JMP calls for end of war in Sa’ada [Archives:2007/1052/Front Page]
Mohammed bin Sallam
SA'ADA, May 20 – At a meeting Saturday, Yemen's Joint Meeting Parties announced the formation of a committee to handle the Sa'ada crisis and halt the more than four month war, noting in their concluding statement that Yemen is owned by no one, even those in power.
The JMP considers the Sa'ada situation a threat to social peace and national unity because it is arousing sectarian sedition. They stressed that halting the war has become a public demand, not a demand by their parties, whose previous calls were met with no response by the authority.
They added that resorting to erroneous policies will lead to more disasters and renewed their call to resolve the Sa'ada war according to Yemeni law and the constitution. They further warned against cloaking the war in sectarianism and requested freeing those arrested in the conflict.
Responding to media questioning, Popular Forces Union Secretary-General Mohammed Al-Sabri asserted, “What's wrong about the Sa'ada war is the political resolution driving the official army and pro-army tribesmen.” He went on to say that scholars' fatwa about obeying the ruler is dangerous, noting that it was better to resort to Parliament, which mandated Yemen's armed forces resolve the Sa'ada crisis via war.
Yemeni Prime Minister Ali Mujawar pointed out that what's occurring in some Sa'ada governorate areas is targeting everyone, including the state and constitutional legitimacy, as Houthis are attempting to overthrow the republican system through an accumulative process dating back to the early 1980s.
In a meeting with several chairmen and representatives of parties and civil society organizations, Mujawar stressed that, “We shouldn't react to our domestic issues, which concern national security and stability, against our political intrigues,” adding that, “We should adopt dialogue as a basis for partnership between all members of society because such issues concern all political parties, government and civil society organizations.”
Mujawar also reviewed the various steps the state has followed in the three Sa'ada wars, emphasizing that the military option was the last resort, which the state was forced to employ.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Rashad Al-Alimi noted that his government has instituted numerous measures and policies aimed at boosting and improving the nation's education system for juniors and youth, which is a contributing factor behind the Sa'ada events, as well as nationwide.
Al-Alimi also spoke of his government's efforts to regulate arms-bearing and possession, assuring that such a campaign doesn't include personal arms, but rather medium-sized and heavy weaponry, along with firecrackers, which also pose a risk to social and national peace and stability.
He further called on all members of society, topped by political parties and civil society organizations, to join and support the campaign in order to reach the desired goals.
During a May 15-17 conference organized by the Yemeni government, religious scholars called on Abdulmalik Al-Houthi, as a last chance, to cease fighting and surrender, warning that his non-response will force the state to fight him and his followers. They asserted that all Yemenis should stand as one and that it's forbidden to provide any type of assistance to Houthis.
The scholars, who are close to the authority, issued a statement at the end of the conference wherein they assured that what's occurring in Sa'ada is armed rebellion against the state, as well as all national and religious standards, as Houthis adhere to ideas alien to Yemeni Islamic society.
Libya's stance on Sa'ada
Libyan President Moammar Al-Qaddafi recently sent Suleiman Al-Shahwmi, secretary-general of foreign affairs in Libya's Parliament, to Yemen to deliver a letter to President Ali Abdullah Saleh. The visit came as a denial of accusations by some Yemeni parties that Libya is supporting the Houthi rebellion in Sa'ada. Tripoli describes such allegations as irresponsible.
At the end of his visit, Al-Shahwmi assured his nation's support for Yemen's stability and the Yemeni regime led by President Saleh against any sectarian revolt. He further pointed out that Yemeni-Libyan relations remain firm and can't be affected by something so short-lived.
Al-Shahwmi stressed that Libya always stands by Yemen and that it was and still is a supporter of Yemeni unity, as evidenced by its statement issued following Yemen's 1990 reunification. He further noted that Yemeni-Libyan relations date back to the Libyan Revolution, which took place at the dawn of September 1969.
Earlier, Libyan Foreign Minister Abdurrahman Shalgam denied any Libyan role in the Houthi revolt, declaring that “Libya has no link with Al-Houthi and it is keen about Yemen's stability and peace.” He accused unnamed parties of attempting to poison the two countries' relations.
The Libyan president announced at the beginning of last month that his country isn't providing any support to Houthis; rather, it's simply mediating between both sides at President Saleh's request.
Media blackout
Yemen's Telecommunications Ministry has blocked the Socialist Party-affiliated Aleshteraki.net web site. Media sources reveal that the site was blocked for addressing the Sa'ada events and recently publishing live photos of the bloody clashes between the Yemeni army and Houthi followers, along with the destruction left behind.
From the war's beginning in late January, official authorities imposed a media blackout and prevented any coverage of the events, as well as disconnected mobile and fixed telecommunications and internet services in the Sa'ada area.
Additionally, the Popular Forces Union Party's Al-Shoura.net was blocked for publishing the Sa'ada events and considered pro-Houthi.
Field confrontations
Most Sa'ada areas east of Kahlan area facing Al-Ghail Valley, as well as areas in northern Al-Safra district have been witnessing fierce clashes between Yemeni army forces and Houthi loyalists.
Similar clashes occurred between the warring sides on Qahrat Al-Dheeb Mountain near Al-Safra district's Qahlah Mountain after the Yemeni army attacked Houthi followers positioned there.
Battles continue to rage in Dhahian city, 8 km. north of Sa'ada, where the Yemeni army is attempting to penetrate the city. Other battles are being fought on southern fronts, including Bani Mu'ath, Nashour and Al-Saifi areas.
Likewise, fierce confrontations have continued since last week in Al-Mudawarah, Al-Sama', Al-Shulail, Al-Hamra and Magz areas, with sources mentioning that victims are in the hundreds on both sides, but exact numbers are unknown due to the imposed media blackout.
On the western front, government forces continue attacking Ghamer and Qataber districts and attempting to seize Al-Qal'ah, the center of Razih district. However, despite being supported by tanks and air fighters, the army's attempts have failed due to the roughness of the area.
——
[archive-e:1052-v:15-y:2007-d:2007-05-21-p:front]
