Presidential decree forming Technical Committee for preparing for Comprehensive National Dialogue

By Yemen 24 News

July 15, 2012

SANA'A- The Presidential decree No. 30 for 2012 was issued forming a Technical Committee for the preparation of the Comprehensive National Dialogue, scheduled to take place in November.

The Presidential decree, which included 11 articles, determined the committee's tasks and its work.

The first article of the decree formed the Technical Committee from 25 members, who represent the political power components to participate in the dialogue conference in accordance with the executive mechanism of the GCC initiative.

The Technical Committee members as the following;

1- Ahmed Auadh Mabarek

2-Amel al-Basha

3-Tamam Mohmmed Ali Ba Sharehil

4-Tawekel Abdul Salam Karman

5-J'afar Saeed Ba Saleh

6-Hosam al-Sharjabi

7-Hussain Mohammed Arab

8- Raqiah Abdul Qader Homaidan

9-Radheia Mohammed Abdul Malek al-Motokel

10-Saltan Hezam al-Atwani

11-Dr. Saleh Ali Ba Sora

12-Saleh Ahmed Habra

13-Salah Mosleh Saleh Al-Sayadi

14- Abdul Qader Ali Hilal

15- Dr. Abdul Kareem Ali al-Eriani

16- Dr. Abdul Aziz Saleh bin Habtoor

17-Abdullah Abdul Majed al-Asnej

18- Abdul Wahab Ahmed al-Anisi

19-Majed Faesel Saeed al-Madhehaji

20- Mohammed Abdul Sallam

21-Mohammed Ali Abu Lohom

22-Lisa Haidra Mohammed

23- Nadia Abdul Aziz al-Saqaf

24- Naser Taha Mostafa

25-Dr. Yasin Saeed No'man;

Representing the political power components as the following;

1- the National Coalition (General People Congress and its allies)

2- the National Council (Joint Meeting Parties and its partners)

3- the Political parties and the other effective political sides

4-Youth Movements

5-Sothern Movement

6-Houthis 

7- Civil Society Organizations

8-Women's sector

According to the decree, the members of the committee have been selected based on their established abilities to represent their groups and the dialogue will provide a broad opportunity for those concerned across the republic to participate actively, the decree stated.

The committee will start its job in ten days since its formation, with the first step expected to be electing its head, first and second deputies and a reporter.

The second provision in the decree provided for the period of preparation for the dialogue, and formulating the constitution by a constitutional committee. The constitutional committee, to be selected later, will hold necessary deliberations about a new constitution draft and a public vote on it and then approval of the new constitution.

Furthermore, the provision included an item which concerns with preparations for free, transparent elections at the end of the two-year transitional period including the formation of a new electoral commission, preparing the voter rolls, issuing a new electoral law and finally holding the elections.

All measures to prepare for the dialogue, the constitution, the elections must be according to the power-transfer deal, which was brokered by the GCC and backed by the West in November, and its executive mechanism.

Under the decree, all concerned groups and movements shall have equal representation in the dialogue and active participation, transparency and adherence to the outcomes.

The committee's job is the first step of the four transition steps specified by the deal and which are as follows:

1- The dialogue preparation period which should enable all those concerned have their own decisions which in turn can help shape the dialogue process.

2- Holding the comprehensive national dialogue with the aim to give all Yemenis the opportunity to contribute to the vision of their country's future.

3- Formulating a new constitution to implement the dialogue outcomes and decisions as well as general deliberations about the new constitution draft, a public vote on it and its approval.

4- Preparations for free, transparent elections at the end of the two-year transitional period including the formation of a new electoral commission, preparing the voter rolls, adopting a new electoral law and finally holding the elections.

The dialogue is supposed to reach the following:

1- How to formulate a new constitution starting with the formation of the constitutional committee.

2- First constitutional reform elements including the state structure and other decisions about the regime.

3- Addressing the south issue.

4- Addressing all issues with national dimensions including the tension reasons in Saada.

5- Identifying additional steps to build a comprehensive democratic system including civil service, judicial and local governance reforms.

6- Identifying additional steps to achieve national reconciliation, transitional justice and other measures to ensure no more violations of human rights and human law in the future.

7- Suggesting lawful and other ways to enhance the protection of the weakest groups including the children and necessary measures to ensure women's empowerment development.

The fourth provision stated that the committee assumes its responsibilities until September 30 and then releases its final report.

This move came after more than a month of liaison with the groups mentioned in a power-transfer deal and its UN-sponsored implementation mechanism. The deal and its mechanism called for holding the dialogue in early stages of the second transition period, which started after electing the president in late February.