Top 10 Political Events of 2007

Since Yemen's reunification in 1990, 2007 is one of the worst years as the country has witnessed unprecedented crises at all levels. The events started by the advent of the year with Sa'ada fourth war and it was followed by bloody clashes and protests in southern provinces, leading the country's unity into a dark tunnel.

Still, other events have overshadowed the whole course of the year including the rocketing price hikes, Mareb's terrorist attack on Spanish tourists, rising tensions within the ruling party influential members on one hand and Parliament Speaker Sheikh Abdullah Hussain Al-Ahmer's sons and President Saleh on the other, and the like.  The Yemen Post with the consultancy of numerous political activists, came up with the following list of the top ten political events of 2007:

1. Protests in Southern provinces

Over the course of 2007, southern provinces witnessed increased protests and demonstrations prompted by active opposition socialist leaders outside the country, especially in Aden, Al-Dhal'e, Abyan and to some extent in Hadramout.

Most protests were peaceful, but some turned to be violent as to the bench events that took place in Radfan where six people were killed and many others injured. Radfan bench events aroused anger and prompted different protests in Southern provinces. Pressured by these protests, Interior Minister Rashad Al-Alimi ordered an investigation into the incident and demanded punishing the perpetrators.  

Similar protests were staged in Aden, Al-Dhal'e and Al-Mukalla and they were timed with the different national celebrations like 14th October (Independence Day), 7th July (the day in which unity forces entered Aden and won over what is known as secessionists) and November 30th (the day in which the last British soldier left the south Yemen) and these events left behind dozens killed and injured from among protesters and security forces.

The protests started with military and civil pensioners demanding their rights in full; while others asked for reinstatement into their military and security units together with retroactive compensations. However, things turned to be different under the back-up of opposition leaders outside Yemen who ask for getting things as they were before May 22, 1990. 

2. Sa'ada 4th & 5th War

The 4th war involving official army and Al-Houthi-led followers broke out in Sa'ada – some 245 km. north of Sana'a - late January 2007. Neutral estimations put the war bill at over a billion dollars. Thousands of soldiers, Houthis and civilians have been killed and injured. Some cities and villages have been leveled causing war material losses to increase markedly.

The war also caused over 50,000 to abandon their own lands to flee to peaceful places especially in areas neighboring Saudi Arabia. The reports of humanitarian organizations working in Sa'ada emphasize the situationwas bad, and most displaced people have no access to food, clean drinking water and medicine.

By June, the war stopped following the successful mediation of Qatari leadership that resulted in signing Sa'ada ceasefire agreement. Later, a parliamentarian committee including Qatari representatives was formed to follow up the implementation of the agreement's terms including abandoning the clashes, forming committees to count the material losses and grant the compensations, etc.

However, the committee gave up their involvement three months later because of ceasefire breaches by both sides on one hand and the attempts of war traders to prolong it on the other.

Recently, President Saleh delegated tribal Sheikhs led by Sheikh Faris Mana'a to embark on direct talks with Houthi field leaders Abdulmalik Al-Houthi and Abdullah Aidhah Al-Ruzami in an effort to avoid a fifth war which many observers believe it is at the door steps.

3. Mareb's car attack against Spanish Tourists

A convoy of Spanish tourists was bombed by terrorists near Queen Belquis Shrine in Mareb and left behind seven killed and five others injured. Yemeni official authorities laid the blame on Al-Qaeda network and the hunting made later by security forces resulted in killing three terrorists and arresting several others in Sana'a and Mareb, including an Egyptian national.

In return, the Yemen-based Al-Qaeda released a video tape in which they disclosed their direct involvement with the incident and vowed to make more attacks in the future, hinting their acts are made after Yemeni authorities stormed different operations and did not free several Al-Qaeda elements.

The incident was considered by many political observers to be an indicator that Al-Qaeda still has a strong presence in Yemen despite the official claims to the otherwise. They also believe that Queen Belquis Shrine's incident has revealed that the security forces can be easily penetrated, especially when Al-Qaeda announced earlier they would employ terrorist operations.  

Meanwhile, the incident directed a tough blow to Yemen's tourism, which started to revitalize by then, along with the official efforts to boost investments. It came just few months following the launch of Investment Opportunities Exploration Conference.  

4. JMP reject Saleh's matrix of constitutional amendments

On the eve of 26th September, President Saleh announced a matrix of constitutional amendments and called on Joint Meeting Parties (JMP) for dialogue over wide constitutional amendments in the ruling system.

Saleh's call is considered by several observers to be an advanced step in reforming the ruling mechanism and JMP surprisingly did not accept the call and rejected any dialogue with the ruling party, the General People Congress (GPC) though they called for these amendments before conducting the presidential and local elections in September 20, 2006.

Still, the GPC stressed it will continue the measures aiming to approve these amendments including reducing the presidential term to five years instead of seven, restricting the authorities of the President, adopting a certain ruling system: either presidential or parliamentarian.  Further, the amendments include adaptation of wide local governance wherein the governors are directly elected by the locals in each governorate.

The Supreme Commission for Elections and Referendum's (SCER) term ended in October and there has been a difference between the JMP and GPC over the mechanism in which the new SCER is to be formed. According to the agreement of principles signed between both parties, the new SCER is to be nominated by the President from among 14 judges selected by Parliament from an initial list of 21 judges submitted by the Supreme Judicial Council.

Because of these differences, the formation of the SCER has been postponed by the parliament committee until the end of the Eid vacation; while the JMP signaled their intention to boycott the parliamentarian elections due to be conducted in April 2009 once there has been no reconciliation over forming the new SCER.   

5. More restrictions in press freedom

2007 has been one of the worst years as to press freedom. Numerous opposition journalists and papers are still facing trails in the State Specialized Penal Court over cases raised by different government parties at the top of which comes the case of Abdulkkarim Al-Khaiwani, former Editor-in-Chief of Al-Shoura newspaper and Al-Shoura.net. Moreover, three editors of Al-Shar'e newspapers face trials in cases raised by Defense Ministry over accusations whose retribution could reach capital punishment. 

Freedoms Committee at the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate (YJC) has recorded over 90 cases of violations against press ranging from beating, harassment, abductions, threats of physical liquidation and confiscation of property.

During Sa'ada fourth war, media outlets were not allowed into the province to cover war news and several websites and text messages have been subjected to blocking by Telecommunications and Information Ministries, claiming these websites are not included within the notorious law of press and printings.

Moreover, Sa'ada war and southern provinces' events have passively overshadowed the press freedom and several newspapers and satellite channels were prevented from reporting and, in some cases, property was confiscated.

Meanwhile, International Federation for Journalists requested President Saleh to drop Al-Khaiwani's trial.

6. Differences between President Saleh and Al-Ahmar's sons aggravate 

One of the biggest political events has been the differences between Speaker of the Parliament Sheikh Abdullah Al-Ahmar's sons  Hamid and Hussain.

Both publicly have criticized the ruling party, General People Congress (GPC), and its policies, especially Hussain who has been elected as a Member of the Parliament in 2003 under the party's banner.

Due to the growing crisis betwwen both sides, Hussain formed a new council called the National Solidarity Council involving hundreds of Sheikhs from around the country.

In more escalation, last month he called for a Hashed Conference, whose main mission was fighting corruption and reinforcing national unity.

Hussain's move encouraged other young GPC leaders including Yasser Al-Awadhi, Abdullah Maysari and Mohammed Al-Qadhi to turn to the same path and criticize their party publicly and sometime the president himself.

The two sons follow a different policy from that followed by their father who used to follow a reconciling policy with President Saleh and backed him through the different stages. He also supported him during the last presidential elections conducted in 2006 though his party, Islah, under the opposition coalition backed his rival Faisal bin Shamlan.

Observers stress that the relation between Saleh and Al-Ahmar's sons could get worse now after the passing away of the father.

7. Nuclear power and corruption scandal

Assuming the post of Electricity and Energy Minister, Mustufa Baharn  told President Saleh Yemen could produce electricity through nuclear reactors which is less expensive and safe, prompting the latter to announce many times that Yemen will spare no effort to produce electricity by nuclear energy.

Baharn, formerly Saleh's advisor on science, attempted to pursue his dream as his ministry signed an agreement with the U.S. Powered Corp to construct three nuclear reactors to produce enough energy that could cover up for the current and future needs; however, a report by a Yemeni journalist residing in America turned the whole matter into a corruption scandal.

Journalist Moneer Al-Mawri published a report supported by documents in which he pointed out that the company is not competent enough and has no previous experience to construct such a project. He further noted the company's financial position is not strong and its owner Jalal Al-Ghani, an American citizen originally from Yemen, is sued in the U.S. over embezzlement issues by his former employers.

Meanwhile, Anti-Corruption Committee sent a letter to Bahran demanding clarification on the matter and government was forced later to abolish the deal with the company under the popular pressure. Instead of nuclear power, Electricity Ministry signed an agreement with a British Company to study generating electricity through wind tribunes.

8. Cabinet reshuffle

Two weeks before conducting Investment Opportunities Exploration Conference on April 22 – 23, a government reshuffle was announced with the former Electricity Minister Ali Mujwar appointed as the Prime Minister instead of Abdulqader Bajamal whose government's policy was not pleasing to donor countries.

Most key ministers of Defense, Foreign Affairs, Interior, Oil and Minerals and Information remained in their posts and just Minister of Finance Saif Al-Asali was shifted to Trades and Industry but he declined the new posts. Al-Asali was replaced by Noman Al-Souhaibi, formerly head of tax authority.

Despite the fact that a similar reshuffle was made in 2006, the new move aimed at signaling that President Saleh is serious about keeping his promises included in his electoral platform. The reshuffle was also made in an effort to convince and satisfy donor countries who were unhappy with the performance of Bajamal's government, particularly when incapable of ridding corruption.

According to observers, the performance of the new government is not convincing and things are worse than before, especially when prices of food commodities rocketed and people's suffering increased.

9. Price hikes

As to prices, 2007 is the worst year and commodities prices have increased markedly, particularly of wheat, flour, milk and its derivates. They have risen to unprecedented level with a sack of wheat sold against YR 5,500 to 6,000.

Prior to 2006 presidential elections, a sack of wheat was sold at YR 2500 and citizens believed then things will get better soon; however, their dreams evaporated as prices started to increase remarkably after the elections.

Under these hikes, middle-income poor people's suffering increased and the salary increases were not to meet the increases that included all commodities, coupled with increases of fares for rented houses and transport means.

However, businessmen stress the increases in food commodities are recorded across the globe, mainly because of bad weather in parts of Europe and America – the main exporters of wheat and other commodities.

In return, economists hold that businessmen's accounts are not correct and assure the world increase is at 13 percent and not 100 – 200 percent as recorded with some food commodities in the Yemeni market.

10. Volcanic eruption in Jabal Al-Tair Island

The only natural disaster was the eruption of volcanic activity on early October in Jabal Al-Tair Island (literally Bird Mountain), unpopulated island 70 miles to the west of port city Al-Hodeidah.

Official statistics indicated that the volcanic activity killed 9 soldiers and other 47 were slightly injured as the island a small group of navy forces was positioned in the island.

According to experts, the volcano caused no environmental harm to the neighboring areas and the last activity was recorded in the island in 1883.