More than 40 thousand arms seized in Marib

Storerooms at the entrances of capitol cities of Yemeni governorates hold thousands of seized weapons collected in accorance to a country-wide arms ban. These weapons were confiscated in an attempt by the government to create an arms-free Yemen.

The campaign to ban carrying weapons has achieved positive results in the governorate of Marib, whose officials seized 40,845 weapons at security checkpoints. Those caught with weapons were prevented from entering the city, said the security director of the Marib governorate, Colonel Mohammad al-Ghadra.

“The total number of crimes declined during the implementation of the campaign, from 160 reported crimes compared with 183 crimes during the four months preceding the campaign, an overall decrease of 23 crimes,” al-Ghadra said.

The number of defendants appearing in court rose from 134 during the months preceding the campaign to 172 after its implementation. The proportion of crime control increased five percent overall by the month of December. “The number of fugitives, those who flee upon accusation or apprehension, dropped to 61 after starting the campaign, compared to the previous 93, a 53 percent decrease,” said al-Ghadra.

The security forces succeeded in reducing crimes of theft at trade shops by 35 percent, and control over the rate of crime within the city exceeded 96 percent, he said.

Regarding the problem of revenge in Marib, al-Ghadra stated, “The problems of revenge reached 122 reported incidents, all of which are difficult for our security men, but we do our best to protect the people of the community and seek to address the problems that provoke retaliation and the use of arms above all.” He thanks the people of Marib and influential spokespeople for their cooperation during the implementation of the campaign.

Al-Ghadra expressed that these statistics indicate the success of the recent security procedures taken, and that residents of Marib are very grateful for the changes seen in their society.  All social segments of Marib have shown willingness to cooperate fully in order to ensure the success of the ban campaign in the major cities, he said. “A decision to support the campaign upholds the ideal of a safe and secure city, free of arms.”

 The number of arms recently seized by the security services in all governorates increased to 62,088 weapons from August 23 last year until the first of January of 2008, a period of 130 days, according to the Ministry of Interior.

The Yemeni government began cracking down on carrying arms in August of last year, and approved legislation to prevent carrying firearms in capitals of provinces on the basis of Article No. 15 of Law No. 40 of 1992 on the regulation of the bearing of firearms and on the decision of the Supreme Security Committee to cancel all permits issued by the Interior Ministry. 

The actions of the campaign were received with broad popular support, and quickly paid off by reducing the incidence of murder and other crimes. The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior’s Security Sector, Major General Mohamed al-Qawsi, the supervisor of the arms ban campaign, reported that the number of people bearing arms in the provincial capitals has dropped by 95 percent.

Official sources said that as of last Tuesday the campaign of the Ministry of the Interior to prevent the entry of weapons into provincial capitals resulted in the seizure of 2,741 firearms inside the cities, and 59,347 other pieces were seized at other checkpoints. 

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Dr. Rashad al-Alimi said that the campaign has achieved substantial results, resulting in a staggering reduction of crimes committed by firearms, including murder in various regions and governorates of Yemen.

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