By Hassan Al-Haifi
30 My 2011
"Saleh must be put on the Top Terrorist List of the World". That is how one keen observer saw it after learning of the holocaust that Ali Saleh perpetrated in the proud and patriotic City of Ta'ez. As of last count there were 20 fatalities at the hands of Saleh's murdering thugs as they literally burned the entire encampment of the protesting citizens of Ta'ez, as well as hundred of wounded, 37 of whom are in critical conditions, according to the correspondent of Al-Masdar Online. The epitome of Saleh's streak of vengeance against the City of Ta'ez, which has produced at least one hundred martyrs since the peaceful protests against Saleh began in Mid February of this year, was perpetrated by armored vehicles, tanks, artillery and every type of ordnance that burns kills, wounds and destroys. Every weapon, fixed or mobile available to Saleh's Republican Guards was used to burn the Freedom Square protester's camp out of existence.
Saleh is certainly showing that he does not want to leave in peace. It is unbelievable that the GCC, led by Saudi Arabia and the United States should think that a man like Saleh should not be made accountable for the crimes he perpetrated against his people. The scorched Earth policy has been come the rule of thumbs in the way Saleh maintains his stranglehold on his people. Keeping the electricity off, will not dampen the anger of Yemenis at the horrendous crimes this barbaric dictator has inflicted on his people. Saleh and his criminal backers in the regime believe that the less the people know the better and faster they can carry out their ugly work in Ta'ez and elsewhere. They are bombing villages by the tens and destroying life and limb everywhere in the country. Yet still the resolve of the Yemeni people to end this cruel dictatorship of this unforgivable autocrat, who has given Yemen misery after misery, almost from the very first day of his rule. Now he is supposedly bombing Zangibar to counter the very same, so called "Qaeda" elements he himself sent to try to convince the world that he is an anti terrorist leader. He is in fact the manifestation of terror and sly and sleazy tactics of repression he pulls out from his sleeve. He created Al-Qaeda in Yemen and has always used it as a tool of repression. Do not worry about the soldiers that die in the escapades of his fictional "war on terror" that is part of the adage by which all dictators go by, "the ends justify the means".
Monday, May 30, 2011
Sunday, May 29, 2011
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.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Fighting in and Around Sana'a Intensifies As Saleh's Forces Escalate
By Hassan Al-Haifi
May 25, 2011
Al-Masdar Online, Mareb Press, News of the Yemeni Revolution (Change Square)and eyewitnesses all report heavy shelling and explosions heard in on a far broader scale than in the vicinity of the Al-Ahmar Compound in the Al-Hasaba Neighborhood North Sana'a City. The fighting now has included areas outside of Sana'a, such as the Arhab Tribal District about 30 km North of Sana'a City, and along the Mareb Road in the Al-Khorafi mound about 15 km Northeast of Sana'a City. The most significant development is the obvious targeting of the Headquarters of the First Armored Division commanded By Brigadier General Ali Mohsin Al-Ahmar, which has defected to the side of the revolting youth in late March of this year, after the Bloody Friday of 18 March 2011, when at least 52 peaceful unarmed protesters were killed and hundreds wounded by security forces and plainclothes thugs supporting President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
From late afternoon today the First Division has been subjected to heavy shelling from various positions of pro Saleh forces in stationed in the mountains East and West of the base of the First Division. After holding back for a couple of hours before answering the fire, the First Division returned fire as the intensity of the shelling intensified
In the Arhab tribal area, north of San'a International Airport, local tribesmen stood against the 61st and 62nd Battalions of the Republican Guards, commanded by General Ahmed Ali Abdulla Saleh, son of the President. The tribe has prevented the forces from moving to Sana'a as a gesture of containement of any fighting that might ensue. Now these units are trying to force their way into Sana'a and are said to be shelling the local villages randomly, as the local tribesmen continued to put up a stiff resistence to the movement of any of its armored vehicles. They have damaged several of these vehicles according to reports from the area.
It is not clear how much Saleh will continue to resort to the military option to ensure that he remains President despite the large number of Yemenis, who have gotten out in the streets to demand that Saleh abdicate and leave the Presidency. The current fighting comes after the refusal of President Saleh to sign the Gulf Cooperation Council brokered agreement, which was to be witnessed and guaranteed by the GCC, the United States and the European Union.
The youth who are leading the revolt against Saleh still demand the removal of Saleh without immunity, which the GCC Initiative would have given Saleh and his close relatives and government officials.
Now with the entry of the Republican Guards and other Saleh forces and the targeting of the First Division, it appears that Saleh is betting on his ability to decisively put out the revolt militarily, a bet, which even if true, would be severely costly in human casualties, destruction of public and private property.
Yemeni citizens from all walks of life are demanding that the International Community interfere to put a stop to Saleh's unjustified reliance on a military solution, especially in the population congested City of Sana'a. With the area of the First Division overlooking the camping grounds of the protesting youth, observers that the peaceful unarmed protesters will be caught in the crossfire, without any shelters to which to run.
May 25, 2011
Al-Masdar Online, Mareb Press, News of the Yemeni Revolution (Change Square)and eyewitnesses all report heavy shelling and explosions heard in on a far broader scale than in the vicinity of the Al-Ahmar Compound in the Al-Hasaba Neighborhood North Sana'a City. The fighting now has included areas outside of Sana'a, such as the Arhab Tribal District about 30 km North of Sana'a City, and along the Mareb Road in the Al-Khorafi mound about 15 km Northeast of Sana'a City. The most significant development is the obvious targeting of the Headquarters of the First Armored Division commanded By Brigadier General Ali Mohsin Al-Ahmar, which has defected to the side of the revolting youth in late March of this year, after the Bloody Friday of 18 March 2011, when at least 52 peaceful unarmed protesters were killed and hundreds wounded by security forces and plainclothes thugs supporting President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
From late afternoon today the First Division has been subjected to heavy shelling from various positions of pro Saleh forces in stationed in the mountains East and West of the base of the First Division. After holding back for a couple of hours before answering the fire, the First Division returned fire as the intensity of the shelling intensified
In the Arhab tribal area, north of San'a International Airport, local tribesmen stood against the 61st and 62nd Battalions of the Republican Guards, commanded by General Ahmed Ali Abdulla Saleh, son of the President. The tribe has prevented the forces from moving to Sana'a as a gesture of containement of any fighting that might ensue. Now these units are trying to force their way into Sana'a and are said to be shelling the local villages randomly, as the local tribesmen continued to put up a stiff resistence to the movement of any of its armored vehicles. They have damaged several of these vehicles according to reports from the area.
It is not clear how much Saleh will continue to resort to the military option to ensure that he remains President despite the large number of Yemenis, who have gotten out in the streets to demand that Saleh abdicate and leave the Presidency. The current fighting comes after the refusal of President Saleh to sign the Gulf Cooperation Council brokered agreement, which was to be witnessed and guaranteed by the GCC, the United States and the European Union.
The youth who are leading the revolt against Saleh still demand the removal of Saleh without immunity, which the GCC Initiative would have given Saleh and his close relatives and government officials.
Now with the entry of the Republican Guards and other Saleh forces and the targeting of the First Division, it appears that Saleh is betting on his ability to decisively put out the revolt militarily, a bet, which even if true, would be severely costly in human casualties, destruction of public and private property.
Yemeni citizens from all walks of life are demanding that the International Community interfere to put a stop to Saleh's unjustified reliance on a military solution, especially in the population congested City of Sana'a. With the area of the First Division overlooking the camping grounds of the protesting youth, observers that the peaceful unarmed protesters will be caught in the crossfire, without any shelters to which to run.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Failure of Mediation to End the Fighting Between the Al-Ahmars and Ali Abdullah Saleh
The Mediation Committee designated by President Ali Abdulla Saleh to end the fighting has issued a statement holding the President responsible for the failure of the mediation.
Here is the text of the statement issued by the mediators
Statement of the Mediators Between the Government and Sheikh Sadiq Al-Ahmar
We were designated by the President of the Republic to mediate to bring about a cease fire between the Government and Sheikh Sadiq Bin Abdullah Bin Hussein Al-Ahmar and his brothers. We, all the mediators, went to the house of Sheikh Sadiq Bin Abdullah Al-Ahmar and he responded to our mediation and indeed a cease fire was arranged and executed at 7:00 PM on the 23rd of May 2011. We agreed to continue the morning of the following day to withdraw the units from the positions where they were found. Indeed on the following morning we went to the home of Sheikh Sadiq Al-Ahmar and we were surprised that all the units commenced firing all the different weapons with them towards the house of Sheikh Sadiq Al-Ahmar. We tried to make contact with the President to put a stop to the firing, but it was apparent that the President was not serious in a cease fire and w all as mediators decided to the media as mediators decided to stop the mediation and hold the President responsible, because he is the one capable of stopping the turbulence (schism) after God Al-Mighty, and we hereby announce our position and stand by Sheikh Sadiq Al-Ahmar.
We hereby request Allah to prevent Yemen from schism (division)
1. Lt. General Ghalib Al-Qamish
2. Sheikh Faisal Abdullah Manna'a
3. Sheikh Ghalib Al-Ajda'a
4. Sheikh Ali Bin Ahmed Al-Rassas
5. Sheikh Ahmed Abu Houriah
6. Sheikh Ali Bin Ali Al-Qousy.
Here is the text of the statement issued by the mediators
Statement of the Mediators Between the Government and Sheikh Sadiq Al-Ahmar
We were designated by the President of the Republic to mediate to bring about a cease fire between the Government and Sheikh Sadiq Bin Abdullah Bin Hussein Al-Ahmar and his brothers. We, all the mediators, went to the house of Sheikh Sadiq Bin Abdullah Al-Ahmar and he responded to our mediation and indeed a cease fire was arranged and executed at 7:00 PM on the 23rd of May 2011. We agreed to continue the morning of the following day to withdraw the units from the positions where they were found. Indeed on the following morning we went to the home of Sheikh Sadiq Al-Ahmar and we were surprised that all the units commenced firing all the different weapons with them towards the house of Sheikh Sadiq Al-Ahmar. We tried to make contact with the President to put a stop to the firing, but it was apparent that the President was not serious in a cease fire and w all as mediators decided to the media as mediators decided to stop the mediation and hold the President responsible, because he is the one capable of stopping the turbulence (schism) after God Al-Mighty, and we hereby announce our position and stand by Sheikh Sadiq Al-Ahmar.
We hereby request Allah to prevent Yemen from schism (division)
1. Lt. General Ghalib Al-Qamish
2. Sheikh Faisal Abdullah Manna'a
3. Sheikh Ghalib Al-Ajda'a
4. Sheikh Ali Bin Ahmed Al-Rassas
5. Sheikh Ahmed Abu Houriah
6. Sheikh Ali Bin Ali Al-Qousy.
Mediating Committee Hit by Government Shell in Sheikh Al-Ahmar's House
By Hassan Al-Haifi
24 May 2011
The Gommittee comprising of Lt. General Ghalib Al-Qamish, Head of Political Security, and Chairman of the Committee, Sheikh Mabkhout Al-Amri, Sheikh Abdul-Salam Rabiah, Sheikh Saba Abu Luhoum and Sheikh Abdul-Khaliq Shuwait, have all been wounded as a result of an artillery shell that hit thier room in Sheikh Sadiq Al-Ahmar's mansion in Al-Hasaba Area of Sana'a City. The committee has been trying for two days to bring an end to the skirmishes in Northern Sana'a between the Government's forces and the Sheikh's guards. As of late the Government buidlings under the tribal control or threatened by takeover by Hashid warriors include the strategic television station along the Amran Road, the Saba News Agency, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the premisis of the Permanent Committee of the General People's Congress, and the Ministry of Interior. All these are around the compound of the Paramount Sheikh of the Hashid Tribal Confederation. That must say a lot about the regular official guard detail of these premisis. The source is Suhail and the News Bulletin of the Revolution.
24 May 2011
The Gommittee comprising of Lt. General Ghalib Al-Qamish, Head of Political Security, and Chairman of the Committee, Sheikh Mabkhout Al-Amri, Sheikh Abdul-Salam Rabiah, Sheikh Saba Abu Luhoum and Sheikh Abdul-Khaliq Shuwait, have all been wounded as a result of an artillery shell that hit thier room in Sheikh Sadiq Al-Ahmar's mansion in Al-Hasaba Area of Sana'a City. The committee has been trying for two days to bring an end to the skirmishes in Northern Sana'a between the Government's forces and the Sheikh's guards. As of late the Government buidlings under the tribal control or threatened by takeover by Hashid warriors include the strategic television station along the Amran Road, the Saba News Agency, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the premisis of the Permanent Committee of the General People's Congress, and the Ministry of Interior. All these are around the compound of the Paramount Sheikh of the Hashid Tribal Confederation. That must say a lot about the regular official guard detail of these premisis. The source is Suhail and the News Bulletin of the Revolution.
Bloodshed in Al-Hasaba Sana'a Continues
By Hassan Al-Haifi
May 24, 2011
The confrontation betwseen the security forces of Ali Abdullah Saleh and the guard detail of the Paramount Sheikh fo the Hashid Tribe continues for the second day in a row. The casualty toll for today according to Suhail Satellite TV is 7 dead and 25 injured. On the Government's side the casualty toll is unknown. A truce had been declared between the warring parties, when leading tribal dignitaries tried to broker a cease fire, which then was broken late last night and again early this morning, when apparently government forces tried to regain some of the buidlings occupied by members of the Hashid Tribe. A war call was issued to all tribesmen to prepare for the worst, as apparently the President has decided to carry out his pledge that a civil war is in the making if the rest of the country does not allow him to continue ruling to complete what he calls his "constitutional tenor". This fighting comes after several mediation efforts by the Gulf Cooperation Council failed to get Ali Saleh to sign the agreed deocument which has also been signed by his own party leadership, the member parties of the Joint Meeting Parties, and witnessed by the GCC Secretary General Abdul-Latif Al-Zayyani, the US Ambassador to Yemen,Gerald Michael Feierstein, and other members of the Government and social dignitaries.
The followers of Sheikh Al-Ahmar are reported to have captured a tank on the Mareb Road, which is about a kilometer from the Road that links Sana'a to the Airport, upon which the compound of Sheikh Sadik overlooks.
May 24, 2011
The confrontation betwseen the security forces of Ali Abdullah Saleh and the guard detail of the Paramount Sheikh fo the Hashid Tribe continues for the second day in a row. The casualty toll for today according to Suhail Satellite TV is 7 dead and 25 injured. On the Government's side the casualty toll is unknown. A truce had been declared between the warring parties, when leading tribal dignitaries tried to broker a cease fire, which then was broken late last night and again early this morning, when apparently government forces tried to regain some of the buidlings occupied by members of the Hashid Tribe. A war call was issued to all tribesmen to prepare for the worst, as apparently the President has decided to carry out his pledge that a civil war is in the making if the rest of the country does not allow him to continue ruling to complete what he calls his "constitutional tenor". This fighting comes after several mediation efforts by the Gulf Cooperation Council failed to get Ali Saleh to sign the agreed deocument which has also been signed by his own party leadership, the member parties of the Joint Meeting Parties, and witnessed by the GCC Secretary General Abdul-Latif Al-Zayyani, the US Ambassador to Yemen,Gerald Michael Feierstein, and other members of the Government and social dignitaries.
The followers of Sheikh Al-Ahmar are reported to have captured a tank on the Mareb Road, which is about a kilometer from the Road that links Sana'a to the Airport, upon which the compound of Sheikh Sadik overlooks.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Latest Developments Sana'a Fighting
Reports state that there are at least 9 dead and 12 wounded in the fighting between police units and the guard units of Sheikh Sadiq Abdullah Al-Ahmar in the North of Sana'a and other reports state that tribesmen of Sheikh Al-Ahmar have taken over the Ministry of Interior which is about half a kilometer from the home of Sheikh Sadiq
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