Al-Dhalia Residents call for the Demilitarization of their Province [Archives:2000/08/Front Page]

In a statement issued by the Coordination Council of the Opposition Parties in Al-Dhalia, on the 19th of February, it stated that the Governorate is exposed to security measures that are too excessive and that the local residents of the Governorate are finding it extremely difficult to live normal lives, not to mention the fear of seeing a lot of military hardware, and repression from the various enforcement agencies of the government. It is worth noting that the Governor of Al-Dhali’a Mr. Saleh Al-Juneid denied that he was subjected to an assassination attempt.   Security and military officials refuted all charges and claims that there is  not too much of a security presence in the area, claiming these to be the efforts of those who exaggerate normal security operations that all the governorates of the republic are subjected to.  Many of the residents claim that the Dhalia Governor is liked by the people and that there are security and military interests that wish to create tensions there because they do not want him there because he responds favorably with the peoples needs. Some sources claim that there are around 160 arrests due to confrontations between the security forces and the residents and all due to roundup of who security officials presume to be suspects.  They claim that such arrests occur without due process of law.
——
[archive-e:08-v:2000-y:2000-d:2000-01-21-p:./2000/iss08/front.htm]