Yemens reply to US report Comprehended and justified [Archives:2002/24/Reportage]

JAMAL ADDIN AL-ADIMI
ADVOCATE
FOR THE YEMEN TIMES
The government of Yemen expressed concern over the international reports on human rights, released annually, by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the US Department of State. The Ministry of Human Rights has responded officially to this report. Its reply was published on pages six and seven of the al-Thawra Daily, May 20, 2002.
The government has been keen to circulate this statement to the mass media. Their reply pointed out that the United States is unconscious of the excellent relations the two countries enjoy.
Yemens reply hints that it disagrees with the US-based report. A closer look shows Yemens reply does no contain more than explanations and excuses, as well as references to measures taken to encounter human rights violations. In this regard, Yemens official reply is not much different from the American report, if not confirming it.
The US report mentions a series of human right violations: the kidnapping of a judge, the murder of 8 people during tribal clashes, the killing of 5 people during a tribal feud, the death of a woman under torture, the persistence of female circumcision, child labor, rape cases, private prisons, the nominal independence of justice, the authorities inability to execute justice, the situation of prisons, the detention of journalists, gender discrimination, interference in justice issues, inefficiency of legislature vis-a-vis with the hegemony of the executive authority.
The governments reply mentions, the setting up of inspection committees for private prisons and indicates that only private prisons were reported. Torture cases are rare and not in anyway organized. The issue over the execution of laws is being tackled, furthermore, proof of the independence of justice is shown by the fact the Minister of Justice is himself, a judge. Regarding general freedoms, there are no restrictions on freedoms, only under law and whenever necessary. The kidnapped judge has been released and the cases of people killed during conflicts has been referred to justice.
Circumcision is limited and operated at an individual level. The lady reported having died under torture in a police department was caused by a difficult delivery resulting in her death. Child labor is restricted at the household level and rape cases are rare. The person detained in connection with a kidnapping incident had links to the kidnappers who belong to his tribe. The reply added, he was engaged in suspicious activities concerning his tribe.
All said, the official reply confirms the occurrence of some incidents, apologizes for others and gives excuses for some.
The American report mentions individual cases while Yemens reply indicates that theyre happening on a wider scale. For instance, expressions like limited, rare and unorganized suggest the occurrence of several incidents and not single cases. The governments reply apparently wanted to say: as long as the incidents that take place arent considered a phenomenon, it is OK.
The governments reply is weak. There are undeniable human rights violations in practice, and the government can not control them. If the government doesnt want these violations to take place and wishes to prevent them, why does the official reply indicate only the extent of its willingness to rectify the situation and avoid embarrassment. A reply to a report needs extensive experience and accurate information plus reference to the legislative system. The people involved in drafting this reply apparently lack these basic requirements.
In closing it must be mentioned that the Yemeni legislation on human rights is of the best in the Arab world.

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