Special from Yemen: Opposition groups accuse state of fomenting violence By: Shatha Al-Harazi

http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/472104

Economic crisis boosts Saleh’s support

SANA’A, June 26 — An economic crisis has been gripping Yemen for more than a month now. Shortages of fuel, cooking gas and hour-long blackouts have convinced some Yemenis that that revolutionary youth and the anti-government uprising are to blame.Those who have taken no part in demonstrations on either side of the political conflict are now beginning to express their support for now absent President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Their argument is that, regardless of the status of freedom and democracy in the country, before protests swept across Yemen at least the economy was stable and people had access to basic goods. “They [the protesters] wanted change. This is the change [the economic crises] they called for” said a middle age man talking to the people on a bus. Buses and public transportation have always been a safe place for Yemenis to share their concerns and exchange their opinions and analysis for both the economic and political situation. People curse the protesters for seeking change the way Egypt and Tunisia did saying that Yemen is a total different society that empowers the tribal system that is strong enough to fight the state, the call for separation in the south and the fear of Islamists taking control in a power vacuum. “They [Islah Party] will not allow women to be seen in public even if they are covered up. They will prevent women from going to school or work and they will not allow them to travel without male relatives” said one Sana’a resident to the Yemen Times. However, protesters say the counter-revolution is what makes the situation ever worse. Some of them blame the Joint Meeting Parties, the opposition coalition parties, and the Hashid tribal confederation that joined the peaceful protests in March and fought the state in May. Other protesters blame the regime and president in Ali Abdullah Saleh’s sons and nephews. Political analysts say that the regime wants to keep people busy and concerned for their basic needs instead of participating in the political transition. Power has been cut for more than 18 hours a day following two days of normal power in the capital. The power cuts effect all facets of life negatively. The power cuts also effects students during exams. The ministry of education worked hard to make the student get their exams and not wasting an educational year of their lives, the ministry put in mind the difficulties the students face including the power cut and made privileges to the exams this year, most of their lessons were not included in the exams although it were taught to them, all the questions are optional. “The whole exam was on TV with the answers yesterday as a revision and some of my friends saw it, but I didn’t because of the power cut” said Summer Hussein, a ninth grade student. Power cuts also drive up prices in other economic sectors, such as water distribution. Water trucks need power and fuel to run pumps. Fuel is transferred to Sana’a every Sunday night then long queues for three days causing crowds in spite Saudi Arabia granting 3,000,000 barrels to help Yemen out of this crisis but the storages in Yemen is not enough to receive the whole amount of fuel now. “What’s happing now is an attempt to change the revolution from being a revolution for more rights and freedom to a revolution of hunger and revenge” said Ahmed Al-Zurqa, journalist and political analyst, “people are fed up with the situation, all the political parties want to make the revolution sound as a political crises and get their own benefit of it”. Moreover, international NGOs and youth groups are trying to mobilize people to improve the situation. The emergency “Food Assistance to Conflict-Affected Persons in Northern Yemen” operation is experiencing a total 2011 financial shortfall of US $27.1 million. The “Emergency Food Security and Nutrition Support to Vulnerable Populations in Yemen” operation is experiencing a total 2011 financial shortfall of US $26.5 million. The “Food Assistance for Somali Refugees” operation is experiencing a total 2011 financial shortfall of US $1.2 million. The Yemen country program, “Food for Girls’ Education”, is experiencing a total 2011 financial shortfall of US $10.8 million. http://www.yementimes.com/defaultdet.aspx?SUB_ID=36249

Locals in Abyan accuse regime of fomenting chaos

SANA’A, June 26 — A leading Al-Qaeda figure confirmed to the Yemen Times that the fight in Abyan governorate, which has displaced over 1,300 families from the governorate, is against Al-Qaeda warriors and other cooperating “armed groups” that do not belong to Al-Qaeda, but share the same aim on the ground. Locals told the Yemen times that security forces didn’t fight the armed groups as effectively as they could, so that they could to show the world that the southern part of Yemen is always under threat of terrorism, and that they could only be unified with the north under the current regime’s control. Mohamed Khanbash, a lieutenant colonial from a village only 20 km away from Zinjibar, said that it was easy for the armed groups to overcome the city and government facilities. “They [the regime] want to send a message to the US that the Joint Meeting Party or the revolutionaries are those behind the armed groups in Abyan, to make the US take a position against the revolution,” said Khanbash. Although the locals believe the armed groups are sent by the regime, they try to keep them out of their villages in order to avoid drone strikes. “We advise some of these armed people not to enter our villages to avoid troubles and they listen,” said Khanbesh. “The authority wants to create chaos in the south. They are doing their worst against us with their policies,” said a local from Abyan. Khalid Al-Abd, a local journalist from Loder in Abyan, said that the situation is in Loder is terrible, with long queues for fuel and gas, and business completely stopped. “The armed groups in Zinjibar are originally from Loder. They were found by some of the regime figures in Sana’a who are claiming their support for the revolution now,” said Al-Abd. “What’s happening in Abyan should be questioned this way: why is the fight against terrorists happening only in the south and not in the north? It’s a play to make unification sound like the only solution to counter terrorism,” he added. “We are stronger than ever,” said an Al-Qeada member who asked to remain anonymous. Although there has been no official statement from the White House that the drone strikes used against armed groups in Abyan are American, Yemeni security experts say the drones are American. The New York Times reported a US official as saying that the Obama administration is using the country’s power vacuum to strike at militant suspects with armed drones and fighter jets. The fact that American drones strikes against a Yemeni city provokes Al-Qaeda and makes them strengthen their operations according to an Al-Qaeda member, and gains them more local support. “Every day they are striking civilians. It’s a crime against humanity,” said a former colonel that was suspended last January. “The armed groups are few, and there is no way they could take over the city unless they were facilitated by officials. And that’s what happened. Everything is under their control,” he added. The displaced families escaped fearing for their lives to Aden, and were relocated within local schools, according to Islamic Relief Yemen. Security force officials were replaced in Zinjibar after they escaped according to Adbellah Saeed, head of central security in Modya, Abyan. After Tuesday’s attack on Al-Hutta, Lahj civilians confirmed to the Yemen Times that the armed groups were known from Al-Hamra village and were not Al-Qaeda members. “There were crazy explosions the whole night. The armed group were mingling in the city and no one stooped them. But the fight started when we heard that they aimed to control the bank. The security forces only fight when it comes to money, but when our lives might be exposed to danger they don’t care much,” said one of the residents of Al-Hutta. http://www.yementimes.com/defaultdet.aspx?SUB_ID=36248

Faces from Yemen’s revolution: Ameen Dabwan

In the center of a march led by the independent youth from their stage in front of the old university, one can always find a 31-year-old protester holding a microphone and shouting chants against the US and Saudi Arabian governments, both of whom try to paint “the Yemeni revolution as a political crisis.”He comes from a family that gave two of its sons to serve the revolution, one in Change Square in Sana’a, and the other in Horiya Square in Taiz. Ameen Dabwan in was born in Shara’ab, Al-Rona in Taiz governorate.  He graduated from the faculty of education and majored in chemistry.  Before the revolution started in February, he was continuing his studies and preparing for a master’s degree from Sana’a University.  He is head of a small family consisting of him, his wife, a son and a daughter.Dabwan, who comes from a poor social class, had to struggle to reach his goal of getting his master’s degree while also feeding his family. In a country that considers those holding a masters degree among the elite, Dabwan works a second job all night in a humble cafeteria after studying in the morning and then teaching school in the afternoon. Dabwan is one of the people responsible for the independent youth stage and always gives a speech to urging them to never give up their revolution regardless of any pressure by other sides, the state or the Joint Meeting Parties. “We were suffering, everything in our lives were just small parts of the great things they could be. Whenever the head of the university gives a lecture he compliments the president for no reason,” said Dabwan. Dabwan was among those who sparked the revolution.  He believed in it then and still believes in it with the same strength. “I had faith in the revolution when I first saw the people go against injustice in the first few demonstrations, “ he said. Although he spends his whole day in the square, Dabwan did not originally have a tent as his house is near the protest area. Then, when he and his friends started a coalition of the Yemen Free Youth as part of the independent youth work, he was member of its council. Thus his first tent was the tent they set up for the coalition, which acted as a shelter and organizational point for the independent youth who faced difficulties with the Islah party.  The coalition’s slogan was “No Political Parties, Our Revolution is a Youth Revolution.” Dabwan was once almost kidnapped by anonymous men in a car on his way from the Square to Madhbah.  Inside the square he also faced violations of his rights and continuous interrogations “because of the coalition”.  “We kept silent for long time about the violations against the independent youth, but now we have silent marches inside the square to condemn the violations against us,” he said. In the early days of the revolution, he said, “They [Islah] cut of our banners sometimes, some of the more active youth in our coalition faced double danger as they were followed by the security forces and also sometimes kidnapped by the Islamists in the square.  Still, we try to address this kind of behavior inside the square because we are aiming for a more cohesive country.” Dabwan was also threatened with being transferred from his job and was interrogated on the charge of “leading school students to engage in political activism in Change Square.”  His salary was suspended as a result. “Ameen is one of those youth leaders in Change Square who works in silence, a very modest person who always smiles and knows how to absorb anger,” said one of the protesters. Dabwan said that the independent youth are more revolutionary despite their poverty, and that despite their being less organized than other popular movements in the Arab World, their efforts will eventually end the revolution and achieve their goals. “I vow to continue the revolution.  The US and Saudi Arabia won’t change our dreams.  We can establish a civil state that draws the respect of its neighbors later, but for now we will revolt until we fix the country.”

Faces from Yemen’s revolution: Alaa Jarban

In February, a few young students from Sana’a University started protesting, calling for change and and an end to President Saleh’s regime. It was called ‘the day of rage’, but unlike that in Egypt, the Yemeni protest didn’t last longer than the afternoon, and then they went back to their normal lives again. A group of those students created an initiative to clean the streets where the protest had taken place. The idea, as they describe it, was to clean up what ‘politics’ has caused in Yemen. “We wanted to prove to the others that we didn’t protest to ruin the country, but to reform it,” said one of the protesters. That first protest was one of the initial sparks that would lead to the sit-in in front of Sana’a University, soon to be renamed ‘Change Square’, that continues to this day. Attending that first protest was Alaa Jarban, a 21 year old in his third year of a business administration degree at Sana’a University. Alaa has always believed in more freedom, democracy and human rights before “the youth revolution” started in Yemen. He had already been engaged in human rights activities, spending six months in Bulgaria with the Youth Peer Education Network (Y-PEER ). This is a youth-to-youth initiative pioneered by UNFPA that brings together more than 500 non-profit organizations and government institutions. Its thousands of young members work in the area of adolescent sexual and reproductive health. Alaa is also responsible for his family of three sisters and his mother. “My mother kicks me out of the house, urging me to go to Change Square,” said Alaa. On Feb. 24, two young journalists and three activists were called upon to meet President Ali Abdullah Saleh, and to deliver their message stating why they wanted him to step down. The five decided to call those who they believed in to share the moment where they could speak clearly to the president and ask him to leave. Alaa was one of those they called. He attended the group discussion about what to say to the president. Together they papered a draft of demands for a civil state that Saleh’s regime has still failed to establish. Alaa worked hard with the group until nightfall. But by the end of the meeting, he stood up and told the group that whilst he appreciated the way they thought, he could not join them. “I believe that two hours with Saleh is wasting our time. I prefer to be doing something else in the protest that the people will get benefit from,” said Alaa. Over the five months of anti-government protest, Alaa took shifts in the security committees of the protest, and used social media to mobilize people for marches and escalations. He has been dedicating his time to tweet the international community the events unfolding in Yemen. These efforts have attracted threatening messages and phone calls. “On a personal level, I have received threats that I will be eliminated, via phone calls, SMS, Facebook and even Twitter. My phone has been tapped for a while, and strangers have tried to kidnap me a few times now when leaving Change Square and walking in the city. I have friends who have been captured and tortured by the security forces. Then they are conditionally released. They are now planning to leave the country.” Alaa wrote. “This all puts a heavy psychological pressure on me. I can’t go out easily. I can’t go out on my own, and I can’t stop worrying about my family’s safety. The financial pressures also adds to the troubles. There’s a fuel shortage, and long lines of cars waiting at empty gas stations on a false hope that they will find few gallons of fuel and diesel so they can provide food for their family.” “Whether this is planned by the failing regime or not, the world needs to know that Yemenis are living in a severe humanitarian catastrophe. It may get even worse, and we really need the international community’s help to survive.”

Al-Qaeda prisoners escape from jail in Al-Mukalla By: Shatha Al-Harazi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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June 22 – At least 65 prisoner’s escaped on Tuesday from Al-Mukalla Central Prison. Some of the escaped prisoners have been confirmed as Al-Qaeda members who had been transferred from another prison in Al-Mukalla to the central prison.

Civilians claim that heavy gunfire broke out around 8am between security forces and escapees. The situation in the city has now returned to normal, with only one armored vehicle guarding the entrance of Jol Al-Saifa’a where the central prison is located.

The General-Secretary of Mukala’s Local Council, Mohammad Bin Ziad, who has been following the incident, told the Yemen Times that the confirmed number of escapees is 65 so far. However, he also said more details will be released after investigations have been carried out and eyewitnesses questioned.

“There was an external attack on the prison,” said Bin Ziad. “People broke into the prison from outside and slaughtered the guards. There are eyewitnesses and fatalities on both sides.”

According to Bin Ziad, one of the attackers was shot dead in the gunfight, but due to security reasons no names as yet can be released.

The Yemen Times contacted the head of Al-Mukalla’s security on the phone who angrily responded, “For information call the minister [of the interior],” before hanging up.

Al-Qaeda vowed earlier to escalate its operations to prove that the death of its founder, Osama Bin Laden who was recently killed in Pakistan, does not effect its operations. AQAP has recently launched a number of successful attacks in Abyan governorate, taking advantage of a power vacuum that has existed since security forces have been removed to deal with the popular uprisings sweeping the country.

Al-Qaeda in Yemen has also vowed to escalate its activity against the state. Both the state and the opposition parties have promised to fight Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsular (AQAP) in order to gain the trust of the US, according to Rashad Abi Al-Feda, an AQAP spokesman.

Amed Al-Zurqa, a political analyst, said that the escape might have been planned by the regime to “mix the papers,” and make Al-Qaeda more active. This would be to gain international attention and raise concerns about what would happen the current regime was overthrown.

“Most of those who escaped are from Hadramout and Shabwa, so they know the area very well. But the large number of them [who escaped] makes us suspect that it wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for neglect by the prison responsible,” said Al-Zurqa.

Al-Zurqa said that this will likely lead to increasing chaos in the city, and more violence, especially the assassination of state officials and security members.

The last major breakout by Al Qaeda militants in Yemen took place in 2006 from a detention facility in Sana’a. At that time, 23 inmates escaped including several key Al-Qaeda operatives. One of those who escaped was Nasir Al-Wuhayshi, a former secretary to Osama bin Laden, who terrorist experts say had trained in Afghanistan.

http://www.yementimes.com/defaultdet.aspx?SUB_ID=36234

TRAUMA NACH US-KILLMISSION Bruder der Bin Laden-Witwe: “Haben große Sorge um Schwester” SHATHA AL-HARAZI | 21. Juni 2011, 13:47

• Zur Person: Zakarya Al-Sada ist der Bruder der fünften Frau Osama Bin Ladens, die sich im gleichen Raum wie ihr Ehemann aufgehalten haben soll, als US-Einheiten das Haus stürmten. Sie soll dabei eine Schussverletzung am Bein erlitten haben. Sie wurde nach dem US-Zugriff in ein Militärkrankenhaus gebracht und von den Pakistanern verhört.

  Amal Ahmed Abdul Al-Fatah Al-Sada und ihre Bruder stammen aus der Provinz Ibb. Amal heiratete Osama Bin Laden im Jahr 2000, damals 18-jährig. Die Heirat soll Teil eines “politischen Arrangements” zwischen Bin Laden und einem einflussreichen jemenitischen Stamm gewesen sein, um die Rekrutierung von Al Kaida-Kämpfern im Jemen voranzutreiben (“Lawrence Wright: The Looming Tower. Al-Quaeda and the Road to 9/11″).

  Anfang Mai berichtete die Yemen Times unter Berufung auf den pakistanischen Botschafter in Jemen, dass Amal nach Jemen zurückkehren darf.

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Special from Yemen: Security vacuum enables Al-Qaeda expansion in Yemen’s south By: Shatha Al-Harazi

Sanaa – Amid a lingering security vacuum in violence-stricken Yemen, clashes between Islamist militants and state security continue to rage in the country’s south with Al-Qaeda leaders claiming an expansion of influence in Abyan Governorate.

Armed groups seized control of Zinjibar, the capital of Abyan, more than two weeks ago and have aggressively fended off assaults on the city since. They reportedly occupy the city’s main bank and police station, among other areas of vital interest.

Al-Qaeda leaders confirmed to Al-Masry Al-Youm the group is cooperating with other militants to wage combat against US and Yemeni forces. American fighter jet and drone strikes in Abyan – denied by the White House – have drawn local support and sympathy to the group in recent weeks, Al-Qaeda claims.

“The armed groups [including Al-Qeada] are controlling everything in Abyan. Al-Qeada today is more powerful than ever [in Yemen],” said Rashad Abu al-Feda, a leading Al-Qaeda figure in the country. “The force by the state provoked everybody to be armed and made them one hand.”

Abu al-Feda says different political players in Yemen are using the militant threat to gain US backing.

“All the country’s main components – the defected army, the loyal army, the opposition, and the state – everybody is vowing to fight Al-Qaeda to gain US trust,” said Abu al-Feda, adding that the assault on Zinjibar plays into that scheme. “This…makes more people join us in the field.”

Presidential information officer Ahmed al-Sofi says Al-Qaeda militants are even taking their pressure to another level by jockeying to become a major political factor in the country’s fractured and embattled political landscape.

“Al-Qeada wants to be brought to the table to be an equal to the Joint Meeting Parties,” said Sofi.

Abu al-Feda says the militants in Abyan are a disparate combination that includes Al-Qaeda members, other Jihadists and “ordinary” Yemenis who have all rallied together under the banner of “fighting the regime.”

“Crises always gather victims together,” said Abu al-Feda.

“The (non-Al-Qaeda] Jihadist might be the biggest group among the warriors because of their experience on the ground,” he added.

These Jihadist groups label themselves different names. One such moniker is “Sharia advocators.”

Clashes in Abyan have fueled a displacement crisis that has affected over 1300 families. Those fleeing the violence are seeking refuge in 42 schools-turned-makeshift shelters in Aden, the southern port city. Other families are staying with relatives, rendering the total number of displaced individuals unknown.

“We tried to help those who were located in Aden’s schools,” said Aez al-Dein Dheef al-Allah, the head of emergency department at the Islamic Relief organization. “We supplied each family with 10 kilos rise, 25 kilos of flower and 4.5 liters of oil.”

Abu al-Feda denies Al-Qaeda is responsible for the crisis. Instead, he attributes the blame solely to Yemen’s central government and the United States.

“The displacement of people is a result of the usage of extreme force from the military and the US regime,” said Abu al-Feda. ”People fear the air strikes and heavy guns…the armed groups target military locations only.”

Abdellah Ali Saeed, head of state security in Mudia, Abyan, told Al-Masry Al-Youm fighting has ceased in the area but the threat of an eruption of violence looms.

“The road in rural places of Mudia is passed by Al-Qeada members.” said Saeed. “The security forces can’t stay on these roads as Al-Qeada is stronger there.”

Saeed accused government officials of not providing security with adequate assistance. Locals told Al-Masry Al-Youm they believe state security orchestrated the instability in order to prove southern Yemen is a haven for terrorists, justifying both the crackdown and the contentious need to keep southern and northern Yemen united.

Saleh brought the two regions of the country, previously divided into two nations, together in 1990, creating the Republic of Yemen.

Defected Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Khanbash, who resides 20km from Zinjibar, argues the government, at minimum, enabled armed groups to easily seize control of the city.

“The armed groups are few in Abyan,” said Khanbash. “They would never take over the city if it wasn’t for the regime.”

Khanbash confirmed that US drone strikes took place in the area.

“Two weeks ago they struck close to my home,” he said. “It was a very modern drone but the striking was random.”

Khanbash says those displaced from Zinjibar are seeking refuge in many small villages in the area, including his own. Availability of quality food, he says, is adding to their woes.

“Not only do we suffer from the high prices but sometimes we buy expired food as we don’t have other choices,” said Khanbash.

Presidential information officer Sofi told Al-Masry Al-Youm the lack of sufficient foodstuffs was the result of a concerted government effort.

“The state, in order to fight them [Al-Qaeda], is preventing the necessities and food from entering Aden port,” said Sofi.

State security launched an assault on Huta last Tuesday to root out militants who had infiltrated the town. Locals, however, confirmed that the suspects were local militants, not affiliated with Al-Qaeda.

“There were explosions the whole night. The armed groups were mingling in the city. No one stopped them but the fight started when we heard that they aimed to control the bank,” said one Huta resident. “The security forces fight only when it comes to money. But when there’s exposure to danger for regular people, they don’t care much.”

http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/469898?944113684=1

Faces from Yemen’s revolution Farida Al-Yarimi By: Shatha Al-Harazi

Farida Al-Yarimi was the first woman to join the sit-in in front of Sana’a universality which is called now “Change Square”. A mother of five and 47 years old, when you see her in her long black abaya [overcoat worn by women in Yemen] and scarf wrapped tightly around her head might not strike you as one of the leading independent Yemeni female protestors but she is. Originally from Taiz although living most of her life in Sana’a, Farida’s stories are an example of struggle and pursuit of justice. Even though her husband is no longer a part of her life today, her larger family including her former in-laws still support her and view her as symbol of bravery. Farida is one of the figures who believed strongly in “the Yemeni revolution” and never give up. You would always find her smiling even in the worst situations. She joined the protest in its second day on 12 February 2011, to become the first women who actually slept in a tent in the square defying all Yemeni norms and stereotypes. The organizers at the time dedicated a side section for female protestors which she was the first to use. “I knew what I did wasn’t expected traditionally. But one of the female activists had to start and pave the way for women to join the protests for real,” she reflects on her brave decision. “When I first came here I expected the worst, but it was great. The way the men protected me and secured the tent was amazing,” she added even though she complains of the sun which gave her a dark tan from being in the streets for more than five months. Four of her children joined her just two days after she joined the protests. Farida’s youngest son and daughter are as eager as herself to make the revolution happen and to turn this tribal society to a civil society. They were exposed to tear gas in some of the security attacks against change square. Throughout the five months during which she had left her comfortable house to become an integral part of the protests her life was not easy for obvious reasons. The sense of privacy and relaxation were almost gone as she had to go to the mosque to use the toilet or relax. Her mobile phone was stolen during one of the security raids on the square but still she has not given up, although now since the mosque has become an extension of the field hospital to treat the wounded protestors her life has become much more difficult on Change Square. But today, Farida realizes that what she has done has even helped change the mentality of even traditional tribesmen who learned to respect her and her female colleagues for what they stand for and how they contribute to change in Yemen. Looking back at her background, she says she is an ordinary educated Yemeni woman; a university graduate from the science college who works in the educational sector. She had a regular job before joining the protests. Today her contribution to the revolution is acknowledged and other protesters view her as an optimistic and giving person who keeps them energetic and encourages them to continue. Throughout her struggle the opposition parties tried to dominate independent youth in general one way or the other, but she insisted on remaining independent. Over a month ago, when the independent youth decided to take their separate place in reaction to the political parties [mainly the Islah] domination, Farida was among the few women who left “the women section” and set up her own small tent in the new protest section alongside independent youth. Recently especially since Saleh has left the country, there had been some disputes and sometimes violence between the political parties and the independent youth. Farida played a role in encouraging the youth not to leave the square or give up their dream. “We will continue, no matter what or who is against us, we will never leave what we have started for others to climb on our shoulders to power,” she said. “As we making an end to Ali Abdullah Saleh’s regime of 32 years, we will continue our peaceful protest against anyone who wants to take advantage of our revolution, and we will not change our stance or demands for a civilian state.” Although Farida as part of the independent youth were the first to call for toppling the, she was accused many times publicly by the Islah members by name of being an agent for the state “National Security,” who in turn was rumored to include her in some wanted list to coerce her into leaving the protest. Despite her position and long history in the struggle Farida did not receive her fair share of the limelight whether locally or internationally, still she did not mind that. “I am not here to be a hero, I am here to make sure that my children have a better future,” she said. http://www.yementimes.com/defaultdet.aspx?SUB_ID=36222

Youth protesters attacked by Islah members in Change Square By: Shada Al-Harazi

SANA’A, June 15 — Violence against independent youth protesters increased this week with both the first armored division and members of the Islah Party attempting to disrupt a march by youth against the acting president’s house. On Tuesday June 14th, members of the independent youth marched for the third time to the acting president’s house with the plan to hold a three day sit-in until he listened to their demands and form a transitional council. “This is the worst violence I have witnessed since the revolution started,” said Afra’a Al-Habori, one of the march organizers. “We used to be attacked by the central security forces, but today it was from those who we thought were with us, the organizing committee.” “When we first went from Change Square to Al-Siteen [where the acting president’s house is] at four o’clock, the organizing committee misled the youth by telling them that the march was canceled.” Al-Habori said that almost a hundred youth managed to join the march. The first armored division, who is protecting the acting president’s house, opened the road for cars to pass which exposed the youth to danger. The first division called on the youth to disperse. The organizing committee [comprised of Islah members], then put pressure on the youth to go back to the square and stop the march. “We marched against the organizing committee from Al-Siteen to the stage at the square saying ‘freedom freedom we need a revolutionary organizing committee’. This provoked the committee, and they took iron stakes, electrical stakes and beat us,” she added. “Islah is trying to prevent us from escalating as they are being pressured by the Saudis to apply the GCC initiative,” said Al-Habori. The youth vowed to escalate and protect the revolution’s objectives from whoever aims to co-opt it or hold a coup against it. They are insisting on the formation of a transitional council to rule the country in the coming period, and demanding that the remaining members of the old regime stand down. A government representative, however, stated that Ali Abdullah Saleh is still the legitimate president of Yemen, and that he will return from Saudi Arabia as soon as doctors say he has recovered from wounds sustained in an attack against him on June 3rd. In the political tent at ‘Change Square’, a youth group called the ‘Youth of Decision’ held a press conference calling on the independent youth to gather and act apart from the the political parties and the current government. Leaders from the Joint Meeting Parties – a coalition of opposition parties – held a closed meeting with Abdu Raboo Mansur Hadi, the acting president, on Monday discussing ways of transferring power peacefully. “Any deals in closed rooms are not acceptable at all. We have been in the street for months now, and these political parties are trying to gain advantage from our achievements,” said one of the protesters. On June 8th, the first armored division, who had previously vowed to protect youth protesters, attacked a youth sit-in outside the acting president’s residence that had begun on June 7th. This was the second sit-in organized by the youth, but was dispersed by soldiers firing in the air with live rounds and beating the protesters. A spokesman from the first armored division who wished to remain anonymous said that the crowd that was dispersed were not peaceful protesters, but thugs that were armed with guns and bombs. Some other protesters think the split between the political parties and the youth is good for the revolution, so as to correct its way. Amen Dabwan, an independent youth leader, said the youth are intelligent and aware of what’s happening around them. The more they feel that the revolution is stolen, the more they will escalate and react. “The limit of the revolution is the collapse of the whole regime, and the Islah Party is a part of it. They have been opposing the regime without condemning any corruption. They are as corrupt as the regime itself,” said Dabwan. “The organizing committee takes their orders from the Islah Party and attacks the youth.” Ahmed Al-Zurqa, a political analyst, told the Yemen Times that the Joint Meeting Parties have lost control of the situation. “There is so much selfishness from all the parties that announced their solidarity with the youth revolution. The JMP, the soldiers, the tribes. But the youth should take the lead from now on.” Despite the attacks against them, the independent youth said they will continue marching and demanding a transitional council. http://www.yementimes.com/defaultdet.aspx?SUB_ID=36210