5.4.3 National Security Bureau In 2002, the GoY created a National Security Bureau (NSB), another intelligence organisation with significant support from international actors. Like the PSO, the NSB does not report to any ministry, but is directly overseen by the Deputy Prime Minister for Defence and Security. The NSB operates chiefly in San’a. It has received training and state-of-the-art equipment from international donors. Although the NSB appears to have similar responsibilities to those of the PSO, it remains unclear how the two organisations coordinate their responsibilities. 86 5.4.4 Republican Guard The Republican Guard is an elite unit of the Yemeni Army. It includes the special forces wing of the military, and falls under the Ministry of Defence. The commander of the guard is former President Saleh’s son, General Ahmed `Ali `Abdallah Saleh. This guard is highly trained and better equipped than other parts of the armed forces. Until the uprisings in 2011, it interacted far less frequently with citizens as compared to forces controlled by the Ministry of Interior. The major part of its force is stationed near urban areas. 87 5.4.5 Coast Guard The Yemeni Coast Guard is also a relatively new unit, created in 2003 and overseen by the Ministry of Interior. It has a constabulary and navigation role in Yemen’s ports and regional waters. Its duties include countering smuggling, illegal immigration, protecting national waters against indiscriminate fishing, and fighting (Somali) piracy.88 In 2008, the Coast Guard had 1,200 personnel. The level of coordination with the Yemeni navy is unclear. Despite heavy international support, especially from the U.S. and Australia who provided the Guard with hardware, technology, and training to bolster its counterterrorism capacity, the effectiveness of this force remains unclear.89 The departmental structure of the security offices in the governorates follows a pattern whereby each security office consists of three departments: 1.
The complaints department (idârat al-shakâwâ) for all complaints against public prosecutors, police, and other security personnel.
2.
The department for supervision and inspection (idârat al-raqâba wa-l-taftîsh), which supervises security personnel, prisons, security in the districts, tidiness of the premises, behaviour towards citizens, etc. On these findings, regular reports are drafted.
3.
The department for external relations (idârat al-`alaqât al-`âmma), which scrutinises all daily papers and other means of communication to collect complaints against security personnel and police, or in general with regard to violations of human rights by other public officials. These violations include incidents of arbitrary detention, torture or the use of other cruel means to force confessions from the accused. The practical functioning of these departments falls beyond the scope of this report. 90
86
Library of Congress Federal Research Division, Yemen (2008), p. 24. See note 83. 88 See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yemen_Coast_Guard 89 Interview with the Commander of the Coast Guard, Ali Ahmad Ras`ee, available at http://www.yemenpost.net/28/InvestigationAndInterview/20081.htm; Library of Congress Federal Research Division, Yemen (2008), pp. 23-24. 90 Details about the practical functioning of these departments were not available, but indicative may be the overview in Part B of this report. 87
HiiL Quick Scans | The Rule of Law in Yemen
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