After almost two years of Yemenis’
sacrifices and peaceful revolution, the same scene was repeated again today…
This morning, we marched peacefully after suffering for years from the university militarization. We marched against all sorts of militarization including the central forces that killed a student 3 years ago, beat students and harassed anyone who said no to Saleh, national security agents inside classrooms among students and academic professors, and now the first armed division, which claimed last year to protect the revolution only to use the campus as a military camp.
The point behind today’s march was not against a certain person, military leader or wing.. It was simply against all sorts of military existence in Sana’a University campus. Today we went against all the violations committed by all sides: Former president Saleh as well as General Ali Mohsen. Today’s march gathered students, activists, journalists and citizens all men and women who aspire to have a safe civic environment for education in Sana’a University campus.
We marched from the new university all the way to the ministers’ cabinet chanting for a civic university away from tanks, Kalashnikovs and national security agents. As we walked through the streets of Sanaa we chanted: “In the name of books and pens, the rule of military must end!”We chanted for freedom, knowledge and prosperity. It was as beautiful as the first days of the revolution last year when Yemenis from different backgrounds chanted for social justice. And what was more beautiful is how men and women walked side by side chanting for a better future.
Around 11:45, we reached the cabinet and 10 minutes later when students fell on one of the metal fences and tried to get up and stand again, soldiers started pushing them back violently. Then some students began to chant: “Go away, go away” and this is when the soldiers held their riffles and started shooting on a very low level.
The shootings continued for 15 minutes, they were heavy and random and as we were running, we only stopped a bit from time to time to collect the bullets from the ground. When they saw that they beat us with their metal sticks. I personally was hit with a metal stick in the leg and many others were hit in different body parts.
This morning, we marched peacefully after suffering for years from the university militarization. We marched against all sorts of militarization including the central forces that killed a student 3 years ago, beat students and harassed anyone who said no to Saleh, national security agents inside classrooms among students and academic professors, and now the first armed division, which claimed last year to protect the revolution only to use the campus as a military camp.
The point behind today’s march was not against a certain person, military leader or wing.. It was simply against all sorts of military existence in Sana’a University campus. Today we went against all the violations committed by all sides: Former president Saleh as well as General Ali Mohsen. Today’s march gathered students, activists, journalists and citizens all men and women who aspire to have a safe civic environment for education in Sana’a University campus.
We marched from the new university all the way to the ministers’ cabinet chanting for a civic university away from tanks, Kalashnikovs and national security agents. As we walked through the streets of Sanaa we chanted: “In the name of books and pens, the rule of military must end!”We chanted for freedom, knowledge and prosperity. It was as beautiful as the first days of the revolution last year when Yemenis from different backgrounds chanted for social justice. And what was more beautiful is how men and women walked side by side chanting for a better future.
Around 11:45, we reached the cabinet and 10 minutes later when students fell on one of the metal fences and tried to get up and stand again, soldiers started pushing them back violently. Then some students began to chant: “Go away, go away” and this is when the soldiers held their riffles and started shooting on a very low level.
The shootings continued for 15 minutes, they were heavy and random and as we were running, we only stopped a bit from time to time to collect the bullets from the ground. When they saw that they beat us with their metal sticks. I personally was hit with a metal stick in the leg and many others were hit in different body parts.
It is important to point out that a few participants in the protests might have provoked the soldiers with personal insults related to their partisan/sectarian disagreements with General Ali Mohsen, yet this does not give the right to soldiers to shoot whatsoever.
One more time and I quote from today’s chants and yesterday’s press release of the anti-militarization campaign, this march was against all armed sides inside campus. The university has been facing injustice for years now and many sides are involved.
I will continue to support any
non-violent act against militarization of universities and cities from all
sides: army and armed groups. Freedom and social justice are the values I will
always stand for and not sectarianism or violence.
Hi Sarah
ReplyDeleteThank you for writing such a great blog.
I wish you wrote more in Arabic, but rather I should take more time to learn Arabic. I have a question for you. Is it safe to visit Sana'a now? I am a Canadian Muslim woman, who is interesting to visit Sana'a this summer to study Arabic.
I hope you can advise me if this is a wise decision or not
Masalama
Sahar