Organized Chaos

August 1, 2011: President Saleh is still in a Saudi hospital, but is well enough to issue daily calls for a negotiated peace. The loose rebel coalition refuses to talk, and constantly demand that Saleh step down and the ruling coalition of tribal strongmen be reshuffled. This means some tribal leaders will lose power and cash, and these guys are not yet ready to take the hit. But time is against the Saleh coalition, as the growing shortages of fuel and food are spurring more tribesmen to grab their rifles (most adult Yemenis have one) and go fight the pro-Saleh (government) forces. Some Yemeni tribal leaders fear that if a new government is not formed, the country will end up like Somalia. But the Yemenis are not as savage as the Somalis, nor are the Islamic militants as strong. But the fighting in Yemen could go on for weeks, or months.

Low level fighting continues mainly in the southern province of Abyan, where nearly 100,000 civilians have fled because of the violence. A northern tribe is threatening the capital, but it is not strong enough to get past the army troops guarding the suburbs.

All the Islamic terrorist groups appear to have joined the fight. Most of these groups have pledged their allegiance to al Qaeda (and its new leader). But all the factions do not appear to be coordinating their attacks. Instead, the terrorists attack government forces whenever they can. This amounts to a few suicide bombings a week and some ambushes. Most of the anti-government tribesmen have turned against al Qaeda. This is partly because of opposition to the al Qaeda goal of a religious dictatorship, and partly anger at terrorist bombings that kill a lot of civilians. Several towns in Abyan province have been cleared of al Qaeda gunmen. Over the last two months, al Qaeda groups entered several towns and cities and tried to take over by force. But they were greatly outnumbered, and their fanaticism was no match for the fact that most adult Yemeni males have weapons. Anger enough of these guys, and you have a major problem.

Troops continue to fight al Qaeda gunmen in the southern city of Zinjibar. This violence has caused about 200 casualties (including at least 40 dead) so far. The government has been using air strikes to bomb known locations in the city the terrorists were using as bases. Most residents are opposed to the terrorists, and supply lots of information on what the al Qaeda men are up to. But sometimes this backfires. Three days ago, pro-government tribesmen advanced, the air force was not informed, and the pro-government gunmen were bombed. There were nearly a hundred casualties, including several dozen dead.

North of the capital, tribesmen have been firing on a Republican Guard base for the last few days. The government claims over 40 of the attackers have been killed, but the attackers keep shooting. The tribes have threatened to attack the main airport outside the capital. The tribesmen accused the Republican Guard of shelling their villages.

July 31, 2011: In the southern port city of Aden, an al Qaeda suicide car bomber killed four soldiers.

July 30, 2011: Most of the major tribes in southern Yemen have formed the “Alliance of Yemeni Tribes.” This was done at the camp of 1st Armored Division, whose commander split with the government four months ago. The Alliance will be guided by a Consultative Council composed of 116 tribal leaders.

July 29, 2011: In the capital, pro and anti-government demonstrations took place. Most Yemenis want a new government, but the current one has enough support, and armed forces, to maintain control of most of the country.

July 28, 2011: Tribesmen attacked troops north of the capital. In the southern city of Taiz, troops fired on demonstrators.

The UAE has donated 40,000 tons of diesel fuel to Yemen, to help relieve the growing fuel shortage there.

July 27, 2011: Al Qaeda announced that it wanted $12 million ransom for three French aid workers it had kidnapped in May. This will not be paid, as the cash will be used to launch more terror attacks.

July 26, 2011: Al Qaeda's Arabia branch (headquartered in Yemen) released an audio message pledging loyalty to Ayman al Zawahiri as al Qaeda's new leader. The Islamic radicals also repeated their goal of taking control of Saudi Arabia. Al Qaeda fled Saudi Arabia five years ago because of popular anger at terror attacks in the kingdom.

July 24, 2011: A suicide bomber attacked a military convoy in Aden province, killing four soldiers. The bomber was later identified as from Saudi Arabia (as are many members of al Qaeda in Yemen).

Yemen tribes unite to hasten Saleh's overthrow

July 31, 2011

YEMENI'S tribal leaders have announced the creation of a coalition to bolster six months of popular protests seeking civil rights and the overthrow of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

"Saleh will not rule us as long as I am alive," Sheik Sadiq al-Ahmar, the powerful head of the Hashid tribe, said after being appointed head of the new coalition against the Saudi-backed regime.

The Alliance of Yemeni Tribes was revealed during a ceremony at the headquarters of the First Armoured Division, whose leader, dissident General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmad, joined the protest movement in March.

The coalition pledged "to protect and defend . . . the popular and peaceful revolution" of Yemenis, who have been holding sit-ins and protests throughout the nation since January against the Saleh regime.

"Any aggression or threat against the protest venues . . . will be considered an attack against the tribes," the group said.

Mr Saleh belongs to the Hashid tribe, which backed the regime until it broke ranks to join the protest movement in March.

The veteran Yemeni strongman has been in hospital in Saudi Arabia since early June, reportedly for operations on wounds he suffered in a bomb attack on his presidential palace.

Up to 600 leaders and tribal chiefs attended the ceremony on Saturday, where a 116-member consultative council was formed to challenge the Saleh regime.

Tribal leaders wield much influence in Yemen. In March, Sheik Sadiq announced his support for the protesters and called for the overthrow of Mr Saleh, who has ruled for 33 years.

Source: The Australian

What are the causes of Yemen current economic crises?

By: Fares Anam

Sana'a, July 31, 2011- What are the causes of Yemen current economic crises? And who stands behind it? And what is the real solution to end it?

As Usual, Yemenis are ready to receive the Holy Month of Ramadan, but this year it seems different. Citizen began its reception by new dose of increased fuels by 130%. Yemeni markets witnessed a drastic increase in some necessary and basic foods, leading joy to tun into sadness. Yemen has witnessed an economic collapse crisis since five months. Yemen Observer went to the streets of Sana’a and asked people about the real reason of the collapse of the economic situation in Yemen and who stands behind it? And what’s the real solution to solve the economic crisis? This is what people had to say about it.

Thaer alqahtani 26 Logistic assistant I can tell you briefly that a lot of people are out of job since what happened (demonstrations) and what they said “they go out for the poor people”, it is not true at all “it is all lies”. Now everyone will suffer because what is happening.

Even the rich people are suffering by closing their business. In addition, some people were fired from their occupations.

A lot of western companies are closing and there will be fewer jobs available. Also, Yemen will suffer the worst crises in YEMEN’s history Because of the unstable situation a lot of investment will take place in other countries, they will find a stable place and peaceful people.

Actually, this crisis will extend and not only in the economic area but also in the social area such as the relationship in the family.

The real answer about who’s behind it? I can’t think of a person or a society or country or anybody.

I asked everyone, whether in Yemen or outside. Yemenis must concert endeavors to preservation the Economic from tumbling till disaster. We proclaim the wise leaders whom have huge influences between all parties to see for Yemen first before “An axe hit our Heads”.

The solution in my point of view is the election. We should be more civilized and follow the system; we are not in the jungle we should respect each other and go to the ballot box.

This is the final step for everything that is happening; but also the beginning of a new system.Even though it will be a little difficult, it will start to run and we will start a normal life again without fighting for who governs Yemen.

Abdulraheem al-Tam Employee In my point of view, the reason of this economic crisis is the sins that people committed in their life and those people who are sitting in the change square lead by the joint meeting party are the real reason of this crisis.

The government also involved in exaggerating this problem by cutting fuel and electricity power. I think the real solution to get rid of this crisis is returning to ALLAH and leaving the sins and returning to the Quran. The Youth and people who are protesting in all squares must return to their homes because the revolution failed. They did not do anything when the president left to Saudi Arabia for treatment.

The government must work hard to end this problem to make people fast the holy month of Ramadan peacefully.

Omar Basha 22, Security employee In my point of view, Yemenis are living these days with concern because of the coming of Ramadan and continuing the demonstrations in the streets since six months. This political crisis leads to an economical crisis with a shortage of fuel, diesel and skyrocketing food prices.

This crisis doubled every day and our economic collapsed because of the disaster caused by the bombing oil pipelines and electricity towers in Marib. I think there are outlawed people whose stand behind this crisis and living in al-Hasabah or in Arhab.

We ask all people who have religious and humanist conscience to rule their mind and deal with this crisis in a rational way because Yemen comes first before any personal benefits. Protestors shall not wage war on the state and nation.

The youth must make concessions like the President Saleh made to avoid chaos in Yemen. We can’t live in this bad economic situation in Ramadan. I think that we must turn to the right path and protesters must give concessions to end this crisis.

Almeqdad Jameel, 25 Administrative officer The cause of the bad economic situation in Yemen is the weakness of the current government and its satisfaction with this situation in order to be a crisis, not a revolution. It is a crisis contrived by the regime that leads to lack of oil derivatives.

The electricity power functioned upon the arrival of the United Nations delegate and shut down upon their departure and that it is evidence that confirms that it is a fabricated crisis.

I confirm that it is a revolution not an artificial economic crisis by the regime. I see that the best solution to end this crisis is to hand over power peacefully to the hands of young people.

Because the wheel of history will not be turned back, no matter how fabricated crises forms like oil, electricity or water or food and beware of manipulation of the living of the poor citizen, which will lead to an (armed) revolution. I mean when the citizen can’t find anything to fill his hunger, so he will take it by force. Fadhle Makki, 30 Translator & Interpreter All of us here in Yemen are suffering from a very difficult situation nowadays.

But, it is not a new thing for Yemen. Why Yemen? Why not one of our neighboring countries? Why everyone blame the other. The government blames the opposition parties, and the opposition parties blame the government. Even people started to blame each others.

So, who is to blame for this crisis? As a matter of fact, we can not blame any of those alone. We are a whole community and integrated components that form this whole society which combines together to form this country we all love “Yemen.” If it is so, who is left to blame for the aggressive conditions we are passing through, and what is the best way to get us out of it. In the first lines above, a question was asked “why Yemen.”

The answer is Selfishness. Some wonder might arise like “what does selfishness have to do with all this?” But after thinking deeply, the answer will be as clear as the afternoon sun. Selfishness is the reason for all the bad things that happens to Yemen which we are all part of it. Most people think about themselves.

Their idea about developing and improving this country is absolutely wrong. They think that improving themselves individually will improve the whole country. If they are well, Yemen will be well.

That is the reason why anyone, who gets a higher position in any governmental facility, department or section, starts thinking of how to get individual benefits for himself, how to develop himself, not the country.

They did not realize that by developing the whole country, they will develop themselves and others at the same time. So, the solution is so easy and clear.

But we all have to participate to implement it; the government, the opposition parties and every individual in this country.

We all have to leave selfishness behind and think of the good things we have to do for the whole integrated society to create a happy Yemen again. We have to dispose of the grudge we hide against each others. If it is difficult to just think of Yemen and think of “us” not “me.”

Air raids killed our allies, says Yemen government

Sunday 31 July 2011

Air strikes in southern Yemen targeting militants supposedly linked to al-Qaida accidentally killed 40 pro-government tribesmen on Saturday, Yemeni authorities have admitted.

Government forces are battling various opposition groups across Yemen, from within the capital to many of the outlying regions, as an uprising against the rule of President Ali Abdullah Saleh that began six months ago has proved impossible to crush.

US-ally Mr Saleh has been in hospital in Saudi Arabia for over a month but has so far refused to give up power, insisting that he must "oversee" any planned elections.

The military have been commanded by his son in his absence.

AQAP publishes the biographies of its members killed in Yemen

Majid al-Kibsi

Jul 31, 2011

Sana'a - Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula announced the names and the biography of its members who were killed at Abyan in its latest issue of inspire magazine last week.

The last issue of inspire Magazine run by al-Qaeda mentioned the name of its members who were killed by the Yemeni Army during the conflict in Abyan and the cover held a photo for Osama Bin Laden who was killed in an American assault operation in Pakistan in May.

Qaid Salim Talib Snian al-Harithi also known in AQAP as Abu Ali al-Harithi, During the fighting in Abyan, his vehicle was struck by a missile from an American drone according to the magazine. The Ministry of Defense said that he was killed in a car explosion in Marib in addition to six other members. Al-Harithi was ranked by the Yemeni Authorities as the most wanted man from al-Qaeda. He was considered as the main planner of attacking the USS Cole destroyer on December 12,2000.

Ammar al-Wa’ili started fighting with Al-Qaeda in a very early time in his life. His father was a leader of the Jihadist in Yemen who was appointed by Osama bin Laden to open a training camp in the area of Sa’adah. This was where the young boy spent his early years. He traveled to Afghanistan as a young boy and spent years fighting and training with al-Qaeda. Hassan al-Aqili, also known as Fawaz al-Ma’ribi, He and six other members were about to execute an operation on a large checkpoint near Aden.

He was the Amir. “The operation began. The mujahidin ravaged the checkpoint in no time, killing everyone except one soldier. He ran somewhere and hid himself. He was a sniper. As Fawaz went to look for him as a lion looks for its prey, the sniper shot him in the neck.” Said the article about him and continued “The bullet entered from the side of his neck and came out the back. He let out a laugh and collapsed to the earth.

The brothers quickly rushed to the apostate. Then one of them took out a knife and severed his head.” Al-Aqili was the person in the cover of Inspire fourth issue according to the magazine.

Ali Saleh Farhan, From the tribe of al-Jalal in Marib, Ali Saleh was hit in the chest by a sniper’s bullet while fighting in Abyan. Sami al-Dali (AKA Abu Hatim ) from Habrah, Sana’a. He attended a college in Sana’a to study and within the first few days, he left it and joined al-Qaeda.

The Magazine also reviewed the biography of Abu Hashim al-Sana’ani. When in Sana’a, he took part in various operations with the brothers. He was an active member of AQAP in their fight against al-Houthies and quickly became an expert in light and heavy weaponry.

When he was posted in Saada, he trained the brothers in weapons. The inspire Magazine is now being distributed via internet, and it contains information regarding the Jihadists, fatwas, training of using weapons and instructions to make bombs.

Source: Yemen Observer