By Zach Waksman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

SANA’A, Yemen – Tuesday’s ceasefire announced between government forces and a revolutionary group headed by a military leader who defected to protect protesters against the Yemeni regime has been shaky at best.  From September 18-21, security forces killed at least 77 activists in Sana’a, the capital, and wounded hundreds more.  At least seven more people died as a result of sniper fire on Thursday. The ceasefire, announced by Vice President Abed Rabbo Mansour al-Hadi Tuesday evening, has not been as effective as expected.  Shortly after the announcement, explosions were heard across Sana’a. 

This new round of violence comes less than a week after President Ali Abdullah Saleh gave Hadi permission to negotiate a proposed deal backed by the United States and European Union.  If signed, Saleh would step down from his position in exchange for immunity from prosecution for himself and his family.  But since that authorization was granted, negotiations for that agreement have not proceeded as quickly has hoped because of the conflict.

The proposed agreement has not been viewed favorably by the Joint Meetings Parties (JMP), one of the opposition groups.  For such negotiations to take place, it felt that either Saleh or Hadi would have to sign a power transfer document.

“They have to say that we accept the initiative,” said JMP leader Yassin Saeed Noman, in reference to the agreement. “Then we can talk about the implementing mechanisms.”

Last week, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, issued a report on the situation in Yemen.  It noted that Yemen’s authorities “appeared to have lost effective control of parts of the country and within the major cities” and warned that Yemen was confronted by the prospect of civil war.

Human Rights Watch, which has closely followed the recent attacks, considered the security forces’ efforts disproportionate to the protesters’ actions.  For instance, a September 18 protest had thousands of activists chanting, among other things, “This is a peaceful march.”  Security forces responded by firing sewage, tear gas, and live ammunition at the dissenters, who responded by throwing rocks.

“These latest killings by Yemeni security forces show exactly why there should be no get-out-of-jail-free card for those responsible,” said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “The Gulf Cooperation Council and other governments involved in negotiating President Saleh’s exit cannot grant immunity for international crimes.”

A September 20 rally in Taiz, in response to the September 18 shootings, was met by a similar show of force.  Eyewitness Anas al-Mashreqi told the Yemen Times about what he saw.

“We were surrounded in a cafeteria and I was scared and expecting to be hit by a stray bullet,” he said.  “I wonder why should a Yemeni kill another Yemeni? Why should the regime insist on crushing the people to stay in power? The ruling party should submit to the will of the people demanding change, a more favorable present and a better future.”

Taiz has been a particularly dangerous location during the months-long conflict.  Residents say that shelling takes place there almost every night.

Sana’a has been repeatedly rocked by shells and mortar fire over the past several days.  Thursday, through SABA, Yemen’s official news agency, the Interior Ministry reported that the rebel forces had been indiscriminately firing mortars in several neighborhoods of the capital. 

“Snipers from the militias loyal the First Armoured Division, Al-Islah Party, and the gangs of Al-Ahmar’s tribesmen have taken position on the rooftops of some business towers in Al-Zubayri Street, from where they are opening fire on citizens and security personnel”, it said in a press release.

There does not seem to be any sign of violence ending anytime soon.  Who to blame for the continued violence is unclear.  A GPC source in Taiz told the Yemen Times, “Whenever there are signs of a breakthrough in the political crisis, the JMP resort to blowing up the situation. The Muslim Brotherhood militias perform armed rallies and blockade streets, break into government offices and plan killing demonstrators themselves and attribute their crimes to the government.” The source affirmed security forces’ commitment to directions by the president and his deputy not to shoot fire no matter what and the necessity for self-restraint.

The JMP views the conflict from the opposite perspective.  “[The Saleh regime doesn’t] want to solve the problem peacefully,” said Noman. “They think they can overcome all others by using weapons. That’s why I think the international community should condemn what is happening.”

So far, efforts to do so have failed.  The High Commissioner has considered setting up an office in Sana’a, which has drawn opposition from Yemen.  A resolution on the situation was expected from the Netherlands at the Human Rights Council meeting later in this week.

For more information, please see:

New York Times — Truce Threatened in Yemen — 22 September 2011

SABA Net — Tribesmen, Rebel Troops Shell Residential Areas in Sana’a — 22 September 2011

Yemen Times — Violence Renewed in Taiz — 22 September 2011

Al Sahwa — Yemen Security Forces Kill 77 Protesters, Wound 780 Others — 21 September 2011

Human Rights Watch — Yemen: Protester Killings Show Perils of Immunity Deal — 20 September 2011

New York Times — Mortars Fall on Yemeni Capital as Battles Continue — 20 September 2011

BBC — Yemen unrest: A deadly game of elite brinkmanship — 19 September 2011