Yemen: Four separatist protesters in south shot dead

  Yesterday (July 7) in the southern port city of Aden Yemeni security forces shot and killed 4 men participating in a separatist march. A total of 18 were wounded. The government claims that the protesters had attacked security forces.
  The protesters had been trying to gain access to a public square in Aden. The protest march was held to commemorate a day in 1994 when government forces from the north had invaded Aden at the end of a civil war. Aden was the capital of the independent country of South Yemen until 1990.
   There were protests in other southern cities as well and a leader of the Southern Movement Saleh Yahya was arrested. Even though the former president stepped down in February in a deal brokered by the GCC and supported by the U.S. divisions in the country remain. However, much of the territory seized by militants has now been retaken but at considerable cost to both sides and displacement of citizens. The U.S. was involved both in aerial attacks and special forces used as advisers on the ground. For more see this article.

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Yemen: Radical Islamists fight for territory in the south

   A long article in the Washington Post discusses the situation in parts of South Yemen where Islamic militants have taken over considerable territory. Islamic militants have taken advantage of the protests and opposition to the regime of president Saleh. Although Saleh relinquished power recently to his vice-president, he is still in Yemen and through his family and loyalists still exerts influence upon affairs.
   The U.S. has strongly supported Saleh's move against Islamic militants. However, the U.S. also supported the GCC deal which Saleh signed in which he relinquished the presidency in return for immunity from prosecution for himself, family, and cronies. Protesters are much opposed to granting Saleh and his cronies immunity from prosecution.
   Radical Islamist groups have established their presence in Abyan province especially Zinjibar the regional capital. The goal of the groups is to create as Islamic emirate in Yemen. One military base remains in the city and there are constant attacks on the rebels.
   In the north there are also Shiite Houthi rebels. The groups in effect have taken control of several provinces. There are also separatists in the south not associated with Islamists. Finally there are disgruntled tribal leaders with their own militias and military units who have defected even in the capital. Yemen appears far from unity and Saleh and his family power are making the situation much worse. For much more see this article.

Yemen: Protesters criticize U.S. Ambassador's statemement

     Attacks on protesters by Yemeni forces killed at least nine people on Saturday. The protesters marched from Taiz to the capital Sanaa. The protesters want Saleh and his cronies to be held accountable for their crackdown against protests that killed and wounded many. Instead Saleh, his family, and his cronies have been granted immunity from prosecution in a deal supported by Saudi Arabia and the U.S. The deal transferred power to Saleh's vice president Major General Hadi.
     The U.S. ambassador Gerald Feierstein told a press conference that the protest was “not peaceful,”  and was intended to “provoke a violent response.” Feierstein also said that “if 2,000 people decided to protest against the White House in the US, we do not consider it a peaceful act and will not allow this.”  The U.S. seems solidly behind the new regime that includes many of the old guard including members of Saleh's family.
   Saleh himself is said to be considering travel to the U.S. The U.S. has said he cannot come except for medical reasons. No doubt that will be the excuse anyway! The treatment of Saleh contrasts with the treatment of other dictators who have killed their own people such as Assad or Gadaffi. While Saleh's killings have not been as extensive they nevertheless have been real enough and yet the U.S. and the GCC have been anxious to ensure that he steps down with impunity and that the old guard guides any transition.
    Hadi is to run unopposed in the next presidential election. Much of the official opposition has been bought off by being granted a few places in the interim government. However, those who started the protests against Saleh are not fooled by what happened and are continuing their opposition in the streets. The U.S. has made it clear whose side they are on. For more see this article.

Yemen: In three days 17 killed in city of Taiz

 For the third day government troops have been shelling parts of the city of Taiz where there have been protests demanding that President Saleh be held accountable for his crimes rather than given immunity as part of the deal to transfer power that he recently signed. In the most recent attacks at least two were killed.. In the last three days a total of  17 have died.
    State media claim that a ceasefire has been negotiated.  Armed anti-Saleh groups control the center of Taiz. Government forces have positioned themselves in surrounding hills and in the outskirts but also within parts of the city itself.
   Opposition groups who signed on to the GCC-brokered deal want the government to form a military commission as required by the agreement but so far the government has stalled. The opposition refuses to nominate candidates for a national unity government until the government forms the commission.
   As well as the uprising in Taiz the government faced new protests in the capital Sana demanding that Saleh be put on trial rather than being granted immunity. For more see this article.

Yemeni Nobel Laureate calls for former President to be tried for his crimes

   Yemeni Nobel laureate Tawakul Karman has asked that the International Criminal Court investigate the violence used during the reign of President Saleh. In the deal brokered by the GCC that Saleh signed he, his family and aides will be granted immunity for any actions during the crackdown on protests. Many protesters were killed and wounded in attacks by security forces.
   However even Karman noted that her request stood little chance of success since Yemen has not signed on to the founding treaty called the Rome statute. The U.S. has not signed the treaty either.
   Only if the UN requested the court prosecutor to launch an investigation could he do so. Karman says there should be an easier way to hold those killing their own people to account by bringing them to the court. She herself has given the court a file of alleged crimes committed by the Saleh government.
   A new prime  minister has been appointed by acting vice-president Mansour Hadi. He Mohammed Basindwa. The transition of power applauded by the U.S. and others has not stopped the violence.
   Protests continue as does the violence. Shia Muslim forces attacked Sunni Islamist fighters in the  north. In the northwestern city of Saada Shia Muslims protested the GCC deal and demanded that Saleh be tried for his crimes. Yemen is a long way from any peaceful transition. In fact the old guard remain in power but are still being challenged by a number of groups. For more see this article.
 

Yemen: Musical chairs not transition to democracy

Yemen's interim prime minister Mohamed Basidowa announced that the vice-president Mansour Hadi will run for president of Yemen uncontested. President Saleh who ruled for 33 years is stepping down after signing a deal brokered by the Gulf Cooperation Council.
 Apparently Basindowa has the agreement of the ruling party and the largest opposition party. Basindowa himself was appointed to his position by Hadi. Now Basindowa is returning the favor. The Yemeni citizens get to sit and watch and then to ratify what has been done.
 The young protesters who started demonstrations back in the spring are angered by what is happening. But they don't count. Saleh has been given immunity from prosecution, along with his family, and his aides. Relatives still have important positions in the armed forces. He even retains his title of president for now though he transferred power.
 The UN position on the transfer is typical nonsense with soothing rhetoric but actually contradictory. The UN supports the transition but adds: "'..the members of the Security Council reiterated that all those responsible for violence, human rights violations and abuses should be held accountable." But then the agreement and the transition ensures that Saleh, his familly, and cronies have immunity from prosecution. He and his cronies were responsible for much of the violence and human rights violations.
 What you will have in Yemen is a status quo candidate for the presidency. This is what the U.S. GCC and others will call an orderly transition of power. Saleh cooperated with the U.S. in the war on terror the new old guard will do so also. When it comes to actually promoting democracy or ensuring a reliable client to work with the west even though there is no real change the U.S. and others always choose the latter. Whether this move is able to calm the civil unrest is very much in doubt. For more see this article.

Yemen: Protesters reject deal with President Saleh

 Although Saleh has accepted the GCC brokered deal to step down within 30 days and transfer power to his vice-president, protesters have rejected the deal. The protesters object to Saleh being given immunity from prosecution for his killing of protesters and other crimes.
    There are also still divisions within the armed forces and there have been clashes between loyalist forces under Saleh's  nephew and those of a general who defected back in March. On Thursday gunmen with no uniforms, probably Saleh loyalists, killed five protesters in the capital Sanaa. Apparently some of the politicians who signed on to the original deal are having doubts and perhaps may join the protesters.
  The government has announced that presidential elections will held next February 21st. This will be a year ahead of schedule and complies with there terms of GCC deal that Saleh signed. However it looks as if the deal has not stop protests. The government also faces separatist movements in the north and south as well as Islamic extremists who have taken over considerable territory. For more see this article and here as well.