Yemenis students continue their protest in Mumbai [Archives:2006/954/Local News]

SANA'A, June 11 ) Yemeni students in the Indian city of Mumbai (Bombay) continued their sit-it for the fourteenth day running despite harsh weather conditions, as the port city has been bombarded with monsoon rains. Protesting students said that the decision to continue the sit-in was a reaction to the Yemeni Ministry of Higher Education's ignorance of their predicament.

Around 300 protesters demanded the implementation of the President Saleh's directive issued on 18 February 2005 that augmented financial assistance granted to the students. Yemenis studying in India live in difficult circumstances that have been aggravated by the state of India's economy. India's economic turnaround effected a retreat of the American dollar relative to the Indian rupee leading to a rise in the cost of rent, student expenses, and the general cost of living. Students say that they are unable to afford the costs associated with studying and research.

Protesters at the sit-in demanded payment of student fees to Indian universities, noting that grants originating from the Ministry of Higher Education are retained by the cultural attache at the Yemeni embassy for years. Often, this practice has led students to terminate their studies due to lack of funding.

Nas Press published news that said a delegation of students met with Mustapha Noman, the Yemeni Ambassador to India, and discussed their demands with him. In turn, he referred the matter to the Ministry of Higher Education in Yemen. According to student spokespersons, the Ministry has ignored the ambassador's communication.

Indian police granted Yemenis studying in India permission to hold their protest rally in front of the Yemeni Consulate General in Mumbai and have provided them with tents to protect themselves against the weather.
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