A CSO coalition reveals serious violations by Houthi-Saleh militias in Yemen during a human rights seminar in Geneva

GENEVA, 6th March, 2016 (WAM) -- The Yemeni Coalition to Monitor Human Rights Violations (YCMHRV) organised, a seminar on human rights situation in Yemen. The seminar discussed various aspects of violations committed by Houthi-Saleh militias and was held in the premises of the Human Rights Council in Geneva on the margins of the 31st session of the UN Human Rights Council. The session has started on February 29 and extends until March 19. During the seminar, the coordinator of the YCMHRV Mutahar Albudhaigh, pointed out that the crimes perpetrated by these militias vary from killing to using prisoners as human shields, torture to death and arbitrary detentions against civilians, politicians and activists since these militias started this armed conflict. Albudhaigi presented the suffering of the City of Taez which is under siege by Houthi-Saleh militias since more than nine months. The siege is being used by these militias as a lethal weapon against their rivals who support the legitimate government. He indicated that this collective siege has taken different forms. Foodstuffs, essential materials and daily needs of the civilian population are being prevented including the prevention of entry of drinking water, foodstuffs, cooking gas, humanitarian and relief aid materials, medicines, medical supplies and medical oxygen cylinders. Albudhaighi mentioned that the siege has resulted in the closure of all hospitals in the city with the exception of three hospitals working partially out of 37 hospitals originally. Also, 65 dispensaries and medical centres and more than 43 pharmacies were closed. ? The siege of the City of Taez has resulted in multiple humanitarian plights. Prices have soared, the purchasing power of residents weakened and essential items have disappeared from the market. Several death cases have been reported due to lack of medical oxygen in hospitals. Medicines for chronic diseases have become scarce. During the seminar, three working papers were presented; the first paper discussed violations perpetrated by Houthi-Saleh militias in Taez. The head of Withag Civic Organisation, Najeeb Alsaadi, presented human stories of violations committed by these militias and Saleh forces against civilians. He pointed out that the number of documented violations during the period from 15 March 2015 until February 2016 is 43,195 cases of violations against civilians. Alsaadi said that 1,123 civilians have been killed; of whom 217 were children, 122 were females and 784 were males. The total number of wounded people is 7,230 of whom 1,710 are children, 1,091 are women and 4,430 are men. The number of kidnapping cases is 112 cases. He indicated that residential neighbourhoods in the province of Taez are under random shelling in a daily practice. Residential areas were bombarded 484 times and received than 2,231 shells. As a result, many people were killed including women and children. Eighteen houses were detonated using dynamite in the areas of Mashrah, Hadnan, Aljahmaliah and Almisrakh. Alsaadi said; "Houthi group and forces loyal to Saleh planted anti-personnel land mines in areas they retreat from or areas they fear that the army loyal to president Hadi may take. They plant these land mines in agricultural and residential areas frequented by civilians. They have planted land mines in Alshuraijah and Alhuaimi on Taez-Aden road, in Najd Qaseem and Almisrakh and in Gabal Habashi area". He added: "several mines exploded in civilians as they passed in these areas. We have documented that 12 people have been killed by land mines including a child and five women. Eleven others were injured including two children and a woman". Alsaadi also spoke about the effects of the siege of Taez by Houthi-Saleh militias. He highlighted that foodstuffs in the city are scarce. Medicines are also unavailable, including essential medical oxygen cylinders and this has resulted in the death of some injured people and kidney failure patients. Drinkable water in the city is also unavailable and residents are using undrinkable water sources such as rain water and this threatens by an imminent environmental disaster. People are also humiliated and their dignity undermined as they pass through Aldahi crossing. In some incidents, civilians were killed while crossing. Women were also harassed by Houthi militia fighters. Prices of all goods inside the city have soared due to high transportation costs as some goods are brought into the city through rugged mountainous roads and on foot. In the second paper on freedom of opinion and expression in Yemen, journalist Ghamdan Alyousofi presented various violations against press and media freedoms in Yemen during the year 2015. A total number of 319 violations have been reported while 11 agencies were involved in different degrees according to the last report issued by the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate. Alyousofi stated that kidnappings, persecutions and arrests have dominated these violations with 86 cases (27per cent of total reported violations). Next is attacks and attempted killing with 85 reported cases. Fifty news websites were blocked. Thirty-eight cases of threats, harassment and defamation were reported while thirty-six cases of closure of media means and confiscation of cameras were documented. Fourteen cases of dismissal from work and salary suspension were reported. In addition, ten media workers and cameramen were killed. He pointed out that Houthi group is involved in 250 cases of all 319 cases (79 per cent) while an anonymous entity have committed 33 violations (7per cent). Security and government agencies controlled by the Houthis have committed 17 violations (5 per cent) followed by Al Qaeda Organisation which committed 10 violations (3per cent). The Arab Coalition has committed 9 violations (3per cent of total number of violations). Alyousofi also stated that resistance fighters in Aden were involved in 5 violations (2per cent) followed by the former president Saleh (2 cases; 1per cent). Government officials, influential people and political entities have committed one violation each (0per cent). In a paper on forced disappearance and torture in Yemen, the monitoring and documentation unit officer in Sam Rights and Freedoms Organisation, Tawfiq Alhumaidi, pointed out that 12,241 cases of forced disappearance and torture have been reported including 8,458 cases of arbitrary detention, 1,077 torture cases and 2,706 forced disappearance cases. He indicated that 69per cent of these cases were kidnapped from their houses or their workplaces, 20per cent of them were kidnapped in checkpoints while 11per cent of them are family members of prisoners who were taken as hostages to exercise pressure on pursued people to turn themselves in. Alhumaidi stated that categories most affected by these kidnappings and disappearances are high government officials, partisan and political leaders opposing the coup-d’etat, human right activities, civilians, journalists and media workers, children and women, and even people with special needs. He also presented some forms of torture some kidnapped people were subjected two. These forms of torture were documented based on testimonies of victims and their family members made to human right organisations or media means. Torture techniques included blindfolding for extended periods of time, deprivation from food and drink, beating by sticks and wires in all parts of the body in a brutal manner leading to death in some cases. These techniques also included deprivation from sleeping by using noise (chanting), removal of clothes during interrogation, solitary confinement for extended periods inside bathrooms or in small spaces. They also include positioning prisoners near weapon depots and locations targeted by air strikes. Prisoners were also interrogated for long hours in unsuitable times. Some prisoners were kept inside the same cells of mentally-ill inmates. The seminar was also associated with a photo gallery. More than 50 pictures documenting Houthi-Saleh militia violations in Yemen were displayed. – Emirates News Agency, WAM - http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395292425167.html http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395292425255.html