Government to close gun markets

A decision by the Yemeni government to close all arms markets and outlets selling weapons in the country could help limit tribal conflicts and reduce crime, analysts say, particularly at a time when a confrontation between government forces and al-Houthi followers in northern Yemen has escalated.

The Cabinet on Tuesday decided to close all markets that sell weapons, ammunition and fireworks nationwide. The cabinet, chaired by the recently appointed Prime Minister Ali Mujawwar, said that arms markets and shops contribute to the spread of wepaons and their illegal circulation has affected security, peace, development and investment.

Observers say the decision also aims to boost investment in Yemen as it followed an investment conference in Sana’a and a recent visit to Yemen by Peter Gooderham, director of Middle East & North Africa for Britain’s Foreign Office. He had expressed his country's concern over the ongoing Saada clashes and the sources of armament in that province.

In the Tuesday meeting, Minister of the Interior Rashad al-Alemi ordered the formation of specialised field committees to close arms shops and count and document their contents. He said arms dealers interested in personal arms or firecrackers would have to submit requests to his ministry within one month of the meeting’s date.

The ministry will confiscate arms, ammunition and fireworks of those who do not send their license requests.

Abdul-Rahman Al-Marwani, chairman of local NGO Dar Al-Salaam Organisation to Combat Revenge and Violence, told IRIN that his organisation welcomes the decision as it “would reduce tribal clashes and violence”.

The Ministry of Interior registered about 35,000 crimes in 2006, a little more thant eh 34,500 in 2005. Specialists attribute these high rates to the high number of shooting incidents in the country. The Dar al-Salaam Organisation registered 22 tribal clashes in 2006.

Al-Marwani said arms dealers were willing to respond positively to the decision. “We have visited arms markets and found understanding on the part of arms dealers to stop this trade,” he said.

Being armed is part of traditional Yemeni custom. There is at least one gun in every house, al-Marwani said, blaming official media for not raising awareness among citizens on the dangers of keeping arms.

According to al-Marwani, 21 tribes signed an agreement with his organisation to stop using guns to celebrate during marriage ceremonies, a step that would decrease the number of casualties caused by weapons.

He said his organisation has begun a strategic plan for 2007-2010 to help regulate the possession of arms, overcome extremist ideologies, and combat violence. Teams will make field visits to spread awareness, especially among school students.

There are about 18 arms markets in Yemen and 300 small gun shops. There is no exact figure on the number of weapons in the country, but some reports indicate that there are between 40 million and 50 million. Some powerful tribes, such as the Mareb and al-Jawf, possess heavy weapons, including missiles.

The Yemeni parliament has yet to approve a draft law to regulate the possession of arms, as there are parliamentarians who oppose it.

maj/ar/ed