Tuesday, Apr 24, 2012
Gulf News
Sana’a Yemen’s pro-democracy protesters have laid down 20 conditions for engaging in any dialogue with the new government about the future of the troubled nation.
The Organising Committee of the Popular Youth Revolution in a statement on Sunday demanded among other things the dismissal of ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s relatives from military, security and civilian institutes, and bringing to justice all people responsible for killing and kidnap of anti-Saleh protesters and their families and compensate them for the damages.
Accusing Saleh and his influential relatives of looting public funds, the protesters wanted the government to freeze their assets and seize the stolen money. They also called on the government to release all political activists.
“We demand the government to dissolve the parliament and the Shura Council with the commencement of the national dialogue conference. We also demand dissolution of the Intelligence and National security bodies and their replacement by one security institute under the ministry of interior.” the statement said. They called upon the government to put an end to the instability in the country and withdraw troops from cities. The protesters also demanded the withdrawal of hike in fuel prices.
Demands
Mohammad Al Saberi, an opposition figure, told Gulf News the government has not done anything to fulfil the protesters’ demands.
“The protesters went to the streets with clear objectives. The government should first admit that there is a revolution as to legally deal with their demands. The protesters’ 20 demands have showed that there are many people still in prison and Saleh’s family is in control of the security.”
On Sunday, Prime Minister Mohammad Salem Basindua, met the committee tasked to listen to the protesters’ demands and to call them to join the political process in the country. Basindua expressed his government’s readiness to deal with the demands. Protesters attended the meeting and presented their conditions.
By Saeed Al Batati?Correspondent
Gulf News 2012. All rights reserved.
