Campus turns to battlefield [Archives:2002/32/Local News]

ABDUH M. ASSABRI
YEMEN TIMES STAFF
In a press release issued by the Executive Committee of the General Yemeni Students Union, (GYSU) at Taiz University, a security officer of the university pointing his pistol at a university student on June 28. The incident was followed by shooting fires at a number of students sitting next to the fence of the university campus.
In an unprecedented move, three female students were illegally incarcerated in individual prisons set up by the university security. Students at the university campus had no way except to protest against this flagrant violation and disregard for human rights. After mounting pressure was exerted on the security, those girls were all released.
In the same context, 20 students were also incarcerated in the criminal investigation jail of the city.
In response to recent incidents at the Taiz University campus, the GYSU filed an official complaint to the prosecuting attorney of Taiz Governorate asking for immediate intervention to release students who were unfairly detained in the criminal investigation jail. The complaint demanded the concerned bodies to compensate and rehabilitate students morally and materially.
It is worthwhile mentioning that the overall tuition fees along with entrance examination has considerably increased from YR 2,600 in the academic year (1998-1999) to YR 7,600 in (1999-2000). The fee increased to YR 7,900 in (2001-2002) during the academic year, (2002-2003) tuition fees have also been set to increase to YR 10,000.
On the other hand, the GYSU at Ibb University sent a letter to President Ali Abdullah Saleh appealing to save the educational process and make the universities a place for acquiring knowledge and not a battlefield for causing troubles and disputes among political parties.
The GYSU expressed its deep concern over uncertain future of the educational system.
At the same time the GYSU at Ibb University has expressed its total refusal of the high tuition fees. Students claim that university campuses have become places for moneygrubbers, which resulted in having many poor students, who couldnt afford extra.

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