Yemen Times visited Yemen’s borders with Saudi Arabia to have a close look at the tribal sites owned by Wa’elah tribe and other tribes affiliated to it. YT also got informed on the military confrontations between Wa’elah tribe and the 3000 strong soldiers military camp there under the command of Brigadier General Abdullah Darass.
YT met with tribesmen from both countries living on both sides of the border line and learned about their military force. YT discovered about the military weapons owned by Wa’elah Tribe headed by sheikh Mohammed Bin Shajae, including 22 military sites equipped with heavy, medium and light weapons, cannons and 200 military vehicles. Sheikh Bin Shajae stressed the tribe’s strong rejection of Jeddah treaty signed between Yemen and Saudi Arabia on 12 June, 2000. He said that the treaty was a violation of the tribe’s lands. He said that they possessed 240-year- old tribal documents signed between their tribe and Yaam tribe from the Saudi side. The tribesmen said that they do not understand the new demarcation and that they would not recognize them. Bin Shajae expressed his readiness to face and prevent any company that would come to demarcate the borders, adding that they were ready to risk their lives in defense of their land.
Military confrontations which erupted between Wa’elah tribe and Darass military camp have claimed the lives of 24 tribesmen and 15 soldiers, said Bin Shajae.
On the other side of borders, specifically in some villages affiliated to Wa’elah, such as Najran, more than 500 Yemenis were granted the Saudi nationality.
Some tribesmen said that in case a conflict with the government complicated the situation and they could not get their basic needs, they will obtain some supplies such as oil, kerosene and other food-stuffs through a path called al-Khadra’a area.
Yemeni-Saudi borders suffer from the lack of security attention as many people in al-Buqa and Saywoon Yemeni governorates saw many Saudi tanks infiltrating into Yemeni territories.
It was reported that military confrontation between Yemeni and Saudi border patrols took place claiming the lives of three Saudis, two Yemenis and wounding many others from both sides.
Nowadays to reach the Yemeni-Saudi Arabian borders is not that much easy. Difficulties faced in reaching there are not confined to the unevenness of roads but many other obstacles which hinder a safe arrival there. All citizens living there are well armed with light and heavy weapons. Thirty-five-km-range field artilleries fill all positions on hill tops. State presence is absent. It is only the tribesmen who take positions on hill tops. They live at slopes and in valleys in primitive cottages.
Here a lot of cases of murder and road blockade with the purpose of robbery are witnessed. The reason behind these is the old vengeance between the tribes here and there.
It was almost 19:00 hours Wednesday when we arrived in Al-Hauth town. We were on an asphalted road with Sa’da City at distance away when 20 tribesmen from a certain tribe blocked our way. They checked our identity. We felt panicked but then we learnt that they wanted to revenge from another tribe. By 22:00 hours we reached Sa’da City where we spent the night.
Early morning Thursday we headed towards the land of Wa’eela tribe - a three-hour drive from Sa’da to Yemeni-Saudi Arabian borders. The road was fraught with dangers. Had it not been for our determination and the tribal guide who accompanied us, our mission would have not been successful. We reached the land of Wa’eela tribe at noon and met its Chief Shaikh: Muhammed Ben Sha’jay who was surrounded by his followers and bodyguards. He has his own stance towards the recently signed Jeddah Treaty; he rejects it strongly as it ‘’cruelly partitioned his tribe between Yemen and Saudi Arabia.’’
Nature here is very harsh. No rains for the past two years. Only one drinking water well meets the needs of about 45,000 inhabitants of Wa’eela and the neighboring areas’ inhabitants. Other wells give salty water. There is not any trace of cultivation or green nature here owing to lack of water and rains. The tribesmen live in a quasi-arid desert. Their area is adjacent to Rub’ al-Khali. Along the border line there live ten tribes: Dhu Hussein, al-Zawamielah and others, all of whom come under the flag of Wa’eela. Besides Wa’eela lives “Dhm” tribe which has a government camp holding 3,000 army men under the command of Brig. Gen. Abdullah Dares.
Despite the rigidity of nature there lives hardhearted pale-faced tribesmen who were able to overcome the harshness of their land.

Military Positions of Border Tribes
Both Wa’eela and Dhm tribes, the biggest of Yemeni tribes along the borders, have several military positions with men and weapons. No sooner you catch sight of these than you imagine that the area is a state within a state.
Accompanied by Shaikh Sha’jay, we went to these military positions. Surprisingly, we found a lot of light and heavy military equipment etc. We could not find out how all these weapons came into this area and why there were not any government camps on the two sides of the borders. If any tribe claimed that “there is something” or expressed opposition on certain point, it is not so easy to deflect it; but it impossible to do so.
Wa’eela tribe possesses more than 200 armed military groups. Close to it is Dhm tribe with official support in form of army men , armed groups and weapons. Wa’eela tribe also has 22 well-equipped military positions which makes one suspicious of everything along the border. These positions are located on the peaks of mountains. From those heights you can see the interlocked Saudi Arabian-Yemeni positions. One can see Saudi Arabian tanks forcing their way in the sands, crossing the border line towards 25km south in the Yemeni area of Boqou and in other directions.
Tribal military positions along the border have become one of the reasons for confrontations between tribesmen. Both Wa’eela and Dhm’s disputes are renewed day by day. Sunset observes the beating of drums of war.......with artillery shells. Everyday many are killed and injured from both sides under the eyes of the Yemeni-Saudi Arabian regular forces stationed near their areas.
Last week there were clashes between the two tribes which resulted in 24 killed from Wa’eela side and 15 from Dhm where a government camp exists. Of course, these tribal clashes enjoy official support and state funding against and in favor of each tribe as necessity dictates.
Indeed Yemeni borders are open and absolutely without any defense — an affair which encouraged Saudi Arabia to swallow a large part of these border areas including Najran and Aseer cities, and allowing it penetrate deep into the Yemeni areas of Al-Boqou and Sa’da through use of force and funds. No one can deny that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia supports a large number of tribesmen and sheikhs residing along the borders.
Wa’eela tribe bitterly complains of Dhm’s government camp, commanded by Brig. Gen. Dares and demands its dismantling because, according to Wa’eela tribesmen it is used to suppress them and not to defend the Yemeni land and borders. Wa’eela tribes are only 10km away from the borders.
Tribal sources censure this camp as a recipient of dual funding from both the Saudi Arabian Kingdom and Sana’a regime. Be the situation whatever it be; but what is obvious is that the seeds of Dhm tribe and the camps attached to it have now grown up as strong plants difficult to be eradicated. It is a secretion of both Saudi Arabia and Yemen. The Saudi Arabian regime used to push the borderline tribesmen as a means to put pressure, in form of opposition on the system in Yemen and to carry out disturbances, kidnappings, killings and perpetuating crisis. At the same level, Yemen supported these tribes through weapons and funds to put pressure on the Saudi Arabian side in form of creation of a state of chaos and skirmishes.
On the other hand, a disturbing inquiry remains dominant. Wa’eela tribe has 22 military positions with no less than 20 personnel in each position. They are armed and need daily meals and receive monthly remuneration. Where from all these come?
Tribesmen have confirmed that any official attack is, ostensibly preceded by a tribal attack under the pretext that Wa’eela were the first to attack.
Believe it or not, each member of the Yemeni border guards under the command of Brig. Gen. Abdil-illah Aatef receives only YR.600 per month. They complain of poverty and hunger.

An Entire Yemeni Village Enjoys Saudi Arabian Nationality.

A Yemeni village, “Bazan” is situated in the midst of Al-Aqiq Wadi of the Yemeni area of “Al-Atfain”. All its residents are Saudi Arabians. The “Yemen Times” visited the village and met its residents who mostly obtained the Saudi Arabian nationality for their livelihood. Political risks behind this is greater now after the June 12 Jeddah Treaty as one of its clauses stipulates tribal affiliation to be the source of any dispute.
A 22-year-old Rasheed Rashed, said: “ Nationality was granted to all members of my family in 1978 after our parents met the Amir Al-Sudairi of Aseer area and demanded nationality. Their request was met. Now all my family members hold the Saudi Arabian nationality. We live in a village known as “Najran” in Al-Atfain area; but we belong to Wa’eela tribe. The bachelor added: “We go into Saudi Arabia and cross the check points without any inconvenience; but here in Sa’da City posts we go through interrogations. We are asked to prove our identity. Despite producing our Saudi Arabian identity we are not spared. We insist that we are in Yemen to visit our relatives; but to no avail. More than 500 citizens live amidst Wa’eela area’s Najran village holding Saudi Arabian nationality. Honestly speaking we are asked to opt between Saudi Arabia and Yemen, we shall prefer the former which guarantees jobs; subsequently providing a livelihood to us. The latter does not provide us any thing in form of health, education or telecommunications services. Most of us are employed as border guards, traffic policemen, civil policemen, Air servicemen and guards to the Royal Amir.
Saleh Ahmed, 24, married said: “ My father was in the Saudi Arabian Army. We use the Saudi Arabian nationality for our livelihood. Yemen no doubt is our country. We cannot dispense with it; but it is important to be an Arab first. Affiliation does not matter. When asked what would he do in case a confrontation breaks out between Yemen and Saudi Arabia. He replied: “ That would be a war between two governments. As citizens we shall not take sides.” When asked where shall he fall in case problems and skirmishes take place between the Wa’eela tribe now divided between Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Puzzled, yet he replied: “It depends.”
Musfar Muhammed, father of six said: “Virtually we do not benefit from Yemen in any way. Health care and social security are not available. Here in our village we have more than 300 disabled elderly and widows who do not receive any care from Yemen. We are naturalized since long. We support Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is not only a source of income but, during crises between the government and the tribesmen, we receive our supplies of diesel, gasoline and food supplies through “Al-Khadhra” area from Saudi Arabia.

Members of the parliament read listened yesterday to a letter from the president concerning a draft amendment of the constitution prepared recently by the council. Chief among amendments is the extension of parliamentary period to 6 years instead of 4, beginning from the current period. This means postponing the parliamentary elections to 2003, the source said.
Constitutionally, presidency term is 5 years and the President cannot nominate himself to a third time tenure.
According to the amendment proposes turning the Consultative Council into a Shoura Council containing 111 members instead of 59 with more power to act as another wing to the parliament just like the American Congress. A specific number of members are to be appointed by the president while the reminder are to be elected by people.
Other areas which are to be amended are those related to presidency candidates, political and economic articles in the constitution. Instead of 10%, presidency candidates should be endorsed by only 5% of the parliament to run in the election. In other words, articles to be amended are No. 10, 13, 61, 86, 91, 92, 100, 107, 119, 125, 143, 156, 158 and 159.
The first chapter of the constitution and all political articles are subject to referendum. The remaining chapters can be amended by the majority in parliament and the would-be al-Shoura Council.
Power of the legislative authority is to expand in a way enhancing democracy in Yemen. With changing the Consultative Council into a Shoura Council, the latter is to embrace technocrats and economists. Political and economic articles are to be amended to agree with Yemen’s tendency towards the free market economy, encouraging and facilitating investment through legal legislations.
President Ali Abdullah Saleh had previously referred it to an ad hoc committee headed by Sheikh Abdullah Ben Hussein Al-Ahmar, speaker of the parliament. The committee included Vice Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Abdul Qader Bajammal, Head of the Constitutional Committee at The Consultative Council Mr. Abdul Wahab Al-Anisy, Minister of Justice Mr. Ismael Al-Wazeer and Minister of Legal Affairs Mr. Abdullah Ghanem before presenting it to the parliament.
On the other hand, heated debates have been risen between the PGC and Islah party which has rejected any amendment to the present constitution. Newspapers have reported Sheikh Al-Ahmar as refusing the suggested amendments because they aim at adjusting some of the parliamentary power to the Consultative Council. However, Mr. Abdul Wahab Al-Anisy denied such statements.
Some sources attributed the Islah’s acceptance of such amendments to pressures practiced on it by the PGC as a result of the recent crisis over Al-Thaqafiah newspaper and as a bargain to stop defaming Islah leaders by official newspapers.
Sources from Opposition Coordination Council criticized the amendments describing the whole story as a deal between the PGC and Islah.
As far as tribes’ reaction is concerned , an official source in the Supreme Council for Mareb and Al-Jawf Confederation refuted in a press statement all excuses to amend the constitution. Moreover, he pointed out that extending the parliamentary period was a sign to the government’s unwillingness to accept results of democracy.
The statement stressed necessity of respecting the constitution and called for stopping unjustifiable amendments which weaken power of the constitution.

Entering the ring to a spectacle of firecrackers and flames, Hamed retained his WBO featherweight title Saturday night by stopping Augie Sanchez at 2:34 of the forth round and sending him out of the ring on a stretcher.
Sanchez launched a surprising attack in the second round and sent Hamed to the canvas three times. None was ruled a knockdown but Hamed conceded one was. Still, he laughed it off, bobbing away from Sanchez with his torso before countering in the fourth.
With Sanchez’ right eye swollen, Hamed hit him with a three-punch combination in the forth that sent him staggering to the floor. Sanchez tried to get up before falling back into the ropes.
Referee Michael Ortega immediately stopped the fight, and doctors swarmed the ring and loaded Sanchez onto a stretcher. He was taken to the trauma center at Backus Hospital in Norwich; Dr. Joseph Carpentieri said he probably suffered a concussion.
Hamed (35-0, 31 KOs) was a heavy favorite over the WBO’s No. 7 contender, but he was hurt badly in the second round. Ortega ruled the first fall a slip, but it energized the crowd in support of Sanchez, and it began chanting “Augie! Augie!”
Hamed slipped again, but he was back up in a flash and connected with a left sent Sanchez staggering back to the ropes.
Sanchez (26-2, 23 KOs) came out strong again in the third, knocking Hamed around. But Hamed, bleeding from his mouth, cheek and left eye, laughed it off, bobbing away as if he was toying with the challenger.
In the third, after Sanchez slipped, Hamed kept coming and bowled him over with his legs. Early in the forth, Hamed hit Sanchez on the ground and lost a point. “I have a chin and two hands, just like anyone else. He hit me and he hurt me a couple of times, but I got up and knocked him out,” Said Hamed.
Boxing cognoscenti are clamoring for Hamed to fight either Erik Morales or Marco Antonio Barrera, two super bantamweights. Hamed has a mandatory title defense scheduled for November against Koko Kovacs, and plans to fight Barrera early next year.

ABU DHABI- A United Arab Emirates’ leading newspaper Sunday criticized the extensive flow of Israeli goods recently into the Yemeni markets.
Commenting editorially on the issue, the Abu Dhabi-based Arabic Daily “Al Ittihad” said that the Yemeni markets had witnessed recently extraordinary flow of Israeli goods, whereas these goods are demonstrated openly at stores, shops and business firms by the virtue of its low price. The paper noted that, according to news agencies, many shops present these products at the capital Sanaa and other several cities like Aden, Taiz, Hudaidah and Mukalla at a price cheaper than their similars.
“The trial of invading the Arab markets has been a technique always adopted by the Israeli exporters since a long time ago and it comes in the framework of a policy in finding markets for Israeli products in the Arab countries, but the awareness of the Arab peoples always succeeded to abort these bids,” said the newspaper.
“What is serious in this matter is that, the Israelis are not satisfied by invading the Yemeni markets with their goods only,” the paper warned. (Xinhua)