Thousands Protest in South Yemen For Independent Rule

By[VAC1] Ahmad Shihadah

Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East Desk

ADEN, Yemen – Thousands have taken the streets in southern Yemen to demand the restoration of the region’s independence. Witnesses said more than 10,000 demonstrators marched in the city of Dhaleh while thousands more turned out in the Lahej and Abyan provinces. The protestors carried the flag of the former independent state while chanting anti-government slogans demanding the separation of the south of Yemen from the north.

Following the unification of Yemen in 1990, the people of the south claim that they [VAC2] have not received equal treatment from those in the north.  Abdullah al-Faqih, a professor of political science at Sa’na university stated “the southerners were turned unto second class citizens; they were marginalized politically, socially and economically.” Yemen is the Middle East’s poorest country and southerners complain they have fared even worse than their northern neighbors since the unification.

The demonstrations coincided with talks held in the Yemeni capital Sa’na between Arab League Chief Amir Mussa and Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh[VAC3] . The main thrust of the talks was Yemen’s security and stability. Mussa continued by saying, “the president has expressed openness in engaging in dialogue with the different political sides inside Yemen and abroad, no matter what the differences are, and he expressed his readiness to hold talks with them.

Yemen is currently facing considerable unrest as its army is currently waging a bloody campaign against Shi’ite rebels in the north. The conflicts have raised concern of the strategically located country’s stability and possible unrest spilling over to other nations.

For more information please see:

Al-Jazeera – South Yemenis rally for self-rule – 6 October 2009

APF – Thousands demonstrate for independent south Yemen – 6 October 2009

Gulf Times – Thousands demonstrate in S Yemen for independence – 6 October 2009

USA Today – Thousands protest in Yemen’s south – 6 October 2009

Author: Impunity Watch Archive