Aden (South24) 

On Saturday, "South24 Center for News and Studies" held an evening symposium to discuss the “Southerners' vision for peace in Yemen" in Aden’s Al-Mualla district. The participants included representatives of some active Southern parties, civil society, journalists and activists.  

At the beginning, South24 office director in Aden, Jacob Al-Sufyani, welcomed all guest speakers and participants adding that the seminar comes as part of "South24"'s endeavors to crystallize a common Southern vision about the notion of peace in Yemen.

Some participants of the Seminar (South24)

Al-Sufyani noted that the symposium comes amid big political changes represented in the establishment of the newly-formed “Yemeni Presidential Council” including for the first time Southern figures who demand independence. Moreover, there has been an agreement to put a special framework for the Southerners issue during the UN-sponsored comprehensive negotiations among the Yemeni parties.

The list of guest speakers included Head of STC Decision-Making Support Center Dr.  Khaled Bamadhaf, Presidency Member of the Supreme Council of the Revolutionary Movement Brigadier General Mohammed Jawas, Member of the Yemeni Socialist Party's Central Committee Waed Abdulmalik and Director of the Future Foundation for Rehabilitation, Awareness and Capacity Development Manal Mohayyam. The panel discussion, directed by journalist Hamdi Al Yafei, included 5 basic topics:

1- The notion of peace process in Yemen.

2- The active Southern parties that could contribute in peacemaking.

3- Mechanisms and principles accepted in South Yemen to participate in the peace process.

4- The final solutions awaited by Southerners in the peace process.

5- How can the Southern stances towards any peace process be unified?

The notion of peace

Khaled Bamadhaf believes that the notion of peace in any place in the world is itself the same as in Yemen. It is about allowing all people to live on equal foot and to renounce violence in addition to the existence of social justice. 

Head of STC Decision-Making Support Center Dr.Khaled Bamadhaf (South24)

For Waed Abdulmalik, "One can't talk about peace while poverty and hunger spread". The Social Party leader added that bringing peace depends on the ability of different parties to bypass disputes and work to “improve people's living quality”.

Manal Mohayyam said that peace is the citizenship equality and the community value based upon justice. The civil society leader pointed out that peace, with its multiple notions and definitions, is generally relevant with coexistence. She added that "justice comes before peace".

Director of the Future Foundation for Rehabilitation, Awareness and Capacity Development Manal Mohayyam (South24)

Who are the active peacemaking components?

The whole guest speakers agreed that the  Southern peacemaking role should involve all Southern forces and components. They said that the STC today has more presence, and it acts as a general frame which must absorb all Southerners.   

Brigadier General Mohammed Jawas said that there are no disputes between the STC and other components as all agree on one goal which is how to win the Southerners Issue. Waed Abdulmalik pointed out that several Social Party leaders are under the STC's umbrella.