SANA'A: Despite President Ali Abdallah Saleh's signature of the power-transfer, Yemenis are still very much demonstrating and protesting against an agreement they say they did not agree to nor participated in writing. “Politicians have betrayed the spirit of our Revolution. How are we supposed to build a new and fair Yemen if criminals are allowed to walk free for they wielded power? How is he [Saleh] better than us? How does [Saleh] get to escape justice with his money, undisturbed?” asked a youth in Change Square. On Friday, thousands upon thousands of Yemeni men and women, young and old, rich and poor descended upon the streets of their cities, determined to stand up for justice and denounce what many called “the end of the UN.” An activist in Taiz explained that by vouching for a deal which grants Saleh immunity and even urging all parties in Yemen to conform to the agreements clauses, the UN just put itself outside international law and negating its purpose. And indeed, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) “War crimes and crimes against humanity, wherever they are committed, shall be subject to investigation and the persons against whom there is evidence that they have committed such crimes shall be subject to tracing, arrest, trial and, if found guilty, to punishment.” Furthermore “In accordance with article 1 of the Declaration on Territorial Asylum of 14 December 1967, States shall not grant asylum to any person with respect to whom there are serious reasons for considering that he has committed a crime against peace, a war crime or a crime against humanity. States shall not take any legislative or other measures which may be prejudicial to the international obligations they have assumed in regard to the detection, arrest, extradition and punishment of persons guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity.” Protesters were quite clear in saying that although they were pleased that Saleh had eventually yielded to political and popular pressure they were dissatisfied with the terms of the agreement. “Our objection to the deal is the immunity from prosecution, which the Gulf Cooperation Council gave to him [Ali Saleh],” said one demonstrator. “This is the thing that we reject completely and that is why we wills stay here [protesting] until it is achieved.” In Sana'a, the Yemeni capital, pro-Ali supporters staged a rally for their soon-to be President. As local Media reported, it wasn't long before clashed between the 2 groups took place, as Security Forces personnel and dissident troops pounced on each other, maddened with anger and frustration. With the situation more tense than ever and sporadic armed clashes throughout the nations, Yemen' stability is still in danger. BM
