Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Yemen: Excessive Force Used Against Demonstrators


Security Forces Killed at Least Nine, Injured 150, at Peaceful Aden Protests

"(New York) – Yemeni security forces repeatedly used excessive, deadly force on largely peaceful protesters in the southern city of Aden in February 2011, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. Security forces fired weapons that included assault rifles and machine guns at the protesters, killing at least nine and possibly twice that number, and injuring more than 150, some of them children.

The 20-page report, “Days of Bloodshed in Aden,” documents attacks on protesters in the strategic port city of Aden from February 16 to 25. Human Rights Watch found that police and military forces also chased and shot at protesters trying to flee the assaults. The forces stopped doctors and ambulances trying to reach protest sites, fired at people who tried to rescue victims, and removed evidence, such as bullet casings, from the shooting scenes.

Shooting into crowds is no way to respond to peaceful protests,” said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “Governments in the region and beyond should make clear to Yemen that international assistance comes with the condition of respecting human rights.”

The Yemeni authorities should immediately end these illegal attacks and conduct an impartial investigation into the injuries and deaths in Aden, Human Rights Watch said....."

Download the full report (PDF, 388.58 KB)

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