Test Drive | Page 235

Annexes     Applicable  local   traditional  and  customary   law   There  are  no  rules  that  regulate  this  kind  of  irrigation,  as  drinking  water  and   water  for  home  consumption  are  for  everyone,  even  those  from  outside  the  area.   According  to  the  Qihaf  people,  the  Water  Law  regulation  should  be  applied  that   there  should  be  500  meters  between  two  wells.   Formal  law   The  NWRA  issues  permissions  for  well  drilling,  but  it  is  unclear  on  the  basis  of   what  law.  Further  use  of  formal  law  mechanisms  are  not  mentioned.   (Judicial)  measures  taken   The  Qihaf  informed  the  prosecution,  who  came  and  said  that  the  Uqf  had  no   right,  but  nothing  happened  as  the  prosecution  suggested  arbitration,  which  the   Qihaf  refused.  The  Qihaf  also  reached  out  the  NWRA  in  Taiz,  but  nothing  has   happened.   Outcomes   The  dispute  remains  unaddressed.   Remaining  (judicial)   problems   - The  local  Akels  with  sufficient  experience  to  deal  with  conflicts  have   - passed  away.     The  new  ones  are  ‘not  good  enough’     - Local  councils,  prosecutions  and  security  where  ineffective  in  dealing   - with  the  conflict,     The  laws  are  unclear  or  even  nonexistence  regarding  private  owned   water  use    Case  8   Ta’izz:  AlHoroor   Parties     Person  94  (local  sheikh,  also  qat  farmer)  versus  Qassem  family  (allround  farmers)   Conflict   The  main  problem  is  random  well  drilling  in  the  area  and  decreasing  water  levels   in   existing   wells.   Qassem   attempted   to   dig   a   well   higher   in   the   valley   than   Person   94’s  well.  Person  94  did  not  agree  with  this,  and  eventually  took  the  case  to  court   several   times.   Each   time   the   case   was   won   by   Person   94.   But   with   the   contradictory  statements  of  the  NWRA  in  Taizz  and  Sana’a  and  the  Qassems  still   pushing  their  objectives,  the  conflict  is  not  yet  resolved.     Applicable  local   traditional  and  customary   law   The  traditional  rule  of  Alaqrab  bel  Aqrab  (the  closer  than  the  close).  Traditional   informal  agreements  that  well  owners  irrigate  for  certain  other  people  (forced   usage);  landowners  are  not  allowed  to  change  to  another  water  supplier.   Ala’awal  be  Al  Awal  (first  then  first):  rule  for  division  of  irrigation   Formal  law   There  has  been  involvement  of  the  NWRA  and  court  decision  w 0