UAE-backed militias launch campaign of arrests against opponents in Socotra

SOCOTRA, April 05 (YPA) – The UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) militias in the Yemeni island of Socotra on Monday launched a new campaign of arrests against their opponents.

This was reported by Yemen News Portal, based on local sources.

Local sources said that the STC militia arrested Abdullah al-Bishhami, vice-chairman of the sit-in committee, and Saeed Farajhi, a leader in the committee.

They were taken to an unknown destination.

The new arrests are part of an ongoing crackdown  on the local the leaders of the committee by the UAE since the committee was  announced.

The committee had not carried out any event  since the start of the campaign nearly a month ago.

The campaign coincided with UAE directives to close the island’s ports by land and sea under the pretext of “confronting Corona”, but the timing of the campaign indicates that the UAE is seeking to eliminate its opponents and prevent their flight from the island or the arrival of reinforcements to push the island towards a new conflict.

The STC militias  imposed their control on the island about two years ago after they expelled Hadi’s authority with the blessing of Saudi Arabia.

E.M