While Houthis wait for truce implementationArmy takes over new positions [Archives:2007/1068/Front Page]
Mohammed bin Sallam
SA'ADA, July 15 ) Tribal sources revealed relative calm dominates most Sa'ada districts and the committee in charge of implementing the district-wide ceasefire agreement is still in Sa'ada, save three members belonging to the Joint Meeting Parties who returned to Sana'a last Wednesday.
The sources added that the committee surveyed all sites taken over by the army after being under the control of the Houthis for over 5 months, adding that the Houthis handed over the most strategic positions including Um Lila Mountain located in Baqem district along the Saudi border and overlooking Aleb border outlets. The mountain also overlooks the international highway that links Yemen to Saudi Arabia, passing by Sahar, Magz, Baqem, and parts of Ghamer and Razih districts. Continued on page 3
During the war, the national army made many attempts to reclaim this area from the Houthis, yet their attempts were unsuccessful due to the area's rugged terrain coupled with fierce resistance of the Houthis.
From the beginning of last week, the Houthis handed over 53 positions and abandoned checkpoints established during the war. The handing over of Um Lila Mountain occurred in conjunction with the recent calm witnessed in Sa'ada after raised tension recorded last Tuesday and Wednesday.
Meanwhile, relations between Houthi leaders and the government-appointed committee were proving unproductive, as both parties exchanged accusations of breaching the truce. In addition, Houthis accused the committee of being biased in favor of the government.
Sources close to the committee mentioned the Qatari delegation included within the committee was directed not to give any press statements, declining also to speak about the stance of the Qatari delegation and hinting they are unsatisfied with the positive achievements made so far, as they have not reached the level intended at this point.
Despite fears among Yemeni people regarding the renewal of battles in Sa'ada, close sources have indicated that the Houthi leader Abdul Malik Al-Houthi sent a letter last week to President Saleh, describing the letter as a good attempt at reducing lingering tension between the two parties. In addition, continuous communication between President Saleh and different political parties is being sustained in the hopes that it will help put an end to the existing war and prevent further shedding of Yemeni blood.
Timed with the combined efforts exerted by the mediation committee, various dignitaries and tribal sheikhs, media sources spoke of violent confrontations between the Houthis and the army in Sahar district's Al Salah, with similar battles reported in Nashour. However, the battles between both warring sides did not leave causalities.
Houthi elements and the army exchange occasional accusations of breaching the ceasefire. The committee members, who are just 10, face a lot of obstacles to observing and monitoring developments and breaches that are sporadically committed.
Houthi field leader Abdul Malik Al-Houthi assured that the political leadership could put an end to the war and mange the situation if it wished to do so, noting that he along with his followers are keen about the country's stability and security and that they only resort to arms in self-defense.
Stressing the success of the Qatari mediation, Al-Houthi hinted that the war's renewal would be catastrophic for both sides, a point he feels is downplayed by the committee members who believe a renewed war will affect the Houthis alone.
“Yemen's situation goes from bad to worse and it is not in the interest of the authority to start a new war,” asserted Al-Houthi.
In his statement to Al-Shar'e newspaper, Al-Houthi criticized the committee for ignoring all the positive steps made by the Houthis, including their handing over all main outlets leading to Saudi Arabia.
He went on to say, “We asked the committee to survey the whole governorate to ensure our abandonment of all positions according to the agreement,” further revealing that the committee rejected to make any field visits to areas abandoned by his followers.
Moreover, Al-Houthi accused the committee of favoring some military leaders, overlooking the refusal of said leaders to hand over houses of Houthi members returning to their villages, hinting that the committee relies on reports submitted by the army without verifying their authenticity.
“As for the breaches, we demanded forming a fact-finding committee with legal and religious background to verify, but our demands were overlooked by the committee,” Al-Houthi commented.
He maintained that the committee is performing its “passive” supervision from their closed room in Rahban Hotel in Sa'ada city and his demands concentrated on the execution of field surveys to ensure their seriousness.
He went on to accuse some committee members of lacking an impartial attitude, claiming, “They do not deal with us or accept any idea raised by us even if it is logical.”
As for the rejection of the mediation by some of his followers, Al-Houthi assured that some of his followers complain of the committee's impartiality, especially when Houthi demands are not met, even when they make positive steps, citing the refusal of national army leaders to hand over Houthi homes and farms as an example.
Refusing to label Houthis as “followers,” Al-Houthi pointed out that his fighters felt the committee's task is not that of peace as it attempts to displace Houthis from certain areas while introducing the army in these same areas. This is coupled with the continued denouncement of positive steps taken by Houthis via media forgery in order to cover up for war continuation or resumption.
He added that the committee is wrong when working according to the aforementioned calculations, maintaining his accusation of attempts by military leaders to continue the war as they amass an army, reinforced by tanks and missile rockets, to replace Houthis within all deserted sites.
Al-Houthi referred to the Dhahian city's case wherein Houthis received security members nicely and provided them with residence only to be met with continued military presence around the city, noting that such conduct cannot be understood as peace-making.
The committee spokesman Yasser Al-Awadhi indicated he is optimistic about achieving success, especially after President Saleh extended the deadline two days with positive steps achieved so far. Al-Awadhi hinted there is some hope, particularly with implementing the second article of the Sa'ada ceasefire agreement.
“Without doubt, Al-Houthi offered some positive points, however, they [the Houthis] have not reached an adequate level especially when compared to the duration of time we spent in Sa'ada,” said Al-Awadhi, adding, “Houthis have fears and some are justifiable while others are not.”
President Saleh directed the committee to remain in Sa'ada until the issue is resolved, a decision garnering satisfaction among Sa'ada residents who have begun returning back to their homes after abandoning them when hearing that the committee would rescind the negotiations and fearing the renewal of battles between the army and the Houthis.
Local sources in Dhahian city mentioned that the meeting involving some committee members, Houthi loyalists and Dhahian residents relieved the residents' worry and made them feel secure for the first time after the five-month war.
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