By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, July 17 -- When the UN's envoy to Yemen Jamal Benomar emerged from the Security Council to speak to the media early Tuesday afternoon, Inner City Press asked him three questions.
Benomar had referred to "those who undermine the government," so Inner City Press asked who these might be -- Ali Saleh, or for example the Yemeni Socialist Party, which has criticized President Hadi?
Benomar said, "there is a lively debate in Yemen, all Yemeni constituencies are competing to participate in the national dialogue, this is very healthy."
He acknowledged that there are "spoilers lurking in background," but said that in the Security Council's closed door meeting he "didn't get into further details."
So Inner City Press asked, what IS the role of Ali Saleh now in Yemen? Benomar said that "Mr Saleh is still the president of the GPC." Video here, from Minute 5:21.
Benomar had mentioned government victories over Ansar Al-Sharia in Abyan province. But the Republican Guard, controlled by Saleh's son, is still central to security in Sana'a, Aden and Taiz, where an American teacher was killed, and then protested FOR by local residents, we're told.
Finally, Inner City Press asked Benomar if the High Commissioner for Human Rights is going to do any report on Yemen and the killings in 2011 (many of which were ordered by Saleh).
Benomar replied that "the office of the High Commissioner is preparing a new report to the Human Rights Council... We as UN and envoy are urging the government to implemented the Human Rights Council resolution to establish a commission of inquiry."
He said that the previous government had committed to implement, but "so far no progress on setting it up." Watch this site.
