UN warns Yemen against protest crackdown

UN warns Yemen against protest crackdown

2011-03-02 00:30:12 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations human rights chief on Tuesday warned Yemeni authorities against the violent repression of planned peaceful protests, and called on the government to protect the rights of demonstrators and journalists.

"People have the legitimate right to express their grievances and demands to their government," Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said in a statement.

Pillay denounced previous violence against protestors in Yemen, which is reported to have resulted in a number of deaths and injuries. She cited reports of attacks, intimidation and harassment against local and international journalists covering the protests.

Yemeni protesters, mostly young, are fighting against soaring unemployment rates, poverty, widespread corruption and patronage. The demonstrations were initially inspired by the Tunisian revolt, but they gathered momentum with the success of Egypt's revolution.

Protesters, who are demanding the resignation of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who has been in power for 32 years, have called for a "Day of Anger" on Tuesday. Pillay urged all parties to exercise restraint and to respect the right to life and the freedom of peaceful assembly and expression.

"We have seen over and over again in the past few weeks that violent responses, in breach of international law, do not make the protestors go away and only serve to exacerbate their frustration and anger," Pillay said.

She also denounced the arrest and detention of journalists and human rights defenders, and called for the release of people arrested for demonstrating peacefully.

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