South Yemenis call for separation

Fuente: 
Middle East Monitor
Fecha de publicación: 
28 Abr 2014

Thousands of members of the Peaceful Southern Movement gathered in Aden and Mukala, Yemen, yesterday to mark the 20th anniversary of the civil war and announced their refusal of the new federation system, calling instead for independence from the north.

They raised the flag of the state of north Yemen and other posters calling for "liberation and independence". The movement is headed by Hassan Ba'oum.

South and north Yemen united in 1990 however, a number of separatists from the south have called for separation again. Ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh cracked down on calls to split the country and maintained unity.

Yemenis in the south have complained about being marginalised by the government, they did not take part in the national dialogue which decided to turn the country into a federation consisted of six regions.

The gather called for, "No unity, not federation," "No Aden, no Hadhramaut.. We will get either victory or die." Aden and Hadhramaut are the two regions in the south.

Members of the peaceful movement said they were prevented to gather in the Parades Square in Bakhour Maksar in Aden. Therefore, they moved to Al-Mu'ala Street. They accused the security services of arresting a number of activists on Saturday night.

Security sources told AFP that they prevented the gathering in Bakhour Maksar because of the existence of headquarters of international missions and embassies. The source said the activists were given the choice to gather in two areas.

The national dialogue decided that both south and north Yemen hold equal responsibilities in the transitional period despite the fact that the number of the northern Yemenis outreaches the number of Yemenis in the south.

Interim President Abed Rabu Mansour is to remain in his position until the end of the transitional period. Yemenis will vote on the new constitution within six months and elections area due to be held within a year.

 

Fuente/Source: https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/11142-south-yemenis-c...