CCYRC Daily Report - 9-12 Dec YEMEN

CCYRC Daily Report of the youth's Peaceful Revolution in Yemen






CCYRC Daily Report of the Youth's Peaceful Revolution in Yemen
December 9th -12th, 2011

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CCYRC Daily Report of the youth's Peaceful Revolution in Yemen



The Overwhelming Majority of Yemenis against GCC Initiative
At the start of a recent debate on Al-Jazeera , a quick poll was taken to show how many people
thought that the GCC Initiative on Yemen's current political showdown between the fossil regime
of President Ali Abdulla Saleh and the people of Yemen, was no more than an effort to circumvent
the popular peaceful revolution in Yemen. An astounding 87% of those randomly polled said
indeed that the GCC Initiative was indeed an effort to dictate solutions that for all intents and
purposes that had nothing to do with the Yemeni Revolution whatsoever. Time and again, CCYRC
and most independent components of the Yemeni Revolution have insisted that Yemen's Revolution
can never be dealt with by dictated instructions from neighboring states that were mandated to
provide such an initiative. Furthermore, these GCC states are not at all competent to deal with
popular requests for liberty and freedom, not to mention democratic government, because they
themselves are mostly despotic regimes. They themselves would never welcome such requests
from their own people, let alone be ready to accommodate such demands by people in neighboring
states.

The Yemeni people continued to express their displeasure at the imposition of the GCC Initiative
and the appended "Implementation Mechanism" on their country and were also appalled by the
quick acceptance of these documents with their unprecedented political solutions by some of the so
called other components of the Yemeni Revolution, namely the coalition of Opposition Parties of
the Joint Meeting Parties, the defecting units of the Armed Forces and the Tribal Sheikhs of Hashid,
among others. Protests continued in Sana'a, Aden, Ta'ez, Sa'ada, and other Yemeni cities calling
for and insisting on complete and unconditional regime change, expressly ending the Ali Abdulla
Saleh family regime and the mob of consorts that support the most corrupt regime in history and not
just the history of Yemen. The peaceful protesters are adamant that there should never be any
immunity to Ali Abdullah Saleh or the commanders of his bands of thugs in the military and
security organs, not to mention the killers of unarmed peaceful protesters. The protesters continued
to be met by repressive measures of the security and military forces mostly under the command of
the sons and nephews of Ali Abdulla Saleh. Although the GCC Initiative was signed in Riyadh in
24 November 2011, the regime continues to impose summary collective punishments on the
Yemeni people such as frequent electricity outages, fuel shortages, and even medicinal shortages.
Even aspirin is missing from pharmacy shelves.

The formation of the new Government based on the guidelines dictated by the GCC Initiative and
its Implementation Mechanism was also considered a further continuation of the same system of
forming cabinets followed by Saleh, with some token representation of opposition party members
and a couple of independents, with a number that is based more on political appeasement rather
than actual portfolio need. The number of 34 ministers (and a Prime Minister) is somewhat
ridiculous when compared with larger and more powerful countries such as the US Government of
15 Secretaries (ministers) and the Chinese Government of around 25 Cabinet members. The
ministerial split of 17 for the ruling party under the Saleh regime (the People's General Congress or
PGC), with the other 17 divided among the other hodgepodge partisan mix that jointly share the
"portfolio and non portfolio ministry positions, certainly continues to give the "old" but not yet
departed regime of Saleh the upper hand.

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CCYRC Daily Report of the youth's Peaceful Revolution in Yemen


The visit of Jamal Bin Omer to Yemen to evaluate the extent of the implementation of the GCC
Initiative before presenting his report to the United Nations Security Council later this month
brought the UN Special Envoy and Political Advisor to the Secretary General to other locations in
Yemen, including Ta'ez, Sa'ada and Aden. One does not any dramatic changes to materialize out of
this visit, except a UNSC Resolution commending Saleh for his great cooperation and the success
of the formation of the Government. The formation of the Joint Security and Military Committee to
oversee the disarmament of Yemeni cities by the various factions (Saleh remaining forces,
defecting units to the revolt and tribal militias have produced promises of withdrawal by all military
forces deployed throughout the Yemeni cities and the return to their barracks.

The regime continues to dole out reports of successes against suspected Al-Qaeda terrorists in
Abyan, but the recent loud declaration of war by Al-Qaeda of the Arabian Peninsula against the
Houthis of Sa'ada does not show any abatement of their vocal militarism and support to sectarian
strife on behalf of "Sunnis" against what they regard as infidel "Shiites" of Sa'ada.

The Government was sworn in, but recent reports that the first task of the new Government was to
produce a law guaranteeing Saleh, his family and other senior members of the military and civil
service who are regarded as supporters of the regime, and referring it to Parliament has raised
eyebrows among a lot of observers of the Yemeni political arena. This would surely be against the
expectations of the majority of the peaceful protesting youth and the millions of their Yemeni
supporters, who would regard this as really meddling in domestic legislative affairs by the GCC,
which included such a measure in the Implementation Mechanisms of the GCC Initiative. The
youth and their supporters consider this as unacceptable meddling by foreign forces in the
legislative affairs of Yemen. Furthermore, Parliament has ceased to exist even with the signing of
the GCC Initiative and its further activities would be regarded as being unconstitutional.

Events since the last bulletin:
1. December 9: Agreement said to have been reached for withdrawal of rival military forces
and militias from Ta'ez. The agreement was worked out by joint military - security
commission of both factions. On another note, a prison riot in Sana'a left two inmates dead
and 2 prison guards injured. Prisoners were protesting harsh conditions. Red Cross
condemns continued violence in Ta'ez and the hindrance of medical aid and ambulance
traffic by mainly Government forces, which is causing unnecessary deaths that might have
been prevented. Marchers in Sana'a and other cities call for Saleh to be tried and immunity
not to be granted to him and his family.

2. December 10, 2011: Clashes in Sana'a continue between tribal militias of Ahmar family
and forces loyal to Ali Abdullah Saleh, with 1 soldier reportedly killed. New government
sworn in, in front of Vice President Abdul Rabbo Mansour Hadi, who is exercising the
Presidential Powers passed on to him by former President Saleh (now supposedly just
Honorary President, as the Al-Sahwa News Online website called him. Nobel Peace Prize
laureate Tawakkul Karman received her peace prize after giving a well received lecture on
the role of peaceful protests, women activists and other phenomenon for demanding reform
in ending human rights violations and abuses by government officials. She was applauded
several times as she expressed disappointment at the way the international community
placated Saleh and neglected the legitimate demands of the Yemeni people to end his
tyrannical 33 years reign as President of Yemen. Yemenis remain apprehensive about the

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CCYRC Daily Report of the youth's Peaceful Revolution in Yemen


implementation of the GCC Initiative despite applause by the UN Secretary General of the
formation of the Yemeni Coalition Government and promises of aid by GCC members to
help Yemen implement the GCC Initiative.

3. December 11: Formation of joint military council to supervise withdrawal of Yemeni
troops that are deployed in Yemeni cities. Council will be headed by Vice President Abdul-
Rabbo Hadi. Japanese Embassy in Sana'a reopens despite continuing tensions and
instability in the capital city among protesting youth, government forces and tribal militias.
Jamal Bin Omer meets protesters in Ta'ez and sees first hand families of killed civilians in
the blood stricken and battle racked city. Saleh's forces have randomly and indiscriminately
shelled the city killing dozens of people even after the signing of the GCC Initiative on
November 24, 2011.


4. December 12, 2011: Continued clashes between the rival factions in the Yemeni revolt in
many cities, including the capital of Sana'a. Bin Omer meets with Al-Houthi leader Abdul-
Malik Al-Houthi. Plans to visit Dammaj Sunni Camp were cancelled due to security
reasons.

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CCYRC Daily Report of the youth's Peaceful Revolution in Yemen


News in Quotes

Nobel laureate slams poor support for Yemen revolt | ABS-CBN ...
OSLO - One of the three women sharing the Nobel Peace Prize on Saturday lambasted the international
community for not backing revolution in her native Yemen and said Arab despots who turn against their own
people should not receive immunity. Accepting the 2011 award, Yemeni activist Tawakul Karman called on
the western world to support the revolutions that swept through the Arab world this year and keep faith with
democratic change that was both difficult and inevitable.

"The democratic world, which has told us a lot about the virtues of democracy and good governance, should
not be indifferent to what is happening in Yemen and Syria," said Karman, "These (Arab leaders) should be
brought to justice before the International Criminal Court; there should be no immunity for killers who rob
the food of the people," she said.

The world failed to understand and support Yemen's own revolution -- where violence between supporters
and opponents of outgoing president Ali Abdullah Saleh continues. "This should haunt the world's
conscience because it challenges the very idea of fairness and justice," she added.
Syria and Yemen have been on the verge of civil war this year amid the violent suppression of anti-
government uprisings.

Thorbjoern Jagland, the head of the Nobel Peace Prize selection committee, said at the award ceremony: "No
dictator can in the long run find shelter from this wind of history. "It was this wind which led people to crawl
up on to the Berlin Wall and tear it down. It is the wind that is now blowing in the Arab world.""Not even
President Saleh was able, and President Assad in Syria will not be able, to resist the people's demand for
freedom and human rights," Jagland said.

Yemen Nobel Laureate's unlikely optimism - CNN.com
Even in the company of the two other heroines who also made history and won the Nobel Peace Prize for
2011, the camera and crowd in Oslo Saturday seemed drawn to the Yemeni activist's joyful eyes, energy and
optimism. "I'm so optimistic for the future because I believe women can do a lot," she said. "Youth can do a
lot." Karman's own youth set a record for the peace prize. At age 32, she was the youngest laureate ever to
receive it.

One of Karman's dreams now would be nothing short of a stunning achievement.
Under pressure from the demonstrations, President Saleh has announced he's transferred power to his vice
president, who in turn appointed a new prime minister and government of national unity. The opposition is
apparently being given a share of power. There are presidential elections scheduled in two months' time.

Karman told me she will run for president "if they let me." She says she's confident she'd win, too. In a
tradition-bound country where women often need male permission to leave their own homes -- and are
expected to cover and veil themselves almost completely when they do -- the idea of a woman winning
election as president seems characteristically optimistic.
But Karman has defied those constraints, has literally taken off the veil and shown her face to the world. It is
now the most famous face of Yemen's struggle for freedom. But she's endured death threats and at least one
mob attack. She told me she isn't even sure her children are safe.
Can she really return to Yemen, campaign and win the presidency?
"I will if I am permitted." For some reason, she is smiling and she seems optimisti

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CCYRC Daily Report of the youth's Peaceful Revolution in Yemen


Yemen transition government starts work
Prime Minister Mohammed Baswinder heads the new government to pave way for President Ali
Abdullah Saleh to step down - Aljazeera English
Yemen's national unity government was sworn in on Saturday in the presence of Vice President Abdrabuh
Mansur Hadi, an official statement said. The statement, carried by the official Saba news agency, said the
swearing-in ceremony took place at the Republican Palace in the capital Sanaa.
The new 34-member cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Mohammed Baswinder will now lead Yemen for a
three-month transition period, after which President Ali Abdullah Saleh is expected to formally step down
after 33 years in power.
The unity government will carry out its duties until early elections are held in February, after which Hadi
will take over the presidency for an interim two-year period as stipulated by the Gulf-sponsored deal to
resolve Yemen's political crisis. Half of the new cabinet posts were given to members of the
opposition Common Forum, while Saleh loyalists were appointed to the other half, under the gulf plan.

New Yemen cabinet meets; Nobel winner says Saleh wants war
Reuters
(Reuters) - Fighting overshadowed the first meeting on Saturday of Yemen's new unity government, which is
trying to avert civil war after a deal brokered by the country's Gulf neighbors for President Ali Abdullah
Saleh to step down.
A Yemeni activist, accepting the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, said the conscience of the world should be
haunted by its failure to help Yemen's democratic uprising, and warned that Saleh would choose war rather
than fulfill his pledge to quit.
Clashes in the southern province of Abyan killed 11 militants and two soldiers, and in the capital Sanaa a
soldier was killed in overnight fighting between supporters and opponents of Saleh, officials said.

YEMEN ECONOMIC LOSSES PUT AT US$17 BILLION
National Yemen, Hassan Shahin
Economists in Sana'a estimate that Yemen's economic losses have amounted to US$17 billion since the
eruption of the popular revolt against President Ali Saleh's regime. These huge losses will hinder the efforts
of the new government to carry out recovery and development plans.
They added that after the formation of the next government an international conference should gather in
order to discuss how to support the Yemeni economy. The conference will have to deal with reconstruction
and construction of facilities affected by armed clashes and with invigorating the private sector. Media
reports have indicated that international financial institutions were ready to pump US$2 billion in the first
stage in order to support the Yemeni economy but this is just after the full halt of the mass popular protests
and the end of the economic turmoil,

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CCYRC Daily Report of the youth's Peaceful Revolution in Yemen


The Yemeni Prime Minister, Mohamed Salem Basendwah, has recently announced that Saudi Arabia and the
UAE agreed to provide support to the sector of electricity and petroleum products .This will ease the impact
of the crisis on the lives of citizens.

Yemen Crisis Situation Reports: Update 115
By Katherine Zimmerman December 12, 2011
Al Qaeda made significant gains in Yemen since the outbreak of political unrest in the capital. Yemeni
security forces have been unable to defeat al Qaeda-linked militants in Abyan in south Yemen, who will
continue to pose a threat to the Yemeni state.
Al Qaeda militants escaped from an Aden prison Monday. At least ten militants are believed to have escaped
through a tunnel, the second such escape this year. Some of the prisoners were facing charges over
involvement in assassinations of intelligence officers. Ansar al Sharia, the al Qaeda-linked militant group
that has taken over parts of Abyan, aired a documentary of the June prison break in September.
Yemeni security officials reported that fighting in Abyan killed at least 15 al Qaeda-linked militants and two
security personnel Saturday. Al Qaeda-linked militants attacked a base of the 201st armored brigade
northeast of Zinjibar. Eleven militants and two soldiers were killed in the ensuing firefight, which began
Friday and lasted through Saturday afternoon. Thirty-six soldiers were injured in the fighting. Additional
fighting occurred in al Kod, to the southwest of Zinjibar.
Yemen's new unity government was sworn-in Saturday in Sana'a. The 35-member cabinet will serve for
the next two years and has been tasked with overseeing the drafting of a new constitution. Hundreds of
thousands of Yemenis turned out across the country to demand that President Ali Abdullah Saleh face trial.
Sporadic incidents of violence continue in Sana'a. Five explosions were heard in Sana'a early Sunday; two
people were reported injured. Opposition members reported that Republican Guard troops fired artillery in
northern Sana'a, injuring at least one person Saturday. Friday, a soldier was killed in clashes between
loyalist troops and opposition tribesmen near the residence of Hashid tribal confederation leader Sheikh
Sadiq al Ahmar in al Hasaba district.

Yemen Crisis Situation Reports: Update 114
By Katherine Zimmerman December 9, 2011
Continued unrest in areas outside of Yemeni state control will prove to be a challenge for the new
government in Sana'a.
Fighting escalated between al Houthi rebels and Salafist fighters in Damaj in Sa'ada governorate.
Eyewitnesses reported that Salafists took control of checkpoints and military positions held by the al
Houthis. At least three al Houthi rebels and four Salafist fighters were killed in the fighting Thursday. A
local source reported that Red Cross food assistance recently came through the main al Houthi-controlled
checkpoint, known as Khaneq.
Al Qaeda-linked militants attacked a position held by the 201st armored brigade in Wadi Hassan east of
Zinjibar Thursday. An army officer reported that 15 militants, including a Saudi and an Iraqi, and four
soldiers were killed. Tribesmen killed two suspected al Qaeda militants in Mudia in north Abyan

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CCYRC Daily Report of the youth's Peaceful Revolution in Yemen


governorate. The suspects, Abdullah Umeir and Shokri Shaher, were attempting to enter the town. Yemeni
soldiers in Abyan repelled an al Qaeda-linked militant attack on an army post, killing nine of the militants,
and a firefight east of Zinjibar killed a Yemeni soldier Wednesday night. At least four soldiers were injured,
according to a medic.
Opposition tribesmen and Yemeni troops are withdrawing from Taiz, according to an official. A new
committee in Taiz was in the process of clearing roadblocks and of removing forces from buildings.
Eyewitnesses reported that tanks and armored vehicles have withdrawn from Gurrah Mountain and Thawra
Hospital.
Tens of thousands of people turned out to protest the new government and call for President Ali Abdullah
Saleh's trial. Protesters remained camped in Tagheer (Change) Square in Sana'a, in Hurriyah (Freedom)
Square in Taiz, and elsewhere throughout the country. The new government announced by interim Prime
Minister Mohammed Salam Basendwah will be sworn-in Saturday.
YEMEN: Children at risk as aid access denied
ANA'A, 6 December 2011 (IRIN) - Thousands of people under "siege" by armed rebels in northern Yemen
lack food and healthcare, which has already resulted in deaths and risks killing many more, local leaders and
aid workers say.

Four children under five have died of hunger since Houthi gunmen cut off access to Dammaj village more
than a month ago, Ahmad al-Qurashi, of the local NGO Seyaj Organization for Childhood Protection
(SOCP), told IRIN.

The village, 9km southeast of Sa'ada City, the capital of Sa'ada governorate, is home to about 12,000
people. The area is controlled by the rebels but is home to an institute for Islamic Salafi teachings, Dar al-
Hadith, which is at the centre of the conflict.

Up to 200 other children are at high risk due to the lack of food, water and medical supplies, according to
Hussein al-Hajouri, a spokesman for Dar al-Hadith. They could die if aid organizations are not allowed
access, he said.

"The situation is getting much worse for those stranded children amid lack of food, fuel and medical
supplies," said SOCP chairman Ahmad al-Qurashi. "Healthcare centres in the area have become
inaccessible."

Yemen: Displaced People Face Bleak Living Conditions | WFP ...
World Food Program
Ahmed al-Kuhlani, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and a member of the Shura Council in Yemen's
caretaker government said the displaced were forced to deal with the lack of aid and the country's
deteriorating economic situation. (..) Al-Kuhlani also added "The operational unit works in co-ordination
with the World Food Program (WFP) to provide food for them. The WFP provides flour and oil and the unit
provides the remaining foodstuffs such as rice, sugar, beans, tomato sauce, and other items."

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CCYRC Daily Report of the youth's Peaceful Revolution in Yemen


News Links
Demonstrations in Yemen demand trial for president - Boston.com
U.N. envoy urges new Yemen government to bring stability | Reuters
Demonstrations in Yemen Demand Trial for President - ABC News
New Yemen premier has roots in revolution - Region - World ...
Yemen fighting challenges new unity government - World News ...
http://www.saferworld.org.uk/downloads/pubdocs/Yemen%207th%20proof.pdf
http://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/default/files/public/Research/Middle%20East/1011yf_wksummary
.pdf

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CCYRC Daily Report of the youth's Peaceful Revolution in Yemen




















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