President Abdrabu Mansour Hadi issued on Saturday the republican decree No 30 for 2012 forming the technical committee in charge with preparations for a comprehensive national dialogue.
The move came after more than a month of liaison with the groups mentioned in a power-transfer deal and its UN-sponsored implementation mechanism. The deal and its mechanism called for holding the dialogue in early stages of the second transition period, which started after electing the president in late February.
The committee comprised of 25 members from all concerned groups specified by the deal and its responsibility is, and nothing else, to prepare for the dialogue, scheduled to take place in November. The committee is not authorized to assume acts related to the ideas of the dialogue and its outcomes, according to the decree.
The groups to participate in the dialogue were: the national coalition(the General People's Congress and its allies), the national council(the Joint Meeting Parties and its allies), other active political parties and forces, the youth movements, the Southern Movement, Harak, the Shiite Houthi Group, SCOs and the women.
The members of the committee have been selected based on their established abilities to represent their groups and the dialogue will provide a broad opportunity for those concerned across the republic to participate actively, the decree stated.
The committee will start its job in ten days since its formation, with the first step expected to be electing its head, first and second deputies and a reporter.
The second provision in the decree provided for the period of preparation for the dialogue, and formulating the constitution by a constitutional committee. The constitutional committee, to be selected later, will hold necessary deliberations about a new constitution draft and a public vote on it and then approval of the new constitution.
Furthermore, the provision included an item which concerns with preparations for free, transparent elections at the end of the two-year transitional period including the formation of a new electoral commission, preparing the voter rolls, issuing a new electoral law and finally holding the elections.
All measures to prepare for the dialogue, the constitution, the elections must be according to the power-transfer deal, which was brokered by the GCC and backed by the West in November, and its implementation mechanism.
Under the decree, all concerned groups and movements shall have equal representation in the dialogue and active participation, transparency and adherence to the outcomes.
The committee's job is the first step of the four transition steps specified by the deal and which are as follows:
1- The dialogue preparation period which should enable all those concerned have their own decisions which in turn can help shape the dialogue process.
2- Holding the comprehensive national dialogue with the aim to give all Yemenis the opportunity to contribute to the vision of their country's future.
3- Formulating a new constitution to implement the dialogue outcomes and decisions as well as general deliberations about the new constitution draft, a public vote on it and its approval.
4- Preparations for free, transparent elections at the end of the two-year transitional period including the formation of a new electoral commission, preparing the voter rolls, adopting a new electoral law and finally holding the elections.
The dialogue is supposed to reach the following:
1- How to formulate a new constitution starting with the formation of the constitutional committee.
2- First constitutional reform elements including the state structure and other decisions about the regime.
3- Addressing the south issue.
4- Addressing all issues with national dimensions including the tension reasons in Saada.
5- Identifying additional steps to build a comprehensive democratic system including civil service, judicial and local governance reforms.
6- Identifying additional steps to achieve national reconciliation, transitional justice and other measures to ensure no more violations of human rights and human law in the future.
7- Suggesting lawful and other ways to enhance the protection of the weakest groups including the children and necessary measures to ensure women's empowerment development.
The fourth provision stated that the committee assumes its responsibilities until September 30 and then releases its final report.