Detainees of Sa’ada turmoil released [Archives:2008/1134/Local News]

SA'ADA, March 2 ) Abdu Mohammad Al-Jundi, rapporteur for the mediation committee responsible for supervising implementation of the peace agreement in Sa'ada governorate, assured that during the last few days the committee has released 347 people who were detained because of the war between the government and Houthists. He also confirmed that the rest will be released in the coming days.

Ali Al-Dailami, executive manager of the Yemen Organization for Defending Rights and Democratic Liberties, confirmed their release, saying that it took place gradually after the Qatar Agreement.

According to Sa'ada sources, the mediation committee managed to convince both sides of its vision, aimed at implementing terms of the Doha-brokered peace deal, signed by both sides on Feb. 1, 2008.

The deal stipulates that the government must pull out its troops from the populated areas and Houthis must abandon their positions on mountaintops and return home, according to the official sources, who also pointed out that the army has taken a positive step toward ending the tension between both conflicting sides and ensuring that they remain committed to the agreement.

The committee has started its work with participation from the Yemeni and Qatari Red Crescent Committee (YQRC) and district directors by preparing its work plan for the next phase.

Al-Jundi, also the speaker of the Ministry of Defense, stated on 26 September website that a subsidiary committee of the Presidency Committee on Friday started visiting Sahar, Haidan, Majz and other districts to assess damages and determine those who deserve compensation so that the YQRC would be able to compensate them. A second committee was formed to control violations and enforce state laws in all districts with a precise schedule that includes the Houthists' coming down from mountains and going home, living as Yemeni citizens and having all rights and privileges and their children going back to schools.

Al-Jundi also said that there is a third committee that receives lists with names of missing and detained people in order to release them, while another one receives lists of weapons available with the Houthists, expecting all this work to finish next week and for state laws to be implemented in all Sa'ada districts.
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