Police blocks student march [Archives:2005/842/Front Page]

Yasser Mohammed Al-Mayyasi
SANA'A, May 14- Thousands of Sana'a university students streamed to the streets in protest against the strike of teachers that has been lasting for a more than two months now.

The angry marchers moved from Sana'a University toward the Presidential Palace, but the demonstration turned into confrontations with more than 1500 security forces who were located at the assembly points so as to stop the students from demonstrating. Students were subject to arbitrary attacks and beating by policemen.

The General Union of Yemeni Students (GUYS), organizer of the demonstration, accused the security squads of using arms to disperse protesters and arresting tens of activists.

The statement issued by the Union confirmed that policemen conducted arbitrary and indecent inspections on male and female students.

It added that the demonstration aimed to put an end to the strike that curbed student's progress and express solidarity with Abdurrahman al-Mauz'e, head of GUYS, Faculty of Dentistry, whose study was suspended for one year for writing a press article last year. Other students said that they are protesting against the disrespectful treatment their teachers are receiving saying that there is no respect for academics in this country.

On the other hand, the National Authority for Defending Human Rights and Freedoms (HOOD) denounced such illegal practices by security forces, which hindered the pace of the demonstration and prevented different media means from covering the event. It also strongly denounced beating and attacking students who are struggling for their rights.

HOOD condemned the arbitrary procedures imposed on Abdurrahman al-Mauz'e concerning his 1-year suspension for writing journalistic articles one year ago.
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