Is Yemen the next Somalia, or the next Tunisia?

by Tom Finn, GlobalPost

SANAA, Yemen — In an apparent effort to quell the violent protests that have persisted for three days straight on the streets of Yemen’s capital, the country’s authoritarian ruler, Ali Abdullah Saleh, released a rights activist from prison today. He also made public denials that he is grooming his son to take over power.

Locals worry violent protests will harm businesses

Story and Photo by: Sadeq Al-Wesabi, for Yemen Times

Published:31-01-2011

SANA’A, Jan. 30 – Shop owners were worried that their livelihoods would be destroyed when they heard protests on Saturday turn violent near their shops in the centre of the capital.

“We don’t want protests, we want to go about our regular business without being dragged into a political struggle,” said a fabrics shopkeeper in Jamal Street.

Displaced People of Alga'ashin's arrest and torture, witnessed by Fuad Ahmad Naji

On Tuesday Oct 21th 2010 , a peaceful rally held by Alga’ashin displaced people in front of the Sana’a-based Algumhuri Hospital was suppressed by security forces. Most of the participants in the rally were arrested, including Fuad Ahmed Naji; one of Alga’ashin’s displaced, who was moved to Alnasr police station, having been beated by those forces. He was also tortured by electricity and live cigarettes by group of the soldiers, taken to hospital after a deteriorated health.

اعتقال وتعذيب مهجري الجعاشن.. شهادة فؤاد أحمد ناجي

الثلاثاء 12 اكتوبر 2010، قامت قوات الأمن بقمع مسيرة سلمية لمهجري أبناء الجعاشن أمام المستشفى الجمهوري في العاصمة صنعاء. وقد قامت قوات الأمن باعتقال معظم المشاركين في المسيرة. وكان فؤاد أحمد ناجي واحد من مهجري الجعاشن الذين تعرضوا للاعتقال والاعتداء بالضرب من قبل قوات الأمن، نُقل بعدها إلى قسم شرطة “النصر” حيث تعرض هناك للضرب المبرح والتعذيب بالكهرباء وأعقاب السجائر من قبل مجموعة من الضباط. وبسبب تدهور حالته الصحية نتيجة للتعذيب، تم نقله إلى المستشفى.