Contents
1. Summary
2. Background
3. Action required
4. Sample letter
1. Summary
IHRC is deeply concerned by the continued use of violence in Yemen by the government’s forces against the peaceful protesters.
The Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh had promised earlier to protect the anti-government protesters and pro-government protesters equally. Peaceful protests and demonstrations should not be prohibited.
Western countries seem to have conveniently forgotten about the current incidents and violence in Yemen making no mention of this critical issue. The Yemeni President must be tried before the International Criminal Court, for the ongoing crimes committed through his security forces.
The British government must not remain silent whilst innocent civilians are being killed in Yemen. IHRC urges campaigners to write letters to their Foreign Secretary/ Minister of Foreign Affairs urging them to call on the International Criminal Court to take action against President Saleh, for the continued attacks and killings of peaceful protesters by his government forces.
2. Background
President Saleh, who had ruled Yemen for 32 years, stated that he had given orders to protect anti-government protesters. However, protesters are being killed day by day by the government’s security forces who are using lethal weapons against them.
Despite the Yemeni mass demands for his departure, Saleh has stated that he will not step down until the end of his term in 2013.
President Saleh ordered security forces to intervene and prevent any clashes between the anti-government and pro-government protesters. On Tuesday evening, armed pro-government supporters attacked thousands of anti-government protesters, killing two of them, in Sanaa, the capital of Yemen.
A heavy armed security presence has been reported in the different cities in Yemen resulting in seventeen people killed over the last week, during protests calling for the end of Saleh’s regime.
IHRC urges the campaigners to write letters to their Foreign Secretary/ Minister of Foreign Affairs urging them to call on the International Criminal Court to take action against President Saleh, for the continued attacks and killings of peaceful protesters by his government forces.
3. Action required
Write to your Minister of Foreign Affairs / Foreign Secretary urging them to call on the International Criminal Court to bring Saleh and the others to account.
4. Sample letter
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A sample letter is given below for your convenience. Please note that model letters can be sent directly or adjusted as necessary to include further details. If you receive a reply to the letter you send, we request you to send a copy of the letter you sent and the reply you received to IHRC. This is very important as it helps IHRC to monitor the situation with regards to our campaigns and to improve upon the current model letters. It is preferable that letters be sent via post, or otherwise by fax and/or email.
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(UK campaigners can write using the address supplied below, fax: +44 (0)20 7839 2417 or email: private.office@fco.gov.uk )
[Your name]
[Your address]
[Date]
Rt. Hon. William Hague MP
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
King Charles Street
London, SW1A 2AH, UK
Dear Mr Hague,
Re: Yemen- Anti-government protesters killed by security forces
I am deeply concerned over the use of live ammunition and tear gas against the civilians in Yemen, despite the promise made by President Ali Abduallah Saleh to protect the peaceful pro and anti-government protesters.
The government’s crackdown on protesters continues in the different cities of Yemen where demonstrations are taking place. A heavy security presence was reported resulting in the death of 17 civilians over the last week by security forces during the protests calling for the end of Saleh’s regime.
Despite the Yemeni mass demands for his departure, Saleh has stated that he will not step down until the end of his term. He added that he does not intend to run for the presidency elections in 2013, reportedly stating that he will not concede to the demands of the protesters and will not leave unless decided “through elections”.
The incidents happening in Yemen are as equally as important as the incidents in Libya and Bahrain. However, I have not heard any statements by the British government condemning the use of violence against civilians in Yemen. I urge you to condemn the crimes of Saleh’s regime and bring it to the attention of the media.
Furthermore, the imposition of sanctions on the Yemeni government is vital until the government ceases using violence against the protesters.
The British government cannot remain silent whilst innocent civilians are being killed in Yemen. I urge you to call on the International Criminal Court to bring President Saleh and all those implicated in ordering civilian deaths to account.
I look forward to your reply regarding this urgent matter.
Yours sincerely,
[Your signature]
[Your name]
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“And what reason have you that you should not fight in the way of Allah and of the weak among the men and the women and the children, (of) those who say: Our Lord! Cause us to go forth from this town, whose people are oppressors, and give us from Thee a guardian and give us from Thee a helper.”
Holy Qur’an: Chapter 4, Verse 75
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