Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2014 16:12:19 +0200
Secessionists give "Northerners" deadline to leave south Yemen
Houthis continue to spread throughout provinces in northern, central Yemen
Written by : <http://www.aawsat.net/author/arafat-madabish> Arafat Madabish
on : Thursday, 16 Oct, 2014
Sana'a, Asharq Al-Awsat-Southern secessionists in Yemen are demanding that
all "Northerners" leave southern Yemen by November 30, a move which follows
massive rallies and sit-ins in the country's south calling for the
restoration of South Yemen and its independence, as Houthi rebels continue
to spread throughout the north and central areas.
The secessionist Al-Hirak movement, the most prominent pro-secessionist
party, also issued a statement addressing employees of oil and gas, steel,
and fishing companies operating in the south, instructing them to halt all
operations and export activities, and warning them against carrying out any
work without the supervision of "experts" assigned by members of the
"Southern Independence Revolution Force."
Thousands of members of Al-Hirak poured onto the streets of Yemen's main
port city Aden, located on the southern coast, on Tuesday, vowing to stay
there in an "open sit-in" until the government agreed to restore the former
independent state of South Yemen, which merged with North Yemen in 1990.
This comes as the Houthi movement continued to strengthen its stronghold on
the country's central and northern provinces, following its takeover of the
country's capital Sana'a on September 20.
On Tuesday, the group entered the Al-Hudaydah governorate, seizing its
port-Yemen's second-largest-and main airports.
The province is one of the country's main economic and commercial centers,
lying west of the strategic Bab El-Mandeb strait through which most Yemeni
oil headed for global markets, as well as oil shipments from Gulf countries,
passes.
Hassan Harad, a senior figure in the Nasserist Unionist People's
Organization party, told Asharq Al-Awsat there was coordination between the
group and local government representatives to allow it to enter the
Al-Hudaydah governorate without any resistance.
"The entry of the Houthis into Al-Hudaydah and their takeover of the
governorate came about through an understanding between representatives from
the [Houthi-affiliated] Ansar Allah group and local authorities and the
security apparatus. There was also an understanding that the handover be
carried out without any resistance [from the security forces]," he said.
Harad added that "there were directives received from up on high to not
allow the Houthi militias to protest on the streets, and for them to dress
in official military and security uniforms."
After taking over Al-Hudaydah city, the capital of the province, the Houthis
then headed to the city of Bajil where they raided a barracks belonging to
the Yemeni army, seized weaponry and ammunition, then "headed to Sana'a
dressed in military uniforms," Harad said.
In addition to Sana'a and Al-Hudaydah-and the Houthi strongholds of Saada
and Amran-the Houthis have also spread throughout a number of governorates
in the country, including the oil-rich provinces of Al-Jawf and Ma'rib.
In contrast to other reports, local sources told Asharq Al-Awsat the army is
resisting the Houthi advance in a number of areas, launching a number of
raids on Houthi positions in the Ma'rib, Hadhramaut and Al-Bayda
governorates.
However, a local government source from the Al-Bayda governorate told Asharq
Al-Awsat the army and security personnel stationed in the province's
capital, Al-Bayda city, had been "neutral" throughout ongoing clashes
between the Houthis and local tribesmen, not getting involved in the
fighting due to orders they had been given by superiors.
The source said the provincial capital was the scene of clashes between
armed members of the Shi'ite group and members of the local Qifa tribe
allied to Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) on Wednesday.
"The fighting broke out on Wednesday evening after the Houthis blew up the
home of a member of the Qifa tribe. Local tribes allied to AQAP retaliated,
launching a massive attack on the Houthis in the city of Rada' . . . The
fighting lasted 10 hours," and 15 people have died as a result so far, said
the source, who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to brief
the media.
The source also said local tribesmen refused to meet with Minister of
Defense Ahmed Khalil during his last visit to the governorate on Tuesday.
They accused him of "fragmenting the army and handing over the [Al-Bayda]
governorate to the Houthis."
Al-Bayda is home to the Qifa tribe, who are headed by the Al Al-Dhahab
family. The family announced weeks ago they would be resisting the Houthis
should they attempt to enter the province.
The Al Al-Dhahab are part of a tribal alliance in the governorate which has
carried out a number of attacks on army and security installations in recent
years, succeeding in 2012 in briefly taking over the city of Rada' before
being forced out by security forces.
Meanwhile, unknown assailants gunned down an army officer, Col. Ali Zayd
Al-Thari, in Sana'a on Wednesday. Eyewitnesses told Asharq Al-Awsat that
"armed men on a motorcycle used a Kalashnikov rifle to assassinate Col.
Thari," adding that he "died instantly."
Colonel Thari's death is the latest in a string of killings of army and
police officers across Yemen in recent years, many of which have been blamed
on AQAP.
Hamdan Al-Rahbi contributed additional reporting from Sana'a.
<http://www.aawsat.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/1413297160097180300.jpg>
Yemeni supporters of the separatist Al-Hirak shout slogans demanding
independence from the North during a demonstration on October 14, 2014 in
the southern port city of Aden. (AFP Photo/STR)
Yemeni supporters of the separatist Al-Hirak shout slogans demanding
independence from the North during a demonstration on October 14, 2014 in
the southern port city of Aden. (AFP Photo/STR)
(image/jpeg attachment: image001.jpg)