RI embassy in Yemen prepares contingency plans

RI embassy in Yemen prepares contingency plans

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian embassy in the besieged Yemeni capital of Sanaa is currently preparing to evacuate its staff and their dependents out of the country in anticipation of a worsening of the raging civil there.

"If the situation persists we will, as a first step, evacuate the women and children," said Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas here yesterday.

He explained that as a result of the dire situation, the embassy staff and their dependents have all been gathered in the city of Sanaa in close proximity to the embassy.

"According to all the reports we have received, everybody is safe," he said.

A state of civil war currently exists in Yemen which threatens to disrupt the fragile unification of North and South created four years ago.

The feud between President Ali Abdullah Saleh of the North and his Vice-President Ali Salem al-Baidh from the South has caused opposing factions from the two sides to instigate all-out war.

Asked how the evacuation would take place, Alatas said it would probably be done by airlift though he could not yet determine from where.

He explained that Jakarta would leave the details to ambassador Achmad Noor in Sanaa.

"The head of the mission usually has a contingency plan prepared," Alatas said.

He asserted though that Indonesia's capability to carry out an evacuation should not be doubted. "This is not the first time we've been faced with such a situation."

Speaking to reporters at the airport yesterday upon his return from attending Nelson Mandela's inauguration, Alatas said he had spoken to the new president about South Africa's admission into the 110-nation Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

"Judging by his reaction, President Mandela seemed eager to become a full member," he said.

NAM, which is currently chaired by Indonesia, had supported Mandela's African National Congress (ANC) when it was fighting against the apartheid government in Pretoria.

Alatas said that during his discussions with the newly elected president, Mandela did not "categorically" state his NAM membership aspirations. "I hope his words were enough of an indication."

NAM membership discussions also took place at the South African Foreign Ministry when the NAM chairman's chief executive assistant Nana Sutresna engaged in talks there during his recent visit. (mds)