Youth Revolution in Yemen Demands that International Community Takes Steps Against Saleh

By Hassan Al-Haifi
May 30, 2011
(Pages are arranged 3, 1 and 2)
The Coordinating Council of the Youth Revolution for Change in Yemen (CCYRC)sent an open letter to President Barack Obama demanding that the international Community take effective practical steps which are as follows;

1) Yemen should be declared a no-fly zone for Saleh's air force against the tribes and civilians of Yemen demanding for a change in regime?
2) The assets of the President, his relatives (sons, nephews, half-brothers, cousins, uncles and in-laws) should be frozen, pending the establishment of a caretaker government that will administer the affairs of Yemen once Saleh is removed from office.
3) Saleh or any of his consorts should not be given any political immunity from being accountable to their people for all the deaths, injuries and destruction that the forces of the regime inflicted as the used the most lethal and destructive weapons to try to quell the legitimate protests against the regime.
4) The right of the people of Yemen to bring the responsible elements of the Saleh regime to trial for any crimes they inflicted against the Yemeni people and public assets and properties they took possession of while holding responsible positions of Government.
5) Allow the Yemeni people to have a voice to be heard in any debates held by the United Nations Security Council and any other august body of the international community discussing the Yemeni situation.
6) Persuade all regional powers to cease support for the regime of Ali Abdullah Saleh either militarily, financially or politically, especially Saudi Arabia, which continuously provides the Saleh regime with money, arms and other substantive support, which he uses to repress the millions of Yemenis who continuously and persistently, but peacefully come out to the streets to demand the removal of the repressive regime of Ali Abdullah Saleh.

The letter also asked the International Community to disregard the Gulf Cooperation Council Initiative, as it is impossible to believe that an oppressive dictator should be allowed to be free from any prosecution for crimes committed against his people and with all the public funds and assets swindled from the Yemeni people.

On the other hand, more high ranking officers have joined the rest of their military and Security comrades, who have defected from the regime of Ali Abdullah Saleh, to join the peaceful revolution led by the youth of Yemen including:
Brigadier Dr. Hussein Arab former Minister of Interior
Brigadier Abdullah Ali Illaiwah

Moreover more units of the Republican Guards defected from the Command of Saleh's son Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh, and it is reported that the Head of Operations, General Ali Saleh has gone into self exile in his own tribal area of Sanhan, after a bout of words with his half brother Ali Abdullah Saleh.

This follows the defection of the Dhamar Garrison of the Republican Guards and the fall of the 26th Brigade in the North East of Sana'a Nehm tribal area, where it is reported that at least two helicopters were shot down or captured as they tried to bring reinforcements to the besieged garrison.

In the meantime, Saleh security forces and mixed contingents of Republican Guards, Central Security and Thugs (dressed in plain clothes), tried to storm the protester's camp in Tahrir Square, Ta'ez, and rained a wobble of live ammunition fire on the camping protesters killing at least seven and injuring scores of unarmed peaceful protesters, as well as destroying homes and other buildings over the square. The security forces also stormed the emergency field hospital and kidnapped a number of the wounded protesters.

Defecting military officers have issued what they called Military Communiqué No. l declaring that Saleh has allowed what are declared as Al-Qaeda elements to take over Zangibar, Abyan Governorate.

Fighter planes and artillery continued to hit Arhab tribal area (40 km north and northwest of Sana'a) where there are at least two Republican Guard brigades besieged and restricted from any movement by local tribesmen. The 62nd Brigade has lost many tanks and other vehicles, and is regarded by many as put out of commission, where as the 61st is expected to be subjected to the same fate.

Saleh met with his Higher Defense Council threatening that he will hit hard against those who are lawless and the military personnel who defect from the Government and join the peaceful protesters.