An additional riyal on each commodity to finance the Houthis
English - Thursday 15 July 2021 الساعة 04:03 pm
Sana'a, NewsYemen, Exclusive :
A source in the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Sana'a confirmed that the Houthi militia asked traders and importers to add a riyal on each commodity to finance new Houthi funds that were established under several names, including jihad, martyrs and their families, the wounded and orphans.
The source, who requested anonymity, told "Newsmen" that the Houthi directives came in response to the merchants who complained about the burdens of royalties and donations that the militia imposes on them on an ongoing basis, which made the militia impose on them to add a riyal over each commodity.
He added that the Houthi militia told the merchants that what they pay will be borne by the citizen, and the merchants will not lose anything.
He explained that this trend is not related to the brand, but every commodity in the retail trade - sectoral sale - of goods or merchandise, each carton is a pack of 24 pieces, the addition represents 24 riyals.
The Houthi militia is putting pressure on the leadership of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Sana'a to form a higher economic council, under the pretext of partnership between the government and the private sector.
However, traders believe that the goal of the council, which the Houthi militia is pushing to establish, is in fact not a partnership, but rather to impose full control over the remaining components of the commercial sector.
Merchants and business owners have been subjected to extortion by the Houthi militia for years, and they pay customs twice, and pay taxes in a double and in violation of the law, in addition to the illegal royalties they pay on an almost daily basis.
According to a recent economic study, the Houthi militia's tax resources during 2019 amounted to one trillion riyals (one billion and 651 million dollars).
The Houthi militia’s tax practices and its destructive policies for the business environment prompted national capital to migrate outside the country to search for a safe environment, in addition to the bankruptcy of hundreds of commercial and service establishments and small industries, and the liquidation of their businesses, which caused the loss of job opportunities for thousands of workers.
