Country Report on Human Rights Practices for 1988
PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF YEMEN
* The United States maintains no diplomatic mission in the
People's Democratic Republic of Yemen, which severed
diplomatic relations with the United States in 1969. It is
difficult, therefore, to comment authoritatively on conditions
in that country.
The People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY) is a one-party
state governed by the avowedly Marxist Yemen Socialist Party
(YSP) . President Haidar Abu Bakr al-Attas came to power in
January 1986, following the violent overthrow of President Ali
Nasir Muhammad al-Hasani, who continues to live in exile in
the Yemen Arab Republic (YAR) . The current regime, although
beset by internal rivalries, is united in purging the
Government and YSP of Ali Nasir supporters. Occasional
clashes between rival factions occur, but thus far the regime
has maintained a facade of unity. The efforts of the YSP to
establish a Marxist-Leninist state along Soviet administrative
lines have overwhelmed some traditional social and cultural
values. An estimated 25 percent of the population has fled
the PDRY, mostly to the YAR, since the country gained
independence from Great Britain in 1967.
The Ministry for State Security is charged with overseeing
internal security operations. The army, regional militias,
and the police play subsidiary roles, but in some areas tribal
authority effectively supersedes government rules and
regulations.
Approximately 40 percent of the 2.2 million inhabitants work
as farmers, and their crops account for about 12 percent of
the gross national product. The economy remains hampered by
severe shortages of basic consumer items and commodities. The
Government continues to regulate most sectors of the economy
and makes it difficult for even PDRY citizens to import
capital. Small shops and service industries remain privately
owned and operated.
Although reliable information is difficult to obtain, the
human rights situation appears to have improved slightly in
the past 2 years, and some PDRY citizens believe that the
improvement--in particular, liberalized travel measures and a
somewhat freer press—is the result of internal pressure on
PDRY officials to emulate the so-called glasnost campaign in
the Soviet Union. The PDRY regime has issued an amnesty for
all but the top Ali Nasir supporters with the proclaimed goal
of promoting national reconciliation. Nevertheless, the human
rights situation overall remains grim, and many rights, such
as the freedoms of speech, association, and the press, are
sharply curtailed.
Section 1 Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom from:
a. Political Killing
The Ali Nasir exile movement regularly accuses the PDRY of
political killings, but there is no independent confirmation
of these accusations. In 1988 the movement's YAR-based
newspaper charged the PDRY with the politically motivated
killing of approximately 50 PDRY citizens, including military
officers and government officials.
b. Disappearance
There were continuing reports of disappearances, but some
apparently were the result of tribal and factional infighting.
c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
There continued to be reports--including in Amnesty
International's 1988 Report--of torture by PDRY security
services.
d. Arbitrary Arrest, Detention, or Exile
Incommunicado detention and arbitrary arrests are common.
With regard to forced or compulsory labor, see Section 6.c.
e. Denial of Fair Public Trial
Many persons are believed to have been imprisoned without
trial. Legal procedures for the protection of the accused are
routinely ignored or manipulated as in the case of the 1987
show trials of former President Ali Nasir and his followers.
f. Arbitrary Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence
National security is frequently cited as the justification for
the pervasive invasion of personal privacy. PDRY security
services routinely inspect mail, tap telephones, and
arbitrarily search residences and businesses.
Section 2 Respect for Civil Liberties, Including:
a. Freedom of Speech and Press
There is little freedom of speech or press. The state-owned
electronic media and party newspaper faithfully reflect
government views and priorities. In 1988 one edition of the
monthly al-Hikmah magazine, the Journal of the Federation of
(North and South) Yemeni Writers and Intellectuals, contained
particularly strong criticism by a senior PDRY economic
official of Soviet aid programs and, indirectly, of PDRY
economic and political policies. Security officers reportedly
bought many copies of the issue to limit circulation, but the
issue was not banned. PDRY citizens visiting the YAR have
commented tha.t the press appears to be somewhat freer than in
previous years.
b. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association
No public or professional associations, except those sponsored
by the State or party, are permitted to operate openly.
Unauthorized gatherings are forbidden.
For a discussion of freedom of association as it applies to
labor unions, see Section 6. a.
c. Freedom of Religion
The Constitution declares that Islam is the state religion and
provides for the freedom of religious expression. In
practice, however, the Government attempts to minimize the
influence of religious leaders, and some sermons for Friday
prayer are reportedly provided by the Ministry of Religious
Affairs. Muslim leaders, when traveling abroad, scrupulously
follow the Government's foreign policy line.
d. Freedom of Movement Within the Country, Foreign Travel, Emigration, and Repatriation
There are some restricted areas in the PDRY, but there are
said to be fewer checkpoints on major roads and near the
capital in 1987-88 than there were in 1986. The two Yemens
implemented a new accord in July which permits citizens of
each country to enter the other by presenting only a national
identification card. For the first time in their acrimonious
relationship, the border between the two countries is
basically open to all Yemenis. Many PDRY citizens have taken
advantage of this accord to visit relatives and shop in the
YAR. Approximately 60,000 South Yemenis have fled to the YAR
since the January 1986 coup. Many of them are not expected to
return home, largely for economic reasons. Regulations
governing travel to other countries have also been
liberalized, although letters of invitation from immediate
PDRY family members are normally still required. Travel bonds
are reportedly no longer necessary.
Section 3 Respect for Political Rights: The Right of Citizens
to Change Their Government
The PDRY has no democratic institutions. Consequently,
ordinary citizens do not have the ability peacefully to change
their leaders or the system of government. Political parties,
other than the YSP, are banned, and the YSP dominates politics.
Other organizations, such as the military and, to a lesser
extent, the National Democratic Front (NDF) , also play
prominent roles. The NDF consists largely of northern Yemenis
who waged a guerrilla insurgency against the YAR until 1982;
now it is one of several principal factions competing for
influence in Aden. Alliances are often based on tribal or
regional affiliations; natives of Aden are largely
unrepresented in the senior ranks of the YSP.
The Constitution provides for universal suffrage for those
over the age of 18, but only candidates approved by the YSP
may run for election. Overall, politics in the PDRY are
characterized by violence and coercion. Leading members of
the losing faction can often expect imprisonment, exile, or
death.
Section 4 Governmental Attitude Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Violations of Human Rights
Although Amnesty International (AI) and other human rights
groups attempt to monitor the situation in the PDRY, they are
not permitted to enter the country to pursue individual
cases. An AI delegation did visit the PDRY in 1987, however,
to observe a Supreme Court trial, and the delegation met with
several senior government ministers during their visit to
discuss some of the cases being followed by AI.
Section 5 Discrimination Based on Race, Sex, Religion, Language, or Social Status
The PDRY is a generally homogeneous society and there are few
ethnic or linguistic differences. Political factions are
based largely on tribal and regional affiliations. Equality
of the sexes is mandated by law, and women frequently hold
government and service jobs, although not at senior levels.
In family relationships, women generally remain subservient to
men, although less so in Aden than other areas. Polygamy,
child marriages, and arranged marriages are banned, but
reportedly exist in some rural, traditional areas.
Section 6 Worker Rights
a. The Right of Association
There are no independent trade or labor organizations. The
General Federation of Trade Unions, the PDRY's only labor
association, is under close YSP control. No information is
available on the right to strike.
b. The Right to Organize and Bargain Collectively
The State, through the YSP-controlled unions, purports to
represent the rights of workers. There is no collective
bargaining, and there are no nongovernmental bodies which
address labor grievances. Labor legislation is uniform
throughout the PDRY but labor practice is not. For example,
child labor is common in many rural areas, but not in Aden.
c. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor
There are no reports of forced or compulsory labor.
d. Minimum Age for Employment of Children
Child labor is common, but is more prevalent in rural areas
than in cities, where children must compete with adults for
scarce jobs. Child labor in rural areas is often in the
context of traditional parent-child job training.
e. Acceptable Conditions of Work
There is some legislation regulating conditions of labor, but
there is no mechanism for effective enforcement. Many,
perhaps most, PDRY workers are farmers; the majority of these
work in state-controlled collectives or associations, while
the others, in more isolated rural areas, enjoy a greater
degree of independence. Labor conditions in general suffered
along with the economy following the upheaval attending the
violent overthrow of the Government in 1986; both appeared to
stabilize and recover somewhat in 1988. Information on
prevailing wages is not available.
