Bin Omar in Cairo ahead of Yemen’s national dialogue

The Yemen Dialogue Technical Committee pressed on with its meetings Monday amid fears that the National Dialogue may not take place in November due to the committee’s failure to complete its duties as well as the failure to persuade the separatist South Yemen Movement to take part. Sources close to the movement said that leaders will meet with UN envoy Jamal bin Omar in Cairo this week, in an attempt to persuade the movement leadership to abandon the boycott of the dialogue conference set to discuss all Yemeni problems including what has become “the Southern issue.” Spokesperson for the committee Amal al-Basha said that the committee convened on Monday headed by its chairman, Dr. Abdul Karim Ali Al-Iryani. The members discussed the internal organisation bill for the National Dialogue Conference which al-Basha said comprises seven sections split into 54 articles. In a statement published on her Facebook page, al-Basha announced the completion of four sections of the bill. The fifth, to do with the rights and duties of the members of the conference and other participants, is also almost finished, according to her statement. Important bill provisions include the awarding of a temporary immunity to members for the duration of the conference, allowing them to “express themselves freely,” without fear of repercussions. This proposal will be presented to President Abu Mansour Hadi. The spokesperson also listed a number of other provisions, such as one allowing diplomats from Gulf countries sponsoring the process to attend as observers only. In related news, sources said that member of the southern movement Hassan Baoum will depart Yemen heading for Cairo where he will meet with Ali Salim al-Beidh, the last President of South Yemen and Vice President of post-unity Yemen, former President of South Yemen Ali Nasser Mohammed and former Prime Minister Haydar al-Attass. The South Yemini leaders will be joined by Jamal bin Omar and will study a final decision on taking part in the conference. As the UN envoy hopes for success, observers fear that the conference will not be held in time. Special committee sources have told ArabsToday that being careful to include all political powers in Yemen in the conference, does not mean submitting to the rejection of some who aim to sabotage it, in a thinly veiled reference to the separatist group. The Southern Movement, she insisted, is not the only faction that represents Southern Yeminis, pointing at other political parties and local constituents that support participation in the conference and resolving issues within a framework of national unity. The political settlement signed by former Yemeni President Ali Abdulla Saleh in November last year with leaders of the main opposition parties requires the a National Dialogue Conference covering all strands of Yemeni society and political arena. Members of the conference will then decide on solution to their country’s problems, lay down the foundations for a new governing system, write a new constitution to be put to a popular referendum and hold comprehensive elections in February 2012.