On the Streets

Post by Admin

Walking the streets of Sana'a one can get a feel when things are getting bad. The usual bus chatter increases and heats up. But what we have on the streets and in the skies is something more telling - troop build-ups, extra armored vehicles, new road blocks, and the ever present thud of not to distant bombing.

State media recently reported Shaikh Sadeq Al-Ahmar to have ordered civilian evacuation of al-Hasaba. This is NOT true and life continues, though after the report aired on Saba-TV, the market on the street disappeared a few days.

Fortifications in the suburb have increased, one street is blocked off by a bus body filled with sand bags, and exchanges of gunfire can be heard especially at night.

Petrol prices have risen a little after decreasing to 3000 from 10,000. But everyday items of food are getting harder and harder to afford and some people have taken the step to drink tea with only half the sugar! Now that is a rare thing!

The Change Square sit in is as strong as ever and the tents have undergone renovations such as being put up on stilts to avoid the rain run-off. English translations of coalition signs and handouts remains awful at best. Protesters are still marching around town shouting slogans and chanting the downfall of the regime, and at the end of it, one can only wonder where it is all going.

School and university terms are planned to start on 17 September. It is unclear how term will start at Sana'a and Science and Technology universities with main entrances still blocked off by tents and an uncertain security situation. Almost all schools have had high numbers of unenrolments, especially high end private schools.

Anti-Government Demonstrations - Sana'a Yemen

Post by al-Ghariba

I was on my way to the Science and Technology University thinking it will be ok because the roads there are only blocked off until the intersection, but as I walked up Cairo Street I saw the demonstration had expanded down to Eagle Tourist Hotel and up past the Science and Tech Uni Girls Section. And the University was locked up.

I sat for a while talking with one of the women checking women entering the area for contraban (weapons) and then after being told by her that there are plenty of women at the demonstration, decided to enter into the demonstration area.

The mood and tempo had moved on so much since I last entered the area a few days ago. It was very serious now, and as I walked the "first kilometre to freedom" I was passed by protesters covered in blood and some with head injuries. A way had been permanently cleared for ambulances which were still zooming in and out of the area taking out the injured.

Those guarding the entrances to the area had set up small middens of stones ready incase of confrontation with security forces. It was clear that many stones had been thrown before I had arrived as they lay scattered down the road.

As I made my way to the Hikmah Yemenia Obelisk I was amazed at the good manners of the men in making sure they cleared a way for me as I walked through the crowd to the womens' area.

I stood in the womens' area for no more than a minute when the crowd errupted as an Army Colonel and a General were carried upon the shoulders of the demonstrators to the stage - They had defected to join the anti-government protesters. The General addressed the crowd, encouraging them to continue thet struggle, and exposing some of the sins of the army at the hands of the regime.

The atmosphere was indescribable. I was moved to tears. I wished I could have stayed but it is not a good idea for foreigners to participate in these types of political uprisings, especially when the government security forces are still so active. The most dangerous part of attending a political demonstration is leaving one, because that is when you are most likely to be followed and disappeared on your way home.

Allah barik ala al-Yemenieen wa yansoorahum ala al-qaum al-dhalimeen!

Sana'a Demonstrations

It was announced that every Thursday there would be demonstrations at Tahrir Square, but last Thursday the square was occupied by a folk handicraft festival and the Thursday before that hundreds of tribesmen from tribes loyal to the government were bused in to occupy the square so that anti-government demonstrators were blocked out.

Instead there was a large gathering of tens of thousands of protestors in the streets in front of Sana'a University. The week before that they filled the streets all the way back to the Science and Technology University girls section and pink was the theme colour.

The President announced that he would not stand again for election in two years time and he would not pass the presidency to his son. He also announced tax cuts and pay rises for soldiers and government employees.

Allegedly an assassination attempt was made on the leader of the Islah opposition party, but the full story is unclear. Both parties say, "he started it".

Today, the first day of the new Egypt the streets in Yemen are quiet, but all the talk is about similar things happening here. There are always plenty of police on the streets, so nothing unusual there, but I did see many police wearing photo ID.

It seems inevitable that the demonstrations will continue as the Yemeni people feel emboldened, energised and full of hope.

Keep an eye on us in Yemen, that goes unsaid, I am sure there are many eyes on Yemen!