Yemen: Investigate attacks on demonstrators
 |
Alkarama and local human rights organisations hold President Saleh's regime fully responsible for the protection of the peaceful demonstrations which are becoming increasingly widespread Yemen. The mood in many towns across Yemen is one of apprehension, especially since the fall of former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak in late January 2011.
Alkarama's Legal Director, Rachid Mesli, said: "It appears that the state of terror that has seized Arab dictatorships due to the continuing popular peaceful uprisings has pushed the ruling regimes to use every means available to repress the demonstrators' protests."
He went on to add that, "Yemen, as a state signatory to the International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights, is required to protect individuals' right to life and safety and right to freedom of expression and assembly", demanding that the Yemeni government "adhere to the basic UN principles regarding the use of force and firearms."
Mesli urged the Yemeni authorities to open an investigation into excessive use of force by the security services, and to punish those involved in the attacks against demonstrators.
 |
He confirmed that the violations practised by the Yemeni authorities against the demonstrators constitute a violation of the Yemeni constitution, which stipulates in article 42 that "Every citizen has the right to participate in political, economic, social, and cultural life, and the State guarantees freedom of thought and expression of opinion verbally or in writing or pictures within the bounds of law", and in article 58 that: "The citizens of the masses of the Republic - insofar as they do not violate the text of the constitution - have the right to organise themselves politically and professionally and in unions, and the right to form scientific and cultural and social organisations and national federations in what serves the ends of the constitution, and the State guarantees this right... It shall also take all necessary steps to allow the citizen to practice it, and guarantees all freedoms to political, union, cultural, scientific, and social foundations and organisations."
Alkarama learned that there are at least 17 dead and scores of wounded during the protests.
The Yemeni security services have not only intensified their security measures in an effort to quash the demonstrations, but also banned peaceful assemblies in many cities across Yemen.
Sources have informed Alkarama that the Yemeni regime is funding attacks against protesters, and using plainclothes security officers and ruling party supporters to intimidate demonstrators opposing President Saleh's regime.Since the start of February, many Yemeni towns have witnessed bloody attacks at the hands of so-called "thugs of the regime", targeting not only demonstrators, but also attacking more than 50 journalists over the past three weeks.
The worst of these attacks was on 18 February 2011 in the governorate of Taizz, when a supporter of the ruling party threw a bomb at a gathering of protestors in Tahrir Square, leading to the death of at least one person and the wounding of 87 others. A similar attack in the capital Sanaa ended with two dead 38 wounded, when armed "thugs" opened fire on protestors in Taghyir Square in front of Sanaa University. The on-looking security forces failed to defend the protestors, as allegations contend that they were directly involved in facilitating the attacks.
 |
Alkarama is currently working in cooperation with local human rights organisations to issue urgent alerts to appropriate UN human rights bodies regarding dozens of victims who have died or been wounded by attacks from the security forces and supporters of President Ali Saleh. Alkarama has requested the UN's intervention to put an end to the human rights violations and hold those involved accountable.