Yemen: security forces accuse interior minister of bowing to tribal pressures

Yemen: security forces accuse interior minister of bowing to tribal pressures

 

Alcuni uomini, responsabili della sicurezza dei veicoli della polizia, hanno sparato colpi di arma da fuoco in aria presso il Ministero degli Interni nel quartiere di Al-Hasaba, nel nord di Sana'a. Gli uomini hanno dichiarato di aver sparato in segno di protesta, chiedendo che il generale Mohamed Qahtan, ministro degli Interni dello Yemen, si dimetta dal suo incarico.

The protestors have accused Qahtan of directing security forces not to arrest armed tribesmen believed to have been involved in the shooting of two policemen, according to Mohamed Ali, a Special Security Forces soldier who participated in the protest.

Last Monday, police attempted to prevent a group of men from constructing a building they did not have a permit to build, Ali said.  The men shot at the policemen, killing one, eyewitnesses eyewitnesses told the Yemen Times. This Monday, the police returned to the site again to arrest the men for the shooting.  The armed men allegedly opened fire again, killing another officer, said Ali, who was present at the time of both shootings. 

However, Ali says orders came down from Qahtan not to pursue the men accused of shooting the officers.

“After we surrounded the tribal leader's house, we were surprised to receive Qahtan's order to leave the place,” he said.

This provoked the troops who were on service besieging the house to go directly to the Headquarters of the Interior Ministry to protest the minister’s alleged instructions.

“We were shocked by his [unjust] order,” said Ali. “He is supposed to back and encourage us— not to let us down.”

“The lives of policemen and soliders were put at risk and the interior minister has done nothing,” said Mohamed Al-Jilah, a policeman and guard at the Interior Ministry's headquarters.

In a press release, the Interior Ministry says the tribesmen were arrested.

Source Yemen Times