Pro Democracy Protestors shot dead by Yemen government

Yemen government forces have shot dead ten pro democracy protestors and wounded up to thirty more in a new wave of demonstrations there.

Witnesses said that Yemeni soldiers on Monday opened fire at tens of thousands of protesters demanding the ouster of decades-long President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Since mid-February, Yemen has been witnessing daily anti-government rallies -- inspired by the protests in Tunisia and Egypt -- which demand crucial economic and political reforms. Despite daily anti-government rallies, Saleh says he plans to remain in office until his term ends later this year. More than 83 people have been killed in the anti-government rallies in Yemen so far.

 
Isn't it strange that the great Western Democracies are prepared to "intervene" in oil rich Libya for the sake of democracy and citizens rights, while taking no stance on Yemen, one of the poorest and least developed countries in the Arab world?

Egypt dictatorship to lift "Emergency" Rule

Egypt was named a republic on June 18th 1953, but since 1967 (with the exception of an 18-month break in 1980) the country has been under "Emergency Law". In 1981, Hosni Mubarak, the former Vice President, came to power follwing the assassination of President  Anwar El Sadat. Mubarak has ruled as dictator since then.

On 25 January 2011, widespread protests began against Mubarak's regime as part of the Arab Spring. These took the form of an intensive campaign of civil resistance supported by very large numbers of people and mainly consisting of continuous mass demonstrations. When the public began ignoring Mubaraks curfew, the army refused to move against them. On 11 February 2011, Mubarak resigned and fled Cairo. Vice President Omar Suleiman announced that Mubarak had stepped down and that the Egyptian military would assume control of the nation's affairs in the short term.

The Egyptian Army spokesman, Ismail Etman, told a news conference in Cairo on Monday that parliamentary or presidential elections would not be held while the emergency law is still in place. With elections planned for September, this seems to be a clear indication that the emergency law is to removed. The Egyptian military council have also placed Mubarak and his family under house arrest.

Activists have demanded the release of political prisoners, the lifting of a 30-year-old state of emergency and the disbandment of military court.

The Arab Spring

The Arab Spring is the name now popularly being given to the 2010-11 Middle East and North African protests and demonstrations that have been taking place since December 18th last.  The protests began in Tunisia where they led to the successful removal of President Zine El Abinde Ben Ali.  From here they spread rapidly, sharing techniques of civil resistance in sustained campaigns involving strikes, demonstrations, marches and rallies, as well as the use of social media such as Facebook and Twitter to organise, communicate, and raise awareness in the face of attempts at state repression and Internet censorship.

In Tunisia, the Jasmine Revolution forced President  Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to flee to Saudi Arabia.  This was followed by the outbreak of mass protests in Egypt, which led to President Hosni Mubarak, who had ruled Egypt for 30 years, resigning on 11 February 2011.  Around the same time the King of Jordan was forced to name a new President, and the the president of Yemen, Ali Abdullah Saleh, announced that he would not seek another term in office in 2013, after what would then be 35 years of rule.  Pro democracy protests in Bahrain and Libya followed.

In Algeria, major protests and riots caused the lifting of a nineteen year state of emergency.  In Lebanon, thousands took to the streets to protest the sectarian rule there.  Similar protests in Sudan led to President Bashir announcing he would not seek re-election.  Several ministers were sacked in Oman following major protests.  Economic concessions were also granted by the Sultan.  In Syria, mass protests led to the release of political prisoners and the sacking of a provincial governor.  In Morocco, a referendum on constitutional reform was announced following protests.  Prime Minister Maliki of Iraq was prevented from running for a third term after demonstrations there.  Protests in Iran led to the arrest of opposition leaders.  In Kuwait protesters clashed with riot police.

What has caused this widespread rebellion?

Economic turmoil, human rights violations, government corruption, mass unemployment and extreme poverty have all be named as factors.  Probably the biggest cause of the Arab Spring has been the growth of an educated and increasingly frustrated young generation.  This has been referred to as the YouthQuake in some quarters.  It remains to be seen whether or not this youth quake can bring about real and lasting change, or if the corrupt and bloated governments are simply replaced by more of the same.