YEMEN: Thousands of political and rights activists returned to the streets of the Yemeni capital on Monday, clamoring for the transition government to honor its promises of justice and retributions against those who, under deposed President Ali Abdullah Saleh committed atrocities against the people of Yemen.
But more than that, it is a lift of Yemen’s former strongman immunity which revolutionaries continue to demand, as they refuse the idea that three decades of an authoritarian regime could be swept under the rug without any form of accountability — political, financial or criminal —
“For three decades, President Saleh has allowed criminals to pillage our country’s resources, he and his family members have build extraordinary fortunes while Yemenis suffered from abject poverty. He perverted the ruling system to such a point that corruption infected every sector, every department and every state employees across the country, turning Yemen into a snake pit where the weak and the poor are being prayed upon.
He [former President Saleh] authorized the killings of dozens of our revolutionaries [reference to 2011 killings], he imprisoned and tortured activists ….. And yet he was granted immunity! After all his crimes, deceptions and acts of thievery he is allowed to walk free and enjoyed his fortune? No we as a country we will not accept such a thing. We will continue to call on for justice. Only justice will bring us a sense of closure,” said Ahmed al-Ansi a political activists based in Sana’a to the News Tribe.
Although deposed Saleh traveled to Saudi Arabia on April 1st, to allegedly undergo medical treatments, activists and politicians in Yemen are seeking to barre the former autocrat from political life altogether, arguing his shadow games are preventing the transition government from moving forward in its reconciliation efforts with Yemen’s many political factions and groups.
The Chairman and founder of the General People’s Congress – aka the ruling party – deposed Saleh retained his presidency in the party when he was forced to hand out his resignation in 2011 in the Saudi capital, Riyadh.
The fact that he remained the head of one of the country most prominent political factions gave him great control over the transition period as de facto 50% of all government seats and the parliament continued to be under his authority.
Activists are now trying to sever all links with the former president.
For a great many revolutionaries, a recognition of Yemen’s former autocrat’ guilt would symbolize the victory of the people over an unjust system, and as all are saying “we will not stop until we achieve justice.”
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