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)