Al-Udeins atrocities yet to be investigated [Archives:2002/30/Front Page]

Human rights activists are still investigating the atrocities that occurred in Al-Taneba village in Al-Udain district, Ibb governorates.
According to reliable sources, at the beginning of the July 2002, eight police cars attacked Al-Taneba village. The soldiers looted and burnt three houses and horrified the innocent citizens. However, we used to hear and see like these savage acts happening in occupied Palestinian territories.
What has happened in Al-Udein area is a real tragedy resulted in the killing of one person, wounding four others and three families rendered homeless.
The problem was between head of the committee of preparatory examination called Al-Taawon Accumulator and a student, 15 years old, no sooner that the problem took place than each one apologized and it was over. All of a sudden the problem was aroused again when five soldiers arrived at the village of Al-Taneba, and started looking for some wanted persons. Therefore, they asked a small boy, 12 years old, who denied his knowledge about any of those wanted. One of the soldiers caught the boy who began shouting out of his panic. His brother Natheer M. Abdu, 26 years old, rushed to help him. He quarreled with the soldier while another soldier shot him. The young man was seriously injured and presently under treatment in a hospital. After that incident, inhabitants of the village followed the soldiers and exchanged fire with them, killing the head of the group and injuring a soldier Mohammed Al-Saqqaf and the driver.
The next morning eight police cars from Al-Udein district moved to Al-Taneba village attempting to burn all the houses in the village in revenge for what has happened. However, some notable persons in the region have interfered to solve the problem. The soldiers gave up their decision of burning the whole village and insisted on burning four houses only. They have already set three houses ablaze and were about to burn the fourth. To their surprise they found out that all women of the village had took refuge in the house and refused to leave it. If you want to burn the house burn us inside it, said the women.
Ibrahim Abdullah, Ibb Yemen Times correspondent, visited the area where the tragic incident took place and interviewed a number of families whose houses were burnt down.
Ramzy M. Hayal, 10 years, described how the soldiers burnt his house, The soldiers came and ordered the women to go out claiming that they wanted to search the house, they took all valuable things from the house and put them inside their cars. After that, they set the house on fire.
Ramzys mother said The soldiers prevented us from taking anything from inside our house even my clothes and my childrens clothes….thus I was shouting in order to enter my house, but the soldier pushed me away and aimed his weapon at me saying Come back, I swear God, I will kill you and bring your house down if you do not come back. She continued I will go to the president and complain to him about what you have done with us, why you behave with us in this way! The merciless soldier replied go to your mother
Ramzys mother said They have taken our blankets, Jambias, Jewelry, radio, TV, etc, everything they took from the house. The things they could not carry, they burnt.
The wife of Hayal Shanen expressed her great sorrow on the catastrophe that took place in her house saying Even Israel did not do these savage acts
Khadiga M. Naji, 13 years old, said The soldiers came and said go out from the house, we want to search the house. They beat us with their weapons and kicked us out by force, after that they took our furniture to their cars, she added
For the wife of Hammed Naji, she could not complete her story with us due her bad mood, but she pointed to remains of her house which was completely destroyed. Why to talk, you can see the house yourselves, what can we say to you my sons, they have burnt everything even the grain stores, she could not complete her talking to us as she burst into tears.
In my discussion with the homeless families I felt sorry and pity for these poor people. Who is responsible for what has happened to these poor people?
Who is the beneficiary of these savage acts. Why do some people exploit trivial problems and make them so big to serve their desires and extend their influence over the poor people who refuse to follow them? Why to use force against defenceless people?


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