Protesters injured by bullets of pro-Saudi forces in Tarim
HADRAMOUT, Aug. 07 (YPA) – A number of participants in the peaceful “Revolution of the Hungry” sit-in were injured by bullets fired by members of the “First Military Region,” affiliated with the Islah party, in the Tarim district of Hadramout Valley, eastern Yemen.
Human rights and medical sources reported identical information that elements loyal to Saudi forces in the “First Military Region” stormed the sit-in and opened fire on protesters who had closed the international road linking Hadramout and Al Mahra last week, in protest against the deterioration of services and living conditions.
The sources explained that two protesters were injured, one of them was shot in the chest, while the other was shot in the abdomen.
They were transferred to Seiyun Hospital for treatment, and their condition was described as critical.
The sources added that armed elements arrived in armored vehicles and military vehicles in the morning to forcefully open the road, amid the protesters’ refusal to open the road until the demands of the people of Tarim and Hadramout Valley are met, including improving electricity service and prices, in addition to handing over those accused of killing a protester last week.
The sources reported that the “First Region” command sent military reinforcements to Tarim following the incident in order to tighten its control over the entrances and center of the city, reaching the popular neighborhoods, in anticipation of any angry popular escalation against the coalition in the coming hours.
They indicated that dozens of Tarim residents joined the sit-in camp, which escalated its protests by returning to close the international road again to tankers and trucks, amid tensions witnessed in Tarim and Seiyun against the pro-Saudi Islah factions.
For its part, the Hadramout Comprehensive Conference condemned the “violations” of the security and military forces in the Hadramout Valley and Desert against the peaceful protesting youth of Tarim.
In a statement, the conference considered the use of force against the people of Tarim a dangerous step that constitutes a flagrant violation of constitutional and legal rights.