Following Sheikh al-Ukaimi death,Al-Jawf tribes reach a year-long reconciliation [Archives:2004/717/Front Page]

Hassan Al-Zaidi
Tens of thousands of al-Jawf, Mareb and Sa'ada tribesmen on Tuesday escorted the deceased Sheikh Yahya Bin Ali al-Ukaimi, member of the Consultative Council to his final resting place. Sheikh al-Ukaimi died while he was chasing some thieves who had stolen a car belonging to a citizen from the same governorate.
The elder son of Sheikh Yahya told Yemen Times that after a citizen came to his father asking his help for chasing some thieves who had stolen his car the Sheikh immediately started his chasing of the thieves. When the late Sheikh was about to capture them and was shooting at them they left the car and ran away but they took the car keys with them. The late Sheikh al-Ukaimi was forced to follow the thieves on foot and that forced him to run for a long distance in a rugged mountainous area, but he managed to catch them and took the car keys from them.
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On his way back and while he was driving the stolen car to its owner the Sheikh began to cough very severely and blood began to come out of his mouth, and suddenly he collapsed. He was immediately transferred to Sana'a but he died before he could be hospitalized.
Tribal sources denied reports of some media that the Sheikh was shot dead by the thieves.
During the gathering for the burial of the deceased Sheikh at the graveyard in the village where he was born in Jawf governorate, 150 km to the east of Sana'a, Sheikh Amin al-Ukaimi brother of the deceased Sheikh, a Member of Parliament, appealed to the tribes chiefs who were gathered for the funeral to conclude a truce for one year between all Jawf region tribes to stop bloodshed resulting from vengeance fighting and tribal wars, to which they agreed and concluded the truce among them.
Sheikh Amin Ali al-Ukaimi, brother of the deceased Sheikh Yahya, who is Member of Parliament representing the opposition Islah Party had asked the tribes to accept his appeal on Tuesday evening after his return to al-Jawf, coming from Saudi Arabia where he had took refuge. He was set free under directives of the Republic after a month in detention following his victory in the parliamentary elections of May last year. Sheikh Amin was expelled from his command of border guard following his imprisonment in 2002 on charges of failing to cooperating with the government to capture terrorist elements, mainly Abu A'sem and Abu Ali al-Harithi.
On the other hand the President has sent a telegram of condolences to the family of the deceased Sheikh Yahya al-Ukaimi, describing his as a martyr in action and that he had sacrificed his life for the sovereignty of the state of law and order and for keeping security. The President praised the deceased's good deeds and contributions to solving many issues and disputes in the area, considering him an example of the sincere patriot.
Meanwhile the tribes gathering in the area warned all elements that commit crimes of theft and highway banditry, whether they were from the governorate of Jawf or from outside it.
The tribes have also asked the government to build services and development projects in the area and to provide civilian and military job opportunities to sons of the area in order to help curb unlawful acts.
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