Government officials create obstacles to mediation efforts, say sources [Archives:2008/1136/Front Page]
Mohammed Bin Sallam
SA'ADA, March 9 ) Both the presidential mediation committee and Qatari mediation team are working hard to implement an agreement reached by the government and Houthis in Qatar last February, Sheikh Saleh Habra, who represented Houthis in the agreement, told the Yemen Times. He added that mediators' efforts have not been deterred by violations and obstacles created by “war brokers” planning to foil mediation and reconciliation efforts.
According to reliable sources, the Qatar Red Crescent Association began compensating citizens whose property was damaged in the Sa'ada war that first broke out in June 2004. They disclosed that some government officials created obstacles for the Qatari team in charge of assessing the damage and compensating affected citizens, as they planned to illegally take a portion of the compensation approved for citizens. As a result, Qatari foreign minister assistant Saif Albuainain, the team leader, left Yemen for Doha to discuss the problem with his government.
Sa'ada tribal sources stated that government troops struck Dhaiban mosque in Haidan district with tanks during last Friday's noon prayer, leaving four people injured, two seriously. The sources added that Haidan's Qahza village was attacked with tanks at the same time.
The presidential mediation committee began investigating what happened in light of a report from citizens about the attacks.
Locals claimed they were not involved in the war against the government, but were subjected to harassment by personnel from the 17th military division, commanded by Abdulaziz Al-Shihari, a Salafi extremist.
“After the mediation committee investigated the incident, it discovered that military soldiers fired at the mosque, full of people performing their Friday prayers, with heavy machine guns and tanks, because children standing near the mosque chanted the slogan: “Death to America eath to Israel”, Habra said, pointing out that the committee found ten large holes in the mosque as a result of the attack.
Other tribal sources said that the incident was caused by a sharp dispute between Houthi supporters and army personnel deployed in the area, as the troops didn't allow Houthis to enter Dhaiban mosque to perform their prayers unless they laid down their weapons. The Houthis also prevented two soldiers from entering the mosque at gunpoint during a previous Friday prayer. The soldiers returned to their positions without performing their prayers.
Local sources in the Safra district disclosed that many Houthi supporters entered three Sunni mosques in the Al-Ammar area on Friday and chanted slogans against America and Israel inside the mosques following the noon prayer. The area's locals then demanded that the Houthis not recite the slogans in their mosques, as they did not want clashes with government troops. “If they want to chant such slogans against Israel and America, they can do so in their own mosques,” the sources were quoted as saying.
Many observers feared that Houthis, allegedly receiving regional support, may breach the Doha-brokered peace deal and resume destructive fighting with army troops. The Yemeni Defense Ministry accused Houthis of killing a prisoner-of-war, but later published a statement on 26September.net claiming that only committee members Abdul Al-Janadi and Mohammad Al-Khawi accused Houthis of the act.
In a statement to army-affiliated 26September.net, Al-Janadi said, “I did not accuse Houthis of killing the citizen Aziz Qashaqish. We received information that this victim was kidnapped by Houthis one month ago and after a while was found killed inside his home. We then submitted a report on the murder to the security committee, chaired by Mohammed Al-Khawi, to investigate the incident. Having identified the killers, we will announce them to the media, but now we cannot accuse anybody of killing Qashaqish.”
Asked how he was quoted by the army-affiliated website as saying that Houthis are responsible for the murder, Al-Janadi replied, “When a journalist asked me what will happen if Houthis are found guilty of killing Qashaqish, I then answered him that this is a flagrant violation of the peace deal and we will demand the Houthis' leader to hand over the perpetrators to the court.”
Al-Janadi concluded, “As my statement was manipulated or misunderstood, I am obliged to write any statement from now on by my own hand and then publish it in media outlets as is, particularly after a false statement was attributed to me.”
26September.net, Al-Jumhouria Daily and May.net, all state-run media outlets, published the story. Also, in its latest issue, Akhbar Al-Yaum Daily reported Qashaqish's killing, urging the relevant authorities to investigate the incident, but it didn't hold Houthis accountable for the crime.
26September.net, however, on Tuesday reported a story with the headline, “Houthis kill war prisoner, amputate him and bury him inside his home.” The story was also published by other media outlets.
Security committee chairman Mohammed Al-Khawi denied that Houthis have connections with Qashaqish's murder, indicating that the committee is still investigating the motives behind it. He confirmed that those involved in the crime, whether Houthis or others, will be revealed as soon as the investigation is finished.
Local sources clarified that the victim was not held captive by Houthis, venting their anger at the media for publishing what they claim is an incorrect story. They added that the victim was engaged in various disputes with drug traffickers, who may be involved in his killing.
Media sources confirmed that at least 6 people believed to be Houthi loyalists were injured at a military checkpoint in Sehar district. One of the injured's relatives said the incident occurred at 9:00 p.m. when a pickup truck transporting passengers was suspected by police of being loyal to Abdulmalik Al-Houthi. Following a heated argument with soldiers at the checkpoint, the soldiers fired into the truck, injuring six of its passengers.
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