Yemen : unacceptable use of violence against peaceful protesters

15/03/2011
Press release
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The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) is very concerned by the escalating tensions in Yemen over the last four days, which have resulted in the death of at least 8 persons and urges the Yemeni authorities to refrain from using violence against peaceful demonstrators. At least, 47 persons were killed and around 1500 injured since the beginning of the protests, one month ago.

On Saturday March 12, 2011, the Yemeni security forces stormed the University square in Sanaa, where thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators have been protesting for several weeks to demand that President Abduallah Saleh to step down.

In a pre-dawn raid on Saturday, police are said to have used live bullets, tear gas and hot water mixed with gas to disperse the demonstrators which caused many injuries among the civilian population. According to our sources, authorities have allegedly denied the transportation of the injured to hospitals.

Meanwhile, a 13 year old boy was killed in a separate clash between security forces and protesters in the city of Mukala, where 4 soldiers were killed on Friday. Furthermore, at least 20 protesters are still in the hospital after the attack on March 8, 2011 at the University of Sanaa. According to information received, the authorities are suspected to have used weapons which are prohibited by international law.

FIDH also deplores that during the last four days, protests have turned violent in the city of Aden, where at least 20 people have been injured by gunfire and by tear gas as police tried to disperse the crowd.
Finally, FIDH calls on Yemen’s allies to put pressure on the Yemeni authorities in order to put an end to the wave of violence which has been ongoing through the country for several weeks.

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