Yemen: Update to YEM34580.E of 12 June 2000, particularly regarding the treatment of tribal leaders (and their families) who were allied with and fought for the Democratic Socialist Popular Yemeni Republic in 1994 (1997-2000)

The Human Rights Guard Report on Human Rights Violations in the Republic of Yemen 1997, although it does not specifically refer to tribal leaders, does indicate that discrimination was widespread against those perceived as having collaborated with the separatist government:

This problem became particularly acute under the climate of victor versus the defeated that accompanied the aftermath of the 1994 civil war. Victors continued to use the civil war as a pretext to further their own interests and ends. Many administrative leaders and public servants were dismissed from their posts merely on the grounds that they were from the southern and eastern governorates. They were considered to have been "a party" of the war, although most, if not all of those dismissed, had been employed in civilian office. Many of these are still suspended from their government jobs and have been unable to find alternative employment. The accusation of "separatist" continues to be used in the media and by various government officials in order to intimidate and prejudice the rights of inhabitants of the southern and eastern provinces and members of the opposition in particular (Jan. 1998).

Other reports also make reference to the targeting of alleged separatists and critics of government policy towards the south (Country Reports, 1997 1998; Amnesty International Mar. 1997).

A 5 July 1999 report in the Mideat Mirror makes the argument that the Yemeni government must reconcile with southern tribal leaders, including those allied with the Yemen Socialist Party (YSP), if Yemen is to attain political and economic stability.

According to the Report on Human Rights Violations in the Republic of Yemen 1999, retribution against people from southern Yemen in the wake of the 1994 civil war remains a concern:

Today, five years after the end of the civil war, it has become abundantly clear that the government of Yemen has reneged on the pledges it lodged with the UN regarding eliminating the aftermath of the civil war. The trial and sentencing of 16 southern leaders, the expulsion of thousands of southerners from the civil service and the army, the ongoing confiscation of land and property, the repression of press freedoms and the right to peaceful protest, the continued refusal to resume the national dialogue, the obstinate rejection of opposition proposals for local government and spiralling corruption and the absence of an autonomous judiciary stand as tangible evidence of the failure of the government to live up to its commitments in every domain that has a bearing on human rights (Mar. 2000).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

Amnesty International (AI). March 1997. Ratification Without Implementation: The State of Human Rights in Yemen. (AI Ref: MDE 31/01/97)

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1997. 1998. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.

Human Rights Guard [Geneva]. March 2000. Report on Human Rights Violations in the Republic of Yemen 1999. [Accessed 6 Sept. 2000]

_____. January 1998. Report on Human Rights Violations in the Republic of Yemen 1997. [Accessed 6 Sept. 2000]

Mideast Mirror. [London]. 5 July 1999. "The Key to Yemen's Political Crisis Lies in One Word: 'Tribes'." (NEXIS)