Yemeni Police Kill Three in Clash with Protesters

By Nykoel Dinardo
Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

ADEN, Yemen – Three people died following protests in Southern Yemen during the week of May 18, after police clashed with the protesters.  One man died at the scene of the protest.  The other two died in the hospital shortly thereafter.   At least twenty-five others were injured and another 120 were arrested for their involvement.

The protests were focused on the political status of South Yemen.  The protests marked the 19th Anniversary of Unity Day, the day when South Yemen and North Yemen were united at one nation.  The people of South Yemen have claimed independence and many of the organizations leading the protests are considered separatist organizations.  Most of the protests have been organized by the Southern Movement, a group that is strongly against the government in Yemen’s capital, Sana’a.

Yemen is the poorest country in the Arabian Peninsula; however most of the oil reserves are located in South Yemen.  A large portion of the population is also located in the South.  Residents in the South claim that they face discrimination and live in poor economic conditions.  As the economic crisis has hit the country, residents of the South claim that they have been denied jobs and property so that they could be reserved for Northern residents. 

Over 3,000 protesters were trying to go into Aden City to protest these conditions when they were met by security forces that were sent to break up the groups.  When the protesters met the security forces, they used themselves as human shields when police fired live rounds into the crowd.  They also shot tear gas into the groups of people. 

State-run news agencies in Yemen refused to admit that the clash took place, despite reports of the clash in many international news sources.  The news agency, SABA, claims that the deaths were not caused by security forces but instead by “rogue elements.”  According to Aden Governor, Adnan al-Jefri, the event has been escalated and magnified by the media.  He told SABA on May 21 that there had been “no clashes…between security forces and demonstrators in Aden.” 

For more information, please see:

CNN – Yemen Denies Reports of Deadly Clashes – 22 May 2009

AFP – Yemeni President Urges Dialogue After Deadly Clashes – 21 May 2009

Al-Bawaba – Yemen: At Least Three Killed in Clashes – 21 May 2009

BBC – Civil War Fears As Yemen Celebrates Unity – 21 May 2009

Reuters – Three Killed as Police Disperse South Yemen Protest – 21 May 2009

SABA – Aden Governor: No Clashes Between Citizens and Security – 21 May 2009

Author: Impunity Watch Archive