why are such activities important?
A: Awareness of human rights issues is very important. Educating people about human rights is necessary for them to be able to protect their rights.
Our duty is to introduce international and regional human rights thoughts and philosophy. Through these conferences we can expand, strengthen and protect human rights in the countries we visit.

Q: What is the next step to consolidate human rights?
A: Awareness goes side by side with the formation of NGOs to protect human rights. This means a group of human rights activists working together to ensure actual implementation of the international and regional covenants signed by the country.
The main objective is to alert and educate people about the importance of protecting their rights, convey any violations of these rights to the officials, overcome these violations and get back to the right track to create a respectful situation.

Q: How can we promote conditions for successfully observing human rights?
A: There is notable lack of information regarding human rights documentation. There should be a special page in local newspapers about human rights. Organizing such conferences and advising the government to sign and ratify international covenants regarding human rights is essential.
I hope the Yemeni public will appeal to the Yemeni government to endorse the Arab Human Rights Charter which was promulgated in 1994. Unfortunately no Arab country has signed this declaration. If Yemen ratifies it, it will be the first Arab state to do so.
Yemen ratified the two human rights international covenants and the child rights covenant.

Q: How do you explain that Arab states have signed some of the international covenants but not the Arab Human Rights Charter?
A: This reflects the double-standard of Arab governments concerning human rights. In international forums, Arab representatives project a great interest in this issue. They make every effort to prove their good intentions and concern about human rights protection to the international powers. When Arab officials meet on their own in regional meetings, they express much criticism and dismay with human rights thoughts and tend to delay acceptance of human rights covenants.

Q: The Islamic human rights declaration was released by the Conference of Islamic Organization (CIO) in 1991 in Cairo. Why do we need an Islamic human rights?
A: It seems that the CIO was trying to show that Islam respects human rights and they are part of its teachings, which is a fact we don't doubt. It was trying to draw the attention of the international community to this point.
As we all know, this declaration has only morally force, but is not binding to anyone. The CIO's endorsement was a mere show of good intentions. It has helped many members of CIO to be on the safe side in international arenas, since they have signed none of the international human rights covenants.
I personally feel there is no need to have an Islamic covenant.We are talking about a universal value. It is enough to sign/ratify the international covenants and implement them fully.

 

On the 28th of this month, Korean Ambassador Pak Hi Joo leaves Sanaa for good. He has the sad distinction of being the last ambassador of the Republic of Korea in Yemen.
On this occasion, Hatem Ba-Mehriz of Yemen Times talked to him. Excerpts:

Q: This is a sad moment, I see you have cleared up your office. How was the decision to close down your embassy in Sanaa taken and why?
A: I am sorry the office is messy. We are packing up. As you may know, the Korean government made a decision to close down twenty embassies worldwide, including the one in Yemen. The reason is purely financial.
We have economic difficulties in my country. Starting one year ago, we began facing very difficult financial and economic problems. So we are trying to reorganize ourselves and our activities.
I did not want to take the bad role as the last ambassador here, but I have to follow government instructions. It is very sad that we have to close the embassy, but I am sure when our economy recovers, we will be back.

Q: Meanwhile who is going to take care of business here?
A: Our ambassador in Saudi will serve as a non-resident Korean ambassador to Yemen. Two weeks ago, I went to Riyadh and discussed the work of our embassy and the Yemeni-Korean relations. In a short time, there will be more visitors from our embassy in Riyadh to Sanaa.

Q: I also understand that you have appointed an honorable consul?
A: Yes, my government has nominated a prominent Yemeni businessman as our honorary consul. He will definitely enhance the understanding and cooperation between our two countries. That person is Mr. Nabil Hayel Saeed, General Manager of Natco.

Q: As you leave, how do you assess our bilateral relations?
A: The relationship between our two countries has been excellent. The Yemenis are famous in Korea because of your re-unification. We too are trying to re-unify our country, and we have been studying all re-unification models.
I tried to enhance economic relations, but that was difficult. Yet, there are some success stories. My country started to make small donations to Yemen in such fields as medical supplies, sports, etc. We now have a very big project. Korea will provide a soft loan of US$ 50 million to finance telephone line expansions. Already, a US$ 200,000 donation has been allocated to carry out the feasibility study.

Q: What about the cultural relations?
A: We have tried but not successfully. Frankly speaking, difficulty in cultural cooperation exists not only between Yemen and Korea, but between the whole Arab World and Korea.
We need to work on this.

Q: I am sure there is room in sports?
A: Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and it is popular in Yemen. Every year, the embassy used to sponsor a nation-wide championship in taekwondo. Last year a taekwondo coach came to Yemen and stayed for more than one month to training Yemen ahtletes.

Q: Where is your new post?
A: I am going as ambassador to one of the Latin American countries (Peru). A Yemeni friend told me " You are moving from one historical country to another."

Q: What is your impression of Yemen?
A: Firstly, I want to express my appreciation to the kindness of the Yemeni people and the good cooperation I received from the Yemeni government. I spent three years of my life in Yemen were very unique and an enriching experience.
When I first came here, I was a little bit worried because this was the first time for me to serve in the Middle East. Now I am happy as I successfully complete my mission. I like Yemen and the Yemeni people. You can count on me as a friend of Yemen. I will do my best to increase the understanding and interests between our countries.