Mohamed Naji A'law, Yemen's most prominent rights organization's Director, HOOD, conducted an interview with al-Ghumurya, a Yemeni online newspaper, revealing facts relating to the al-Karama massacre. A year ago, on March 18, 2011, 52 protesters were killed while demanding the end of President Ali Abdullah Saleh's regime, confronted by armed thugs who mercilessly unleashed a torrent of live ammunition and tear gas onto the unsuspecting crowd. Various allegations were made as to who was to be held responsible for the killing of civilians, with warring political factions accusing each other. Quite famously rebel General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar publicly held the regime responsible saying that Yehia Mohamed Saleh, the Head of Yemen's Central Security Forces had ordered his men to disguise themselves before attacking protesters to better claim deniability afterwards. As for the regime, it continues to accuse the 1st Armored Division, and hence the General for having orchestrated the massacre, arguing that al-Islah was trying to enrage protesters against President Saleh. Following is the transcript of the interview: What do you make of the ambiguities which still surround al-Karama massacre a year on? Since the committee in charge of the enquiry is itself corrupted, ambiguities are expected. The District Attorney is directly under the control of the army and therefore has no real objectivity. It underscores the need of a judiciary reform which would free Judges from governmental influences and political games. What happened then on that dreadful day? It's really hard to say, the facts have been manipulated by the regime and differentiating propaganda from reality is almost impossible at this stage. The district attorney followed the regime's instructions to the letter. However, it is interesting to see that immediately after al-Karama, the DA, Doctor, Abdullah al-O'lfi handed out his resignation, clearly refusing to take further part into a murderous cover-up. We managed to convince him otherwise urging him to use his position to unveil the truth to the public. He started his investigations and discovered that on many levels the army was involved in the killing as well as the Central Security Forces, despite fierce denial from the ruling party and the government. His stand against President Saleh and his opposition of the establishment of a state of emergency led to his dismissal later on actually. When the new DA was appointed, the men held by the state were released without any charges being brought against them. (following the massacre, General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar who had by then self-declared himself the “protector of the Revolution” had arrested a dozens of men who he said had been seen shooting at protesters and was holding them inside his military base. Following a lengthy “pour-parler” with the regime, the General reluctantly handed out the culprits entrusting the state with judging them. The men were almost immediately set free.) It's known that the killers had been arrested at the time of the massacre by gen. Mohsen's men and that later on they were handed over to the controlling committee of “Change Square”, then to the army headed by Ali Mohsen who joined the anti-government protesters after the massacre, what happened then? Well Mohsen made the mistake of transferring the prisoners to the regime, when he should have kept them under his custody. How many were they? I remember they were seventeen. Have all the killers been released? Yes, all of them. They were released deliberately then were prosecuted as fugitives from justice. The regime is still very much in control of the judiciary so how can anyone expect a fair trial. Were all the prosecution witnesses deposed? Frankly, only some of them had their testimony officially recorded by the court. We stopped the proceedings as we knew the DA was not treating the matter seriously. In any case, the DA was dismissed and replaced by a regime loyalist so there was no point really. The state only indulged in this farce of a trial because it sought to prevent the international community from getting involved. Did you file the killers information and photos? Yes, we have their full names, photos and all witnesses' testimonies. Did anything chang since the presidential elections? No! The security forces and the judiciary are still under Saleh's son and nephews' control. Sorry, but the Minister of Justice, Judge Murshed Al A'rashani and the Minister of Interior, Dr .Abdul Qader Qahtan are not related to Saleh. Maybe so but a majority of the men currently I place are Saleh's loyalist, we know whose agenda they pursue. Why can't the minister dismiss all those who broke the law? The minister can't protect himself, the transitional government should really take charge otherwise ministers should hand out their resignation. It seems that they can't do anything? Maybe, or maybe they're waiting for the restructuring of the army. The new commanders might choose to serve the Republic and not Saleh which will change the dynamic of power. If the coalition government fails to gain control, then the international community should take charge and enforce the departure if the remnants of the regime. Shall we return back to Al Karama Friday massacre? Who is standing behind the killing? The Central Security Forces! All witnesses confirmed it. There is no doubt in my mind. Were the killers, civilians or military men? Some of them were caught wearing military IDs while others carried civilian papers. It was very well orchestrated. Why do you think General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar insisted in handing out the prisoners back to the regime them over to the regime when he knew well they were Saleh's allies? Maybe because he trusted the District Attorney's righteousness? There was a rumor after al-Karama massacre that al-Houthis, a Zaidi Shia insurgent group operating in Yemen, were responsible. What do you say to this? Not at all! They've no responsibility at all. How can we explain the refusal to intervene of the Central Security Forces when they were posted only meters away? As I said before it was plotted well. Clearly they were all asked to not intervene. Furthermore all the troops posted there at the time were new recruits incapable of dealing with such a complicated situation. The regime knew that and used it as an excuse for its inaction. 10 kilometers away from the scene of massacre were posted well trained securities forces. They knew what was happening but did nothing. As a lawyer and legal consultant, who is responsible in your mind? The central securities are responsible of the execution and the planning but the Interior ministry and President Saleh himself are guilty for not intervening. Brigadier General Yehia Mohamed Saleh, Saleh's nephew and the Head of the Central Security forces, in Al A'qeeq Channel accused General Mohsen al-Ahmar. What was that? He's the doer and his forces protected the killers. Where was he at the time of the massacre? He is a liar and he wants to convince the people of his innocence. What would you like to say? That there can be no Justice without an independent judiciary. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/6QWpY Tags: HOOD, Karama, Massacre, Yemen Section: Features, Latest News, Yemen
