Yemen: Protesters killed as Salih's regime funds "thugs"

One of the victims in Ibb

Yemeni authorities continue to repress popular protest seeking the ouster of President Ali Salih from office. Recent events have witnessed bloody attacks by security forces and pro-Salih supporters against peaceful demonstrators in many provinces across the country. Dozens were killed and many wounded.

The evening of Tuesday 8 March 2011 was the bloodiest. Central security forces, emergency police, and the Republican Guard fired live ammunition, poison gas bombs and tear gas on unarmed protesters in Taghyir Square in front of Sanaa University. At least one demonstrator was killed, while 113 were left wounded, 18 of whom are in critical condition. Others suffered from serious suffocation and dangerous health complications due to the government forces' use of poison gas bombs, according to medical sources.

Eyewitnesses have told Alkarama that even the first-aid teams that came to help the wounded were attacked, as security forces used electric prods and rubber bullets to disperse protestors. This came only a few hours after the Yemeni regime made threats against satellite channel correspondents working in Yemen.

The Yemeni authorities have provided inconsistent information about the events – scattering accusations left and right. With the faint hope of regaining credibility with the protestors, the regime has promised to investigate the attacks. As the regime's legitimacy dwindles, it has become clear that this attack is far from an exception, rather part of the methodical pattern of repression used by Salih's regime to suppress peaceful demonstrations.

The attack on demonstrators in Taghyir Square unfolded only a few hours after Sanaa witness a city-wide swarm of security forces. Military units and tanks belonging to the Central Security Forces occupied Sanaa's main streets and intersections, while Republican Guard convoys led by a relative of President Salih were seen leaving their barracks and entering the city streets.

The following day, the Republican Guard and the Central Security Forces, led by President Salih's nephew, surrounded the demonstrations in Taghyir Square. Security forces installed concrete barriers at the entrance to the square and prevented supplies from reaching demonstrators.

Opposition sources indicate that the attack was pre-meditated, with the goal of spreading terror and chaos amongst the protesters, whose number was rapidly increasing at the time of the attack. Armoured forces were able to enter the square and take over the protestors' symbolic podium.

The volunteer medical centre in Taghyir Square has confirmed that the government forces were using Israeli-made gas bombs, which cause cerebral haemorrhage, spasms, and suffocation. Medical sources said that several victims were transferred to special medical units, where CT-scans revealed the presence of vascular congestion – one of the symptoms of nerve gas.

The Yemeni human rights organisation 'Hood' issued several urgent appeals to local bodies and international organisations requesting aid for treating the nerve gas victims. According to reports, symptoms include incontinence, slackness of the limbs, reduced heartbeat, weak eyesight, spasms, and loss of consciousness.

Yemeni citizens have also been quick to react to the attacks. Local and international organisations have announced their condemnation of the massacres and expressed their deep concern at the Yemeni security forces' increasing use of excessive force against unarmed demonstrators. They have also expressed concern at the use of armoured vehicles and tanks in many towns in the centre of the country. The citizens consider the attacks as a form of "state terror" intended to intimidate the civilians from demonstrating peacefully – which is a clear threat to their freedom and safety.

On 7 March 2011, anti-riot police entered Sanaa's central prison, to quell protests calling for Presient Salih's ouster. Sources in the press and human rights organisations confirmed that the prisoners' rebellion resulted in three deaths, as security forces used tear gas. Several tens of prisoners were also wounded in the attacks.

Over the past week, security forces and supporters of the ruling General People's Congress have been cracking down on protests, resulting in dozens killed and wounded.

In the town of Dhamar south of the capital Sanaa, ruling party supporters attacked opposition demonstrators in Taghyir Square using live ammunition, sticks and stones – leaving 5 demonstrators wounded.

On 6 March 2011, pro-Salih supporters used stones, knives, clubs and live ammunition against protesters, in the Gulf of Sirt / Houriyya area, in Ibb governorate in the middle of the country, leaving at least one person dead and more than 56 people injured.

On 3 March 2011, armed supporters of President Salih, in a government vehicle, fired directly at the bodies of peaceful demonstrators in Al Baydaa governorate, as the demonstrators advanced towards Sons of the Revolution Square in the town centre, injuring five people, including children.

In each of the previous cases, trustworthy video clips have shown operations of repression and deliberate killing and barbaric attacks, both by the Yemeni security forces and by supporters of President Salih, against unarmed demonstrators whose voices rang out with slogans of peace.

One member of the medical crew in Taghyir Square in Sanaa, who helped transport those injured in the attack of 8 March, said that he had witnessed a soldier taking a combat stance during the attack, aiming his weapon at the protesters, whose chests were exposed, and firing directly at them,

A document obtained by Alkarama reveals that the Salih's regime is exploiting state resources to fund attacks on protestors. This document includes payments from the governor of Taizz, Hammoud Khalid As-Sufi, on 20 February 2011, to hire 17 pro-Salih supporters, in accordance with a request from the neighbourhood chief, who is not legally authorised to make such a request.

The document revealed that Gov. Sufi's instructions, which accuse that he is behind the attacks on demonstrators in Taizz, came two days after a bloody attack on the demonstrators demanding the departure of Pres. Salih. The document consists of a request submitted by the neighbourhood chief (a traditional role) asking for 17 youths to be hired by the state governing apparatus, saying that "they are good people and have always held pro-national views, their reaction these days is excellent", indicating that they played an alleged role in the attacks on demonstrators.

Furthermore, Alkarama has obtained information indicating that President Salih and some of his close circle are funding people various allies, including neighbourhood chiefs and soldiers, in order to repress the peaceful demonstrations. The recipients have agreed to organise attacks against demonstrators, in exchange for getting professional positions in the state administrative apparatus, or sums of money from the national treasury.