Yemen: Call for Creating Modern Civil and Democratic State

Sana « a–The Coordinating Commission of the Civil Bloc invites the media and everyone interested to attend its press conference at Mercure Hotel – Sana » a, this Thursday, March 24th 2011, at 10:00 a.m.

The Civil Bloc is a civil action initiative including civil society organizations, civil and human rights activists, students, journalists, politicians and social figures. It was created in the wake of the popular peaceful revolution. The Civil Bloc cooperates with all engaged partners in the establishment of a modern civil Yemeni state. Among its principles, goals, and guidelines are:

– The establishment of a modern, democratic and civil state based on the principles of justice and equal citizenship.

– The guaranty of national representation for all Yemeni men and women, with respect for the religious, sectarian, cultural, social and political diversity of Yemeni citizenry.

– The drafting a new national constitution that is in accordance with international conventions and treaties and the universal principles of human rights; guaranties the full and effective separation of powers, the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law; and is consistent with the principles of good governance.

– The guaranty of the full representation of Yemeni women and the abolition of all forms of discrimination that prevent their public participation or impede their rights of equal citizenship.

– The placement of highest priority on the achievement of a just and a comprehensive solution to the Southern issue in the new phase of the Yemeni state.

– The examination of the causes, effects, and consequences of the Sa`dah wars with the aim of achieving a comprehensive and fair solution.

– The undertaking of immediate actions to put an end to all old files of the political conflict in Yemen to ensure reparation of damages and compensation to all victims according to the mechanisms of transitional justice.

– The immediate realization of national commitments to international covenants of human rights.

– The guaranty of the effective participation of the youth of both sexes in building the civil state.

– The guaranty of the neutrality of the armed forces and security services.
In the current situation, the Civil Bloc seeks to ensure the success of the peaceful popular revolution. This will be achieved through the formation of a temporary Transitional Council of 9 civil patriotic personalities selected according to the highest standards of integrity and efficiency, who were not involved in the corruption of the former regime. This Transitional Council will work on drafting a new national constitution and the organization of presidential and parliamentary elections based on proportional system within 6 months from the date of its establishment.
The Coordinating Commission of the Civil Bloc is formed of the following personalities in their personal capacity and as representatives of their organizations (in alphabetical order):

Dr. Abubakar Saqqaf, Ahmed Saif Hashed, Arwa Abdu Othman, ElhamKibsi, Amal Basha, Huriyah Mashhoor, Hafez Al-Bukari, Khaled Abed Rabbo Al-Awadi, Radhyah Al-Mutawakkil, Sami Ghalib, Samia Aghbari, Samih Al-Wageeh, Saleh Ali AbdoRabbo Al-Qadhi, Abdel Bari Taher , Abdarashid Al-Faqeeh, Abdul Karim al-Khaiwani, Ali Al-Bokhaiti, Majid Al-Mathaji, Mohammad Ayesh, MahaAwad, Nasser Ahmed Sharif, Huda Al-Attas.
 
The Yemen Polling Center, the Yemeni Foundation for Social Studies, the Arab Sisters Forum for Human Rights, the Change Organization for Defending Rights and Freedoms, Hewar Foundation for Democratic Development, and Watan Coalition.

The Civil Bloc welcomes all who wish to join its members in its efforts to achieve its guiding principles as outlined above..

Guidelines and Principles of the Civil Bloc

The Civil Bloc is a civil action initiative including civil society organizations, civil and human rights activists, students, journalists, politicians and social figures. It seeks to support and protect the peaceful popular revolution.

The Civil Bloc works within the framework of the principles of democracy, social justice and human rights, and reaffirms its commitment to diversity and the rights of any group or entity to express itself, its ideology and its faith in a free, peaceful way. The Civil Bloc acts in a way that guaranties the liberation of public space in Yemen from any form of control and monopoly in favor of any class whatsoever.

The Civil Bloc cooperates with all patriotic partners in the establishment of a modern and civil Yemeni state, which is based on and committed to the values and principles as laid down in international conventions and treaties on human rights, ensuring that this state reflects the peaceful aspirations of all Yemenis and meets their fundamental rights to a dignified life free and protected from tyranny and oppression. All of this will be implemented and ensured in a politically intact work environment that guaranties real representation for the citizens and protects their right to political participation and allows for the peaceful transfer of power.

« The Civil Bloc will also accommodate the longtime efforts of Yemenis in fighting tyranny, corruption and authoritarianism of various kinds, which manifested themselves in the long years of civil struggle to defend democracy and guarantee public freedoms, human rights, womens rights, freedom of opinion and expression and the right to peaceful assembly, the right of all citizens to health and education, and comprehensive, balanced development of all Yemeni regions. In aiming to achieve these fundamentals goals the Civil Bloc declares its work to be based on the following principles:

– The establishment of modern, democratic and civil state based on the principles of justice and equal citizenship.

– The guaranty of national representation for all Yemeni men and women, with respect for the religious, sectarian, cultural, social and political diversity of Yemeni citizenry.

– The drafting a new national constitution that is in accordance with international conventions and treaties and the universal principles of human rights; guaranties the full and effective separation of powers, the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law; and is consistent with the principles of good governance.

– The guaranty of the full representation of Yemeni women and the abolition of all forms of discrimination that prevent their public participation or impede their rights of equal citizenship.

– The placement of highest priority on the achievement of a just and a comprehensive solution to the Southern issue in the new phase of the Yemeni state.

– The examination of the causes, effects, and consequences of the Sa`dah wars with the aim of achieving a comprehensive and fair solution.

– The undertaking of immediate actions to put an end to all old files of the political conflict in Yemen to ensure reparation of damages and compensation to all victims according to the mechanisms of transitional justice.

– The immediate realization of national commitments to international covenants of human rights.

– The guaranty of the effective participation of the youth of both sexes in building the civil state.

– The guaranty of the neutrality of the armed forces and security services.