After two days of riotsAl-Dhale’ and Lahj residents in state of emergency [Archives:2008/1143/Front Page]

By: Yemen Times Staff
Al-DHALE', April, 2 ) Al-Dhale' province and Al-Habeeleen city in Lahj are experiencing a relative calm amid traffic paralysis and an extensive security deployment after last Sunday's protests turned violent and led to rioting throughout the week. The incident began when young men protested after their efforts to enlist in the army were rejected.

Although the situation in Al-Dhale' has settled down somewhat, Al-Habeeleen is still witnessing some clashes between protesters and Yemeni security forces as of Wednesday, said local witnesses in the southern governorates.

On Tuesday, army deployments stormed the areas after two days of rioting and demonstrations carried out by hundreds of young men in the southern governorates. The men were protesting “over unfulfilled government promises to enlist them in the army.”

Eyewitnesses said that security forces supported by tanks moved into Al-Dhale' and Radfan on Monday evening. Additionally, the security forces in the two governorates arrested at least five people on Tuesday, and are still hunting down 18 other wanted demonstration organizers. Locals said that demonstrators attacked governmental facilities, blocked roads and burned car tires, which covered the area with clouds of black smoke for hours. “So far, we have been informed that there is at least one dead and five injured in the clashes that took place in Lahj on Wednesday,” said Mohammed Husain, a resident of Lahj. He confirmed that the local councils announced a state of emergency and prevented people from gathering in the streets.

“There is heavy security deployment in the two cities that discouraged many people from taking to the streets,” said Yemen Times correspondent Fuad Mussaid, a resident of Al-Dhale'. “The stores are closed, students do not go to school and people rarely get out their houses.”

“Some people feel secured due to the existence of the army forces who say that will provide them with protection. However other citizens revealed their frustration as the security forces arrested citizens randomly who were not involved in the riots but found walking in the streets,” added Mussaid

The presence of army forces prevent citizens from protesting against the arrest of a number of political and social figures who were involved in organizing the marches, according to security sources who wished to remain anonymous.

According to national media, 13 people were injured last Tuesday in confrontations between security forces and demonstrators in the two cities. The security forces also fired on the demonstrators and released tear gas into the crowd, causing serious injuries to a number of citizens. The injured were later taken to Al-Habeeleen Hospital for treatment.

Eyewitnesses also revealed that demonstrators broke into a number of public facilities and privately-owned stores. Protestors picked up a donkey and carried it aloft while chanting “no donkeys after today,” referring to the symbol of the ruling General People's Congress party, the horse.

Electricity was cut in various Al-Habeeleen neighborhoods after an electric generator was shot. The local university's Faculty of Education in Lahj was also subjected to gunfire and tear gas bombardment in its yard.

The Joint Meting Parties (JMP) in Al-Dhale' issued a press release concerning the events in the governorate. The statement they issued placed responsibility on the government for the youths' outrage that resulted in the ensuing chaos. While the GMP in Al-Dhale' considered the events to be a result of the government's irresponsible dealings those men applying for army recruitment.

The press release claimed that the government deals with army enlistees in an opaque way that arouses anger, which is what happened with the army applicants in Al-Dhale'.

Tariq Al-Shami, head of the GPC's media circle accused the JMP of instigating the riots and spreading hatred inside the society. Al-Shami pointed out that recruitment in the army varies according to population and under service law conditions. He also noted that JMP intends to agitate people and warned against the consequences of such behavior.

An official source from Al-Dhale' local authority accused some parties affiliated with the JMP of instigating sabotage, riots and the looting of private and public property that took place last Sunday. The local authority pointed out that the parties don't consider their national responsibility when they aim to create disturbances that eventually incite violence.
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