Ordered to leave their housesAl-Nasr inhabitants feel oppressed [Archives:2005/839/Front Page]
Sana'a, 2 May YT – a number of citizens living in al-Nasr Zone, 45-meter Street came on Monday May 2 to the Yemen Times and filed a complaint against the Secretary General of the Capital and Housing representatives. They were to move from their houses under the pretext of completing the project of rainwater-disposing passage.
Citizens expressed concern about the illegal procedures practiced against them, particularly when housing representatives ordered them on April 1 to evacuate their houses to enable the concerned parties to complete the project of rainwater-disposing passage.
The zone contains around 500 houses, with at least 20 people in each house. Most of the houses consist of two to three stories and the zone is inhabited by civilians from different parts of the country, most of whom are public-sector employees and military and security officers.
Citizens filed several complaints to the Parliament, governmental sides and non-governmental organizations.
The Yemen Times held meetings with some al-Nasr inhabitants.
“We are suffering the arbitrary procedures taken against us by the Secretary General of the Capital and some housing officials who want us to leave our house, although we have been living in this zone for over 20 years,” Said Hizam Ali Abdullah, one of al-Nasr inhabitants. “When we met with al-Kuhlani, Secretary General of the Capital, he confirmed that he wants to implement the project of rainwater-disposing passage. We told him the implementation should go on according to the law.”
When meeting with a number of concerned officials, we forwarded a number of points to be discussed including that we have been living here for over 20 years, and it is our right to obtain compensations, he added.
Hizam complained they have been threatened that their houses will be destroyed by fire, and electricity was cut off their houses more than once. Moreover, electricity wires were taken away in the presence of a police vehicle. Today over 700 families endure difficult conditions. This fear has spread among innocent children who could not even attend school.
For his part, Ali Sa'eed al-Mughribi, one of the locals living in the zone, confirmed that he has been living in this place for ten years and all public services, including water, electricity and telephone, were provided to his house. One month ago, he, like other locals, were surprised of being ordered to leave their houses for the construction of rainwater-disposing passage.
According to al-Mughrabi, locals emphasized if the public interest necessitates their transition from the zone, it is their right to claim fair compensations according to the constitution and the law.
“As the President Saleh calls for rights of Palestinians and non-Palestinians, how would it be possible for us Yemenis to be denied our rights in spite of living near the President and the Presidential Palace,” Ali al-Mughribi commented. “What is of a great concern is that the majority of al-Nasr locals are military and security recruits who spared effort for the sake of national security.”
He added: “All of us request the government institutions and media means to make up a committee to look fairly into the issue. We moreover appeal to the President Saleh to intervene in the issue.”
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