Jawf tribes to protect al-Okaimi till death [Archives:2002/29/Front Page]

A tribal solidarity gathering was held Thursday at Member of Parliament Sheikh Ameen al-Okaimis house in al-Jawf governorate. The gathering was attended by a number of members of parliament and tribal dignitaries.
Al-Okaimi, who was arrested by authorities in Sanaa three weeks ago, has been released recently.
MP Yahya Mansour Abu Isbaa said during the tribal gathering that the recent shelling and military escalation only served warmongers and did not solve the problem in al-Jawf governorate. It will serve only foreign interests in al-Jawf and not the residents, he said.
He added that a number of parliament members had failed to get a stand from President Saleh regarding the violation of immunity and constitution the attack on al-Okaimi represented. The gathering also aimed at discussing the shelling of al-Jawf in the wake of the recent attack on the army deputy chief of staff and to stave off any complications in the situation.


Tribal sources told the Yemen Times that the President demanded from al-Okaimi during his detention that he cooperate with the authorities to hand Abu Ali al-Harethi, who is one of chased al-Qaeda suspects, over to the Yemeni authorities.
Al-Okaimi told the Yemen Times that he was threatened to be killed during his detention and that he had to hand al-Harethi over to the Yemeni authorities.
Al-Okaimi who was detained three weeks ago said that his detention by the Yemeni authorities was against the constitution and law.
As for the allegation that al-Jowf harbors terrorist elements, al-Okaimi denied that al-Jowf tribes or any other tribes in eastern governorates had links with al-Qaeda elements or the so-called al-Qaeda sympathizers. We have to confess that the eastern tribes in, al-Jowf, Marib, and Shabwa dont belong to any terrorist movements. What they desire is just protecting their religion and dignity, he added.
Military forces stationed in al-Jowf region had earlier shelled the Marfadh village and other areas where culprits are believed to hide. No injuries were reported except certain property damages as citizens escaped to safer places. Tribal mediations are still underway to oblige the government to withdraw its forces from al-Jowf governorate.
Al-Okaimi pointed out that tribes in al-Jowf are ready to cooperate with the authorities. He added that al-Jowf had become a target governorate particularly after the attack on the army deputy chief of staff Ali Mohammed Salah, who was wounded in the incident. Al-Jowf Sheikhs had met earlier to try to calm down the aggravated situation in al-Jowf and emphasized that those who are involved in opening fire at the deputy chief of staff should be punished.


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