Bloodshed & suicide due to fuel price increase [Archives:2005/863/Opinion]

Abdulwahab Al-Sofi
Hodeidah
[email protected]
Those playing with fire will burn none but themselves. Nothing is more oppressive than a regime that hinders people's freedom. Never has a Yemeni citizen been subjected to such oppression as he/she is being subjected to now. It makes one wonder whether there is some sort of a local wide conspiracy to destroy our conservative society. Nobody knows exactly, when this bad ongoing situation will be finished. We hate it when our government accepted it. I hated it also when the armed soldiers accepted the killing of dozens of Yemeni poor citizens including children as a matter of course, raised hell over protesters who chanted for expressing their opinions, and made a small noise. I was greatly distressed to hear about those victims who wanted to deliver their voice to the government, nothing else. It is absurd to use random live fire against disarmed people walking in the street. This is hardly likely to be an offender. Yemeni people were shocked by the heightened boom concerns that obliged poor people to lead several demonstrations in some cities of Yemen in protesting at this increase. The controversial fuel price increases added insult to injury. Consequently, protesters raised concerns about the deal fearing the boom of food items prices would make their life much tougher. Their expressions varied from one to another.

One of these protesters, liked to protest using own way. He threw himself from the top of the fourth floor in a building that he was guarding, to the pavement. After, he had chanted using filthy words against the president and condemned the government severely; he tied a cloth on his eyes firmly and dropped himself to the street, and directly died. On Thursday, 21 July at 8:30 Am, in Hodeidah city, Mr. Moseyed about 40 years old, married and a father, could not resist the fear of the soared prices ghost and preferred suicide. Instead of thinking day and night how he would afford meals for his children, he decided to use a new mean of protestation. Mr. Moseyed sacrificed himself to deliver his suffering from the government, hoping that his children may have better life. Two hours later, the second misery started. Fifteen people at least, varied between children, young and old shot by soldiers. This is because they fired on demonstrators randomly so that most victims were unfortunately out of demonstrators walking on the pavement. One of them, a child was selling his merchandise (ice cream) “This random fire is not produced but from an oppressive regime”. Said my friend. In addition to that, this bloody campaign is not inexcusable and irregular. The sky did not fall on the country's collective head. Soldiers committed a blunder during some demonstrations that happened in many cities of Yemen in which soldiers got instructions to use live fire against protesters. The gunshots sound of soldiers is still ringing in our ears and the nauseating smell of blood is still there. They should have first used batons and tears bombs that were never used, to disperse the demonstrators as protestors never pose danger but for expressing their opinions. Thus, they should have avoided this bloodshed. In fact, Yemeni people have been learning bitter lessons from government's promises. Many previous promises to improve the citizens' livelihood were reduced to ash. Because of that, protestors accuse the government of intentionally starving Yemeni people into submission. On the other hand, we are free to do, as we like, however, reason should control all our actions. Nobody is more loyal to his country than a citizen is living in it.
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