Yemeni Official to AWP: Houthis are Stalling Prisoner Negotiations
(AWP) - A Yemeni government official accused the Houthi group of “procrastinating” on the release of captives and exploiting the rounds of negotiations to resume their military operations, urging the UN to show a “firm stance in handling these militias.”
Nabil Abdel-Hafez, the Deputy Minister of the Yemeni Ministry of Human Rights, said in an interview with the Arab World Press (AWP), “The Houthi group does not abide by its commitments. Accordingly, we keep telling the UN and the international community that this issue will never be resolved except through international pressure.”
Early last week, a round of negotiations between the government and the Houthis regarding prisoner exchange was concluded in the Omani capital Muscat with no agreements reached.
He revealed that this round will be completed in two months.
Abdel-Hafez explained, “The UN envoy’s office considered the round is still ongoing and that we would give time for the issue of Mr Mohamed Qahtan’s release. The talks will be within the framework of what was discussed during the 7th and 8th rounds regarding the exchange of 1,400 people. It will be held, God willing within two months, on the basis that the next meeting is an extension of the Muscat meeting.”
The Yemeni official described the decision to complete this round of negotiations as a “type of deception to consider that the round is still ongoing.”
Abdel-Hafez pointed out, “We had eight rounds and this is the ninth and we are still inside this vicious circle and find ourselves only serving these militias’ interests. The militias only work on taking advantage of each round of negotiations.”
He added, “The Houthis handle all rounds of negotiations, whether general negotiations or those within the framework of the prisoners and abductees dossier as a means of appeasement or to show a kind of acceptance of appeasement. However, they use this as an opportunity to wage more military or repressive operations, and to carry out abductions.”
The Yemeni deputy minister said those who were abducted during the past 9 or 10 years number around 22,000 people, in addition to those taken for brief periods and later released.
He noted, “Maybe the figure exceeds 30,000, but those kidnapped by the militias during the past period are over 22,000, some of whom were released while the rest are still languishing in prisons of these terrorist militias.”
“It is laughable that they keep talking about peace and negotiation while on the ground they are practicing the worst violations,” he said.
Abdel-Hafez remarked that these militias must understand that they are criminally accountable for all the actions they have committed.
He said, “In accordance with the United Nations Convention Against Torture, the Roman Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), international humanitarian law and all other relevant laws. They will be held accountable at local and international levels for all the violations they have perpetrated.”