Statement of condemnation and denunciation of what was the oldest elements of the Islah Party to Southren Peoples

The Southern Observatory for Human Rights (S
OHR) is following with great concern the activities of some armed elements belonging to the Yemeni Islah Party who attacked southerner civilians participating in a peaceful demonstration in Amualla-Aden on Friday, February 3rd 2012. This party was the partner of the former Yemeni president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, for a long time and is now participating in the current government of Sana’a. The members of Islah party used in their attack batons, stones, gun fire and gas bombs which caused injury to dozens of people:
We would also like to expresses our deep concern about the threat directed to the chief editor of the news website “Aden Alghad”, Mr. Fathi Lazraq and his team by the head of the information department of Islah party in Aden, Khalid Haidan on February 3rd2012 because of their professional coverage of the events in Almualla. We stand in solidarity with the editors of “Aden Alghad” and consider the threat as undermining of the

press freedom.
The Southern Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) condemns this method, using or inciting armed elements against peaceful civilians, and sees in these attacks a serious disruption of the society. Such actions represent a real threat for the civilian life in the peaceful city, Aden. We express our condemnation of such acts especially if governing power stands behind it. We call on international human rights organizations to defend the human rights and to support the press freedom in Aden. We appeal to you to express your solidarity with the citizens of Aden and the editors of “Aden Alghad” against all kinds of aggression and threat and to pay more attention to the current situation in Aden.
With best regards