Hadramaut: Army fires live ammunition to disperse protesters in Al-Qatn amid escalating public anger.
Arabian Sea Newspaper - Special
Arabian Sea - Yemen - Hadramout - Special: Yemeni army forces intervened on Tuesday evening to disperse angry protesters in Al-Qatn district of Hadramout governorate, after they blocked the vital international road, using live ammunition in an attempt to reopen the road to dozens of stalled commercial trucks. Local sources spoke of a pile-up of trucks loaded with food and goods at the entrance to Tarim district, as a result of the continued popular protests that entered their second week in the valley and desert districts. A number of citizens affirmed their determination to continue the protests until all legitimate demands are met, foremost of which is improving living conditions and holding accountable those responsible for the violations against the demonstrators. The protesters demanded an urgent and transparent investigation into the killing of the young man, Muhammad Yadin, by security forces during a demonstration in Al-Qatn, and bringing the perpetrators to justice, considering that the violent security response exacerbated the state of public anger. They also expressed their condemnation of what they described as the "absence of an effective government role" in addressing the suffering of citizens, and the deterioration of basic services, especially the continuous power outages and the high prices of food and fuel, in the absence of any tangible government solutions. Hadramout Governorate, the largest Yemeni governorate in terms of area, is witnessing an unprecedented wave of protests, concentrated in the districts of Al-Qatn, Tarim, and Seiyun, against the backdrop of the accelerating collapse of public services and the deteriorating economic and living conditions of the population. Tensions escalated after the killing of the young man, Yadin, which prompted the protesters to escalate their movements and block vital roads, in a scene that portends further unrest in the governorate, which is considered an important economic artery for Yemen with its oil resources and strategic location. These developments come amid escalating political and security division between the local authority affiliated with the legitimate government, and the Southern Transitional Council, which seeks to strengthen its influence in Hadramout through the "Hadrami Elite" forces supported by the UAE. Observers believe that this conflict between the competing forces has contributed to weakening administrative and service performance, and the authority's inability to provide effective solutions to the worsening crises, which has deepened the state of popular discontent and pushed citizens to the streets. In contrast, local and international parties have expressed their concerns about the repercussions of the continued tension, warning that the situation getting out of control could threaten the stability of the governorate, and disrupt its vital role in supporting the national economy, at a time when Yemen is facing complex crises at various levels.
