Bloody Protests in Yemen (World Press Review)

[struggle4progress]

Jane Novak
Worldpress.org contributing editor
October 29, 2007

Since May, Yemen has witnessed widespread civil unrest in the southern governorates including Aden and Marib. Three protesters were killed during demonstrations in Mukallah, and two more were killed in Dhalie. On Oct. 13, five people were shot dead at a sit-in in Radfan, Lahj, when security forces opened fire on the crowd. Witnesses reported a dozen wounded. Over 50,000 people gathered the next day in Radfan for a previously scheduled demonstration despite these brutal security practices.

Several Yemeni Socialist Party (Y.S.P.) leaders were charged with liability for the Radfan deaths because they organized the demonstration. No one in the security forces has been held responsible for any of the protesters' deaths or beatings. Another large demonstration is scheduled for November, and the situation remains tense.

"We want equal rights," retired Brig. Gen. Ali Moqbel told the Arab American News. General Moqbel leads the Retired Military Consultation Association (M.C.R.A.). After the 1994 civil war between the Y.S.P. and President Ali Abdullah Saleh's northern forces, over 100,000 southerners were forcibly retired on below sustenance pensions. This disenfranchised group, known as "the stay-at- home party," has taken to the streets ...

In Yemen, half of all 5 year olds are physically stunted by chronic hunger and three-quarters of women are illiterate. Yemen's oil and water are depleting rapidly. Unemployment and inflation are high. Governmental corruption is rampant. Military spending is among the highest in the world and health spending among the lowest. The situation is so critical that professor Al-Faqih believes, "Only profound reforms can save Yemen from descending into a total chaos similar to that experienced by Somalia and Lebanon before that." ...

http://www.worldpress.org/Mideast/2978.cfm