Aden with Sports and Military not accustomed before…

Reported by: Nashwan Al-Othmani
Translated by: Mr. Alaa Isam

Aden city has never been in such situation before. This image comes coinciding Gulf Cup 20 Championship which will start on November, 22^nd, 2010. The security spreading is unprecedented made two different interpretations, one of which is concerning the sport event as to protect the championship, while the other one is concerning both domestic and external political objectives of Yemen.

Following the announcement of President Ali Saleh on October, 2^nd, 2010 that Yemeni authorities will send 30 thousand troops to support security and stability in the three provinces of Aden, Abyan and Lahj. Consequently, military troop’s machines and thousands of soldiers began heading to Aden coming from, mostly, Sana’a, and on the road leading to the three provinces that passed through the city of Taiz. Many people saw large number of military machines such as troop’s carriers, crews of military, P10, guns, armored vehicles, military rocket launchers “Alcatusha” ,antiaircraft gun, mortars and tanks . 2 days prior to the date of the tournament forces are still flocking to the latter provinces that host the championship.

Accordingly, Aden City, as well as the surrounded cities, including the capital of Abyan province, has witnessed intensive security measures. However, these measures were not fully strict, according to a taxi driver preferred not to reveal his identity.

The huge military forces, that are charged to protect the Gulf cup 20, flooded the streets of Aden City” he added. On the way to Aden, another driver said “you see a lot of military check points and many of them barely away from each other only few meters”.

Saleh President, during his visit to the Gulf cup 20 constructions in the cities of Aden and Abyan on October, 2^nd, 2010, Pointed out, fireworks might explode here and there despite that they do not harm much, as lately Aden city has witnessed alive explosions in Sheikh Osman and Mansoura that killed and wounded individuals. The Yemeni media has covered the first one that happened last month while neglected completely the second one which was close to the date of the tournament as it seems, which is surely killed one person and wounded another.

To protect Gulf Cup 20, according to President Saleh, the assigned military force will consist of three security belts tight around the three provinces (Aden, Abyan and Lahj) .Yet, until short time before, the security pressure did not start. But the last 3 days or let us say 2 days before the start of the tournament , it will witness significant change in security appearance in Aden and Abyan as well.

As the authority stated, there are major security challenges in front of it and the most important are the threat of Al-Qaeda and the popular movement protests known as the “Southern Movement”. However, observers thought “it is not likely to use excessive force against southern movement demonstrations if it will have taken place before or during the tournament”, but the heavy security presence and as a result to the Arab world famous sport event protection , it is certain that imposition of security and securing teams and delegates is a must therefore, use of force can be considered as an option.

Questions raised about the allocation of all power to protect Gulf 20

If the Gulf 20 needs only small arms to combat riots or disperse demonstrations or so, then the question that should be raised is about the feasibility of bringing down heavy military equipments such as tanks, rocket launchers and so on?

A doubt that is greatly assumed that the Gulf 20 is only a banner to pass bringing down all the equipments, but the more important is what for?

Away from the political analysis, Adeni Street, specifically Youth , are divided into two parts due to the heavy presence of military escorting Gulf 20.

The inclusion of each has almost the same number as the other part of a sample of the 10 young people. Some young people said “they feel safe and stabile due to this security pressure”, while the other part on the contrary, denounced the militarization of the city with all this gear at the time that requiring only security personnel for the purpose of protecting Gulf 20.

Al-Qaeda is the biggest nightmare for the soldiers. One of the soldiers, at the Police school in Sana’a and one of comers to Aden with other soldiers, revealed that a lot of soldiers ,Including newly graduates ,and who has been trained for only two months, have been sent down to Aden.

He said preferring anonymity that “the biggest fear is coming from Al-Qaeda, because when Al-Qaeda threatens , then it makes it true with no doubt”

While waiting for Gulf 20, which will begin on Monday November, 22^nd, 2010, a lot of attentions will be paid towards the cities of Aden and Abyan to watch the most important sport event in the Arabian Peninsula that is hosted by Yemen from November, 22^nd, to December, 5^th 2010. Additionally, watching the sport stadium event will be synchronized with watching Political stadium events by the three players (Yemeni Authority, Southern Movement and probably Al-Qaeda) .