YEMEN: Tension rises as opposition protest in streets of Sanaa against government electoral procedures

Record ID: 1540667

  • Title: YEMEN: Tension rises as opposition protest in streets of Sanaa against government electoral procedures
  • Date: 28th November 2008
  • Summary: (MER) SANAA, YEMEN (NOVEMBER 27, 2008) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS DEMONSTRATING BANNER READING 'WE ALL PURSUE CHANGE, WE WON'T ACCEPT OPPRESSION AND FORGERY' VARIOUS OF STREET DEMONSTRATION IN PROGRESS
  • Embargoed: 13th December 2008 11:43
  • Keywords: Yemdunc
  • Location: Yemen
  • Country: Yemen
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAE8IGMCMJVTQG5VFK63JKCS27X
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Government procedures for upcoming parliamentary elections trigger opposition protests in Sanaa.
    Opposition supporters in Sanaa said police fired shots at them on Thursday (November 27) during a demonstration against government procedures in preparation for the 2009 parliamentary elections.
    Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of the Yemeni capital to voice their objection to government-appointed electoral committees. Some protesters said police forces beat them and fired bullets at a crowd of protesters.

    "They opened fire on us, and started beating us. Under the bridge, they fired at us and claim that they are democratic," said a protester in Sanaa.
    Protests sparked in Yemen after the government have employed regional electoral committees to update the electoral lists around the country in preparation for the April 2009 ballot. The process of registering new voters and amending the voters list was completed on Tuesday (November 25), authorities said.
    The opposition said the regional electoral committees were formed by the Higher Election Committee, whose members are exclusively from the ruling General People's Congress party, in breach of the elections law.
    A coalition of opposition parties confirmed on Friday (November 23) their objection to the April 2009 elections, unless the government adheres to their demands. The Joint Meeting Parties (JMP) called on their supporters to boycott the registration process.
    In other part of the city, supporters of the ruling party held a rally to voce support of the government.

    "We stress that the people govern themselves in line with the goals of the Yemeni Revolution, and in line with the objectives of reconciliation," Ali al-Kahlani, an official from the ruling General People's Congress party told crowds of government supporters.
    Political Opposition parties demand to dissolve the Higher Election Committee, formed last August by President Ali Abdullah Saleh, and to form a new body comprising of representatives of the opposition parties as states by the law, to ensure the fairness of the elections process.
    The Arab country's foreign minister said in September Yemen will allow international monitors to keep an eye on multi-party parliamentary elections next year to ensure their fairness.
    Despite having one of the slowest economic growth rates in the world, the country is "pressing on in its democratic path," official say.
    The opposition rejected in August to appoint its representatives to the Higher Elections Committee after parliament refused amendments to the elections law deemed necessary for fair and free elections by opposition parties.
    Saleh was re-elected President in September 2006 in a vote dubbed fair by monitors amid opposition fraud claims.
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