Activist and researcher Atiaf Alwazir wrote a blog post entitled “Reading should be a right not a privilege” highlighting the importance of education for women.
She urged:

Let us all work together to demand concrete changes, and demand from the government to bring back the literacy program that it used to implement in the past. We also must make the rights to education and health care as top political priorities in the national dialogue conference (which began on March 2013 and is scheduled to end in August 2013).

Yemen's school aged boys and girls. Photo by Arwa Othman

Activist and chairperson of the Rights and Freedoms Working Group in the National Dialogue, Arwa Othman stressed the importance of education but also added in a post on her Facebook page [ar]:

ليس فقط الحق في التعليم كما تنص مواثيق حقوق الإنسان ، بل ويجب أن أن تتضمن المناهج المدرسية في الجمهورية اليمنية ( اليمن الجديد) هذه المواثيق .. وتدرسها كمادة أساسية ، لإشاعة ثقافة حقوق الإنسان التسامح ، التعايش ، السلام ، الحرية ، المواطنة ، المساواة ، عدم التمييز ، حرية الإختلاف ، حرية المعتقد ،…الخ) أي أحترام الإنسان بعيداً عن لونه ، وجنسه ، وديانته ، ولغته ، ورأيه السياسي ، ومبادئه ..الخ ..نتمنى أن نخرج من مؤتمر الحوار بهذا النص الدستوري احتراماً لحق الأجيال ..

Not only is the right to education as stated by human rights conventions, but we must also include in the school curriculum in the Republic of Yemen (The New Yemen) these charters .. and they must be taught as a core subject to promote a human rights culture, tolerance, coexistence, peace, freedom, citizenship, equality, non-discrimination, freedom of difference, freedom of religion, etc …) i.e respecting the human being regardless of his/her color, sex, religion, language, political opinion and principles ..etc. We hope to get out of this National Dialogue Conference a constitutional text which respects the right of future generations

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Crowds in Aden city on the anniversary of the declaration of war on southern Yemen (Shared on Twitter via @NajiAlkaladi)

Waving flags of a country that once existed while chanting slogans of independence, thousands assembled in former capital city Aden and other cities that used to make up South Yemen on 27 April 2013, to commemorate the day the north declared war on their people and as some southerners say ”occupied” their land in 1994.

The same day, the country's chief military advisor to the President issued a personal apology on Facebook to the people in the south for all “unjust wars” declared by former President Saleh's regime.

South Yemen was an independent socialist state that united with North Yemen in 1990 to form the present-day Republic of Yemen, with Ali Abdallah Saleh as the President of unified Yemen. In 1994, a disgruntled south Yemen demanded its secession from the north due to multiple grievances including its economic marginalization, which resulted in the north taking over south Yemen after a three-month long 1994 civil war.

General Ali Muhsin, the current Military and Security Advisor to President AbduRabu Hadi, who came to power after the Yemeni revolution which paved the for Saleh's exit in 2011, wrote in a Facebook post on his public profile [ar]:

في ذكرى حرب صيف 94 نتوجة بالاعتذار والأسف لإهلنا في جنوب اليمن شخصيا ، كما اعتذرنا لكل الأطراف في اليمن عن كل ممارسات النظام السابق من حروب ظالمة ، والاعتذار الحقيقي قدمه الشعب اليمني لنفسه حين قام بثورة سلمية قضت على طموحات التوريث التي تسببت في ظلم الكثير من ابناء الشعب اليمني جنوبه وشماله .. ون

On the anniversary of the 94 war, we send out an apology and regret to our people in the south of Yemen personally, and all ​​parties in Yemen for all practices in the forms of unjust wars by the former regime; the real apology the Yemeni people presented to themselves when they had a peaceful revolution that eliminated the aspirations of inheritance which caused a lot of injustice to the Yemeni people, both in the north and in the south.

A New York-based human rights activist with Yemeni roots Summer Nasser (@SummerNasser) tweets:

@SummerNasser Ali Mohsen apologizes to the southern people for the war through FACEBOOK. Are you kiidddinnnggg meeeee #Yemen

Twitter user Hussein Al-Yafai (@crazyyafai), a student who lives between the U.S. and Yemen tweets:

@crazyyafai: General Ali Mohsen apologized today for waging a war on #SouthYemen, we want out land and resources back not an apology.

This video uploaded by YouTube user Radfan Almokafeh ردفان المكافح [ar] shows protesters coming out on the streets to mark the nineteenth anniversary of the day the north declared war on the south  on April 27, 1994:

Al-Yafai who describes himself as a lover of human rights in Yemen adds:

@crazyyafai: On this date: April 27 1994 The northern regime declared war on #SouthYemen & turning the beautiful unity into an occupation

@crazyyafai: The results of the war were the occupation of #SouthYemen , taking all of its resources as spoils of war.

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Farea Almuslimi is a 23-year-old activist and freelance journalist who comes from the village of Wesab, in Dhamar province, which was hit by a US drone strike on April 18, 2013.

Almuslimi was the last person to testify among the six witnesses chosen by the Senate, but he gave the most heartfelt and powerful testimony, describing the suffering that drone strikes inflict on ordinary people’s lives and their impact on his village and Yemen:

What violent militants have previously failed to achieve, one drone strike accomplished in an instant. There is now an immense anger towards America in Wesab. This is not an isolated instance, the drone strikes are the face of America to many Yemenis.

Farea Almuslim, the first Yemeni to testify at the Drone Wars Senate hearing

In his written testimony he said:

“Instead of first experiencing America through a school or a hospital, most people in Wessab first experienced America through the terror of a drone strike.

Almuslimi, who attended a year at a high school in the US on a state department scholarship, added:

For me personally, it is deeply troubling, astonishing, and challenging to reconcile that the very same hand that taught me English, awarded me scholarships, and dramatically improved my life is the hand that droned my village, terrified my people, and now makes it harder for them to believe the good things that I tell them about America and my American friends. It is especially frustrating to me because all the United States needed to do was identify Al-Radmi as a target, so that he could’ve been arrested without the injuries, destruction, and death caused by the drone strike.

(video uploaded by Senator Durbin)
The full script of his testimony is here.

The full session of the hearing is here.

Having a Yemeni testify at the first-ever public congressional hearing on Obama’s secret drone and targeted killing program was a positive step, yet many Yemenis and Americans were disappointed from the overall hearing.

Anonymous tweeted:

@AnonyOps: After watching the Senate hearing on drones today, we have concluded that Lindsey Graham is totally ok with being a war criminal #dronewars

Jeb Boone, a GlobalPost correspondent, was expecting from Almuslimi a tougher tone in addressing the Senate. He tweeted:

@JebBoone: Expected @almuslimi to give senators a firm scolding at #DroneWars hearing. Instead, he offered a moving plea on behalf of #Yemen. Noble.

Kevin Gosztola tweeted in disappointment:

@kgosztola: Montage of questions asked at Senate subcommittee hearing on #dronewars is incontrovertible proof senators were pathetic #inners

@kgosztola: Too much abuse, corruption, criminality & covering up for one hearing on #dronewars to fully address. Only few senators care to address

Sign held by Amnesty International members outside Senate drone wars hearing bulding via @andreaprasow

Some of the Senators seemed to dismiss Almuslimi's testimony, or as Senator Lindsay Graham, claimed to know more about Yemen, some even moved on to ask more hypothetical questions rather than acknowledge the damaging impact on human lives on the ground.

John Knefel, writer and independent journalist, tweeted:

@johnknefel:Even when a Yemeni is before Congress, most act like he doesn't exist. #dronewars

CODEPINK tweeted:

@codepink: Senator Graham “applauds Obama administration for responsible use of drones abroad.” I think I'm going to be sick. #dronewars #nodrones

Jameel Jaffar, legal deputy at ACLU, tweeted:

‏@JameelJaffer: Turns out Obama admin *did* send a representative to this hearing. It's @LindseyGrahamSC!

Jeremy Scahill, an investigative journalist and author of the book “Dirty Wars: The World Is a Battlefield“, tweeted:

@jeremyscahill: This hearing on drones is a great illustration of how absolutely pathetic the US Congress is. #dronewars

Gregory Johnsen, author of the book “The Last Refuge: Yemen al-Qaeda and America's War in Arabia”, tweeted:

@gregorydjohnsen 23 Apr
This hearing, for me, illustrates the intellectual shallowness of what passes for a “drone debate” in the US.

Tom Junod, a writer, tweeted:

@TomJunod:
At yesterday's Senate hearing on drones, all witnesses spoke in abstractions, except the one who offered actual human witness, @almuslimi.

Muna, a Yemeni activist, tweeted:

@ArabsUnite: Truly thankful for the contribution of @almuslimi I'm glad that we have had a humane although chilling account of drones #Yemen #dronewars

Mohammed Al-Asaadi tweeted:

‏@alasaadim: #Dronewars are signs of arrogance and inhumanity. We are all against #drones and out of law killings in #Yemen, #pakistan, #somalia etc.

Noor Mir the Pakistani-American anti-drone campaign coordinator at CODEPINK and Rooj Alwazir, a Yemeni-American activist and organizer with SupportYemen both present at the hearing co-wrote a powerful piece entitled “DRONE WARS: How White Privilege Obscures Real Dialogue”:

Farea spoke beautifully and passionately when he was afforded the chance about the dangers of drones in creating more enemies than friends, but was not allowed to analyze or explain his statement any further, curtailed by a reliance on legal jargon and reining in executive authority. We are thankful for him being there, but we are distressed that the Subcommittee’s treatment of his presence was just that– a cold, removed, and uninvolved treatment markedly different from their involved and lengthy conversations with the remaining witnesses. Why invite a Yemeni to speak about the human costs of drone wars and then cast a shadow of doubt and ignorance over his experiences by adopting a presumptuous tone?

According to many, the US drone strikes, in cooperation with Yemen's government, are a constant terror in Yemeni villages and lives, used under the pretext of fighting “terrorism” instead of capturing the identified suspects. Both governments are accountable for the human cost of this policy and its long-term impact. Drone war debate in the US finally made some progress, at least a Yemeni and human perspective was heard, which made Yemenis proud. Yet many people in Yemen, after viewing the Senate hearing and reactions to the Boston explosions, were left with the feeling that their lives had no value, certainly not as much as American lives. This thought was cynically expressed in the following tweet:

@anatosaurus: When Americans are killed, it's a tragedy. When Americans kill, it's a strategy. #dronewars #p2 #dontbuyit

This Storfiy has more reactions to the Senate hearing.

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Last night, Yemeni activist and journalist Farae Al-muslimi, from the village of Wessab, in the province of Dhamar, broke the news of the US drone strike. He tweeted:

@almuslimi: An hourish ago while I was enjoying a friendly dinner with my American friends ( some r officials ) , US strike drone targeted my villag …

‏@almuslimi: I was so happy the last three months that US Strike drones were stopped in #Yemen. Didn't know they will relaunch to my village.!

The target of the US strike as reported by Saba state news agency was Hamid Radman al-Manea, known as al-Radmi, and four of his guards, while they were returning to his house. He was a former member in the republican guards, an elite forces led formerly by Saleh's elder son and was also suspected to be associated with Al-Qaeda.

Al-muslimi added:

@almuslimi: Al-radmi was away from wessab for years. last year he came back and became social figure known for solving social problems btwn ppl. #Drone

@almuslimi: Al-radmi was in continues contact with government officials, he prayed Maghrib wth th Gen secretary of the Local council tonight 1/2 #Drone

@almuslimi: the car of th local council gen secretary was exactly behind Al-radmi's car as thy both were coming from place thy solved problem in. #Drone

Many Yemenis wondered why were ‘suspected’ militant targets always killed by US drones. Since the suspect's location was known, they seldom questioned why they are not instead captured by Yemeni forces, interrogated and put on trial if proven guilty. Why wasn't there a “capture and interrogate list” instead of Obama's “kill list”? What was the motive behind their extrajudicial extermination? Were the so-called suspects really plotting against the US or did they have enemies in Yemen or Saudia Arabia who wanted them dead?

Almuslimi pointed to that in the following tweets:

@almuslimi: There was nothing easier than arresting Al-radmi if he is wanted. He was ACTUALLY with governmental official at the moment he was droned.!

@almuslimi: 3- Al-radmi was in a continues meetings with local council leadership and attended their meetings to solve problems and raise peoples needs

‏@almuslimi:5- No one ever [knew} even the security leaders, th governor, or anyone he was in the killing list.! a security source jst told me in the phone:1/2

@almuslimi: ” i wld have arrested him myself wn i jst saw him less than a week ago or even sent my weakest soldier to do so”. 2/2 #Yemen #Drones

Almuslimi, like many Yemenis who visited the US and enjoyed a US education, was devastated with the news of yet another US strike on his country and this time on his peaceful village. He tweeted:

@almuslimi
Wessab, my village, is no doubt th most peaceful ppls and one of th poorest areas in Yemen. congrats, u jst made violence attractive to them

@almuslimi: #USA taught me English 1 day & took my life frm super miserable 2 very promising. 2day, it droned my village. The most divided feeling ever

‏@almuslimi: I never thought perhaps at the moment i was cheering the glass with my close american buddy in Sana'a, his govt was droning my village.!

A protester in the US holding a sign condemning President Obama's policies, including the use of predator drones.

The current flawed US Counter-Terrorism policy using drone strikes was widely criticized and opposed in mass rallies across the US last week. In Yemen, it is certainly creating more animosity towards the US administration, even from many US educated youth such as Almuslimi himself, who wrote a powerful piece about this.

This policy, instituted by President Barack Obama, has allegedly resulted in the deaths of hundreds of innocent Yemenis, and unfortunately it does not differentiate among militants, ordinary Yemenis and US radio reporters.
Since the policy took effect, AQAP has been successful as never before. Those who have lost relatives to drone fire make up a whole new generation of AQAP recruits.
The drones have made it difficult, shameful and even dangerous to say “America can be befriended”, or “America is not an enemy”.

Yemeni President Abd Rabu Mansour Hadi expressed his approval for the strikes last September during a visit to the US

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In solidarity they wrote:

Over 5,000 people have been murdered by U.S. drone strikes in the last few years, including a large number of children among the many civilians who have been slaughtered by these robotic killing machines…Join us at the White House for a march and rally on Saturday, April 13 to let the world know that the people of this country are demanding “Drones Out of Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Everywhere!”

They tweeted:

‏@answercoalition:”Every time you go to kill someone with drones, you create hatred. Why do they hate us? Look at what you're doing!” #april13

@answercoalition: “We will not sit down as long as they kill in our name” #GeneralAtomics #Stopdrones #april13 #NoDrones pic.twitter.com/NekfiHbIm4

Yemeni activists, Summer Nasser, who travelled from New York, and Rooj Alwazir, who is in Washington DC, urged all Yemenis in the US to protest in front of the White House against US drones in Yemen. Rooj Alwazir uploaded a video of part of the speech by activist Bushra al-Maqtari, who also attended the march:

She also tweeted:

@Rooj129: When #Drones fly, people die! Calling it what it is, MURDER.

Other organizations such as CODEPINK also participated in the rallies.

In Washington:

Jenna Pole, an activist and photo-journalist tweeted: @BatmanWI: Protesting drones today outside of the White House. #nodrones http://twitpic.com/cj56hl

Crowds protesting drones outside the White House

Rooj Alwazir standing in front of the White House holding a CODEPINK banner

The march headed to the General Atomics Headquarters, who manufacture drones, as CODEPINK tweeted:

@codepink:Powerful picture taken in front of General Atomics headquarters in DC. #stopdrones @barackobama pic.twitter.com/TVP7MUFRMC

In Los Angeles:

TomG who was at the rally in L.A also tweeted a photo:

‏@IMTomG: at the #NoDrones rally in LA pic.twitter.com/PyBxaiqn82

In San Francisco:
David Colburn tweeted:

@davidcolburn: “Obama's Accomplishments” http://twitpic.com/cj4mfe #NoDrones protest in #SanFrancisco. #Drones #OSF #OO

A protestor in the anti-drones protest in San Farancisco holding a sign opposing drones and extrajudicial killings

In San Diego:

No Drones sign in neon overlooking a highway in San Diego

Jenna Pope shared a set of photos on her Facebook page and blog.

More tweets and photos can be found in this Storify.

Many activists in Yemen and Pakistan have publicly opposed the use of drones in their countries. Many American journalists and Middle East experts have also condemned the use of drones. HRW recently published a joint letter with human rights and civil rights groups expressing concern regarding U.S. drone strikes and targeted killings. It meant a great deal for people in the Middle East to see and hear average American citizens also voice their rejection.

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Carlos Latuff Cartoon of Saleh's published in 2011

Ibrahim Mothana happily tweeted:

@imothanaYemen: Now we can really call it military restructuring! #Yemen

‏@imothanaYemen: Wondering how the backlash to president's Hadi decrees will look like this time? #Yemen

Atiaf Alwazir commented:

@WomanfromYemen: Just b/c General Ali Mohsin will leave his post doesn't mean he wont have “influence” in #Yemen; Saleh also left his post.

@WomanfromYemen:
Many ppl excited about new Pres decree, yet hardly anyone assessed background of new Generals or potential impact on balance of power #yemen

Farea Almuslimi said:

@almuslimi: Finally Hadi does what hundreds of thousands of #Yemenis voted for him to do so; Decrease the source of headache in their lives for decades

@almuslimi: Today would have been totally perfect if Ali Mohsen was also sent abroad as a diplomat. I doubt #KSA wld have allowed #Hadi to do it though

Summer Nasser cautiously tweeted:

@SummerNasser: There is one thing I learned from Yemen's politics: never be too excited about anything. Instead, be neutral.

@SummerNasser: Why are you all so happy? He (Hadi) is OBLIGATED to fix the country. We make it seem like he's doing us a favor. #Yemen

Blogger Afrah Nasser tweeted:

@Afrahnasser: The new decrees do #Yemen no good at all. What Yemen needs is justice. For God's sake, why Yemen can't enjoy justice?!!

@Afrahnasser: The bloodshed #Yemen's uprising gone through should never be forgotten nor forgiven. Never. Let alone all the bloodshed we saw thro history.

Non-Yemenis Reaction:

Letta Tayler from HRW tweeted:

@lettatayler: #Yemen shakeup = new diplomatic immunity for 3 #Saleh kin: Tareq in #Germany, Ahmed Ali in #UAE, Amar in #Ethopia.

@lettatayler
Seems Ali Mohsen got what he wanted and already had from #Yemen shuffle but will Ahmed Ali enjoy running for prez from UAE?

Adam Baron, a freelance journalist, in Yemen tweeted:

@adammbaron: Many seem to see Ali Mohsen as gaining the winning hand in tonight's reforms; remains in country, saves a great deal of face. #yemen

He added:

@adammbaron
This, by the legendary Aretha Franklin, does a decent job of summing up what many in #Yemen are wondering right now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HwF8VoyKU4 [Who's zoomin' who]

Laura Kasinof tweeted:

@kasinof: it used to be that Saleh’s foes were appointed to #Yemen embassies abroad. now reversal is happening and Salehs are appointed as ambassadors

Correspondent Elizabeth Dickinson tweeted

@dickinsonbeth:
Yemen pulls the classic ‘neutralize your rival by sending him on a cushy ambassador-ship abroad’ move http://www.thenational.ae/news/world/middle-east/ousted-yemen-president-salehs-son-named-uae-envoy …

Journalist Iona Craig, who is based in Yemen, commented:

@ionacraig: So, big military changes overnight. Why are Yemen Presidential decrees released on US time? i.e. in middle of the night here. #justasking

Many of the Saleh's now not only enjoy domestic immunity but also diplomatic immunity. One wonders will the new diplomats be representing the “elected” president or the “leader”? As for Ali Muhsin, who remains in Yemen, many are cautious of his new role. And as usual with every presidential decree in Yemen, there is apprehension mixed with jubilation. One never knows who is really ousted and who is still in power, only time will tell. One can only hope that with these major changes, Yemen is finally going to experience more security and stability to rebuild it's economy.

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Human Rights Watch shares this video on YouTube of what it describes as the “unpunished massacre.”

The incident, says HRW:

… marked a turning point in the movement against President Saleh, prompting the defection of dozens of government officials and diplomats, and assumed symbolic importance within the protest movement because of the brazen character of the shootings and the high death toll. Investigators never questioned top officials in the criminal investigation by Yemen's previous government into the shooting of demonstrators during the attack, which took place on March 18, 2011.

Blogger Afrah Nasser wrote a blog post asking President Hadi many tough questions, among them:

Why? Why the 18th of March was the date for the National Dialogue conference to commence? Why was it so of all dates? Why it weren’t, say, on the 19th, 20th? Did you forget what took place on this day, 2011 and the anniversary we must commemorate? Do you remember? We do.

Farea Al-Muslimi added:

@almuslimi: Launching [the] N[ational] Dialogue on the anniversary of dignity Massacre is like forcing a mother 2 celebrate her only son's birthday who was actually aborted

National Dialogue Conference Logo designed by graphic designer Ala'a Assamawy (@assamawy)

Journalist Shatha Al-Harazi, one of the youth participating in the National Dialogue, tweeted:

@ShathaAlHarazi: To remember why we are participating in the #NDC we visited some of the martyrs families, the pain still fresh #Yemen nothing but justice

The National Dialogue opening ceremony was aired live on Yemen's national TV and was interrupted by someone, as President Hadi took the microphone and said to everyone “whoever doesn't like it (the dialogue), the door is open.” The video was shared on YouTube by shoshgh2008′s:

A march in Sanaa yesterday commemorated the Friday of Dignity and rejected dialogue with the killers (video by:TheRYemen):

A massive protest yesterday in Aden, Southern Yemen, chanted “the decision is ours” demanding the right to self determination and rejecting the National Dialogue. (video by: abwboten)

The day was also not incident-free. According to Saeed AlBatati a man was shot dead by police in Tarem:

@saeedalBatati
Photo of Rami Al Bur,who was shot dead by police today in Tarem .#Southyemen #NDCYE pic.twitter.com/aF2ogg70Rx

And Haykal Bafana added:

@BaFana3: National Dialogue in #Yemen : In Hadhramaut this morning, 1 unarmed man shot dead, 1 hurt in Seiyun by grenade shrapnel & dozens arrested.

Summer Nasser tweeted:

@SummerNasser: Participants that are from the south of #Yemen at the National Dialogue lift up the southern flag of #Yemen.
#NDCYE pic.twitter.com/QlfPoFnQwW

In Sanaa yesterday, First Army Division soldiers shot unarmed Houthi youth, injuring three of them who are currently all in a critical condition.

The shooting was caught on camera and uploaded on YouTube by YouthStandYEMEN:

Farea Al-Muslimi tweeted:

@almuslimi: Those who MIS-run #Yemen for the last 50 years were on the podium of the national dialogue conference today. A fish can never deliver birth.

Haykal Bafana wondered:

@BaFana3: Is #Yemen's National Dialogue viable when justice is denied & law is absent? Ask the diplomats who peddle immunity. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/letta-tayler/yemens-friday-of-indignit_b_2900325.html

Many Yemenis are torn between supporting and boycotting the National Dialogue. Although some are hopeful that it may resolve Yemen's woes, many consider it to be meaningless if it fails to serve justice for those killed and wounded during the revolution, especially when blood is still being shed at the same time as the opening of the conference. One wonders six months later what the outcome may be and to whose benefit will it be this time?

To follow updates about the dialogue follow the hashtags #ndcye and #NDCYEMEN.

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Journalist Adam Baron commented on Twitter:

@adammbaron: worth noting? hadi visited the US, saudi, other gulf states, etc, as president before visiting aden. still, key gesture. #yemen

Police arrests of southern separatists leaders came a day ahead of planned rival rallies to mark the first anniversary of the uncontested election of President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi which ended Saleh’s 33-year autocratic rule, following a year-long deadly uprising.

A protester holding a sign that reads in Arabic “unity or death is a bloody slogan and a separatist speech.”

Supporters and opponents of Hadi, himself a southerner, have said they will hold rival rallies on Thursday, prompting fears of possible clashes in Aden. The Islamist Al Islah (reform) Party called for a pro-Hadi rally in Aden’s Khor Maksar district, where separatist calling for autonomy also had planned to hold an independence rally, on the same day and in the same square.

Alaa Isam tweeted:

@AlaaIsam:Cautious movement in the streets of #Aden…All expectant of something bad is about to happen. let us hope not, May Lord save it. #Yemen #yf

@AlaaIsam:
#Photo show the celebrating of Islah Party in #Aden #SouthYemen #Yemen #yf @hrw pic.twitter.com/gn7XddOV7Y

Pro-Hadi rally in Aden organized by Islah party and escorted by security forces

Atiaf Alwazir warned:

@WomanfromYemen
those who are calling for a pro-Hadi rally in #Aden are instigating & provoking an already tense situation! #Yemen

Nasser Arrabyee tweeted:

@narrabyee: Islah ignited a war n south by insisting on holding the rally of Feb 21, all southerners froze thier membership in dialogue, Dr Saleh Basura

He added:

@narrabyee: Deaths and injuries in unprecedented showdown between Islamists supported by army and angry and frustrated separatists in Aden south Yemen.

@narrabyee: 7 killed& more than 50 injured n today's clashes between Islamists,helped by army, & separatists n Crater& Khormakser of Aden south Yemen.

This video uploaded on Youtube by Kala'at al Shomookh (قلعة الشموخ) shows Yemeni CSF forces attacking southerners during the commemoration of Dignity day in Kraiter, Aden:

Will Picard tweeted:

@YemenPeaceNews: Official report from Southern Observatory for Human Rights says 9 killed and 53 wounded by security forces in #Aden on 2/21. #Yemen

Morooj Alwazir added:

@Rooj129: A bloody Thursday for #Aden #Yemen photos & summary http://www.adentribune.com/?p=676

“The Yemeni authorities must end the routine violent repression of freedom of assembly,” Amnesty International said in a warning statement issued late Wednesday. It added: “Yemeni security forces have acted in contravention of international human rights standards by opening fire on peaceful pro-secession protesters today in the south, resulting in four deaths and dozens of injured” on Thursday.

As a result dozens of separatists took to the streets on Saturday, blocking roads and burning tyres, in the districts of Khor Maksar, Mualla, Shaikh Osman and Dar Saad early on Saturday, amid calls for civil disobedience to protest against the February 21 massacre, which led to further clashes with the army.

Protesters also on Saturday reportedly attacked shops in Mukalla owned by northerners, and burnt down two offices belonging to the Islamist Al-Islah (Reform) Party. In the city of Sayun, in the eastern province of Hadramawt, protesters trying to enforce civil disobedience reportedly set a merchant from the northern Yemeni city of Dhamar on fire, leaving him in a critical condition.

The burning and destruction of Islah party office by separatists in Al-Mukalla.

Protesters also clashed on Sunday with security forces in the southeastern city of Mukalla after they blocked roads with burning tyres and rocks. In Aden itself, protesters were killed and wounded when army troops opened fire in a main road in the Mualla neighbourhood. Protesters also blocked roads in the neighbourhoods of Mansura, Sheikh Osman and Dar Saad. Graphic images of separatist protesters killed by government forces, including activist and journalist Wajdi AlShuaibi who was assassinated in his home in front of his family by masked gunmen have been widely shared on [Warning: GRAPHIC images] Facebook and Twitter.

Sarah Jamal tweeted:

@Sarah_Sanaa: Shabwa joins Aden and Hadramout in their civil obedience demanding immediate replacement of Aden's governer #Yemen

@Sarah_Sanaa: All south is on fire.. Security shooting protesters in Aden, Hadramout and now Shabwa&govt. and president r silent #Yemen

Government forces parading tanks in Al-Mansoora in Aden to quel the civil disobedience

A protest in solidarity with Aden and condemning all kinds of violence is scheduled in Sanaa today [Feb 26].
Sarah Jamal tweeted:

@Sarah_Sanaa:
tmrw 10 am a march in Sanaa agnst security forces violence&all sorts of back-lashing violence in the south, supporting Southern cause #Yemen

A protester holding a placard that reads in Arabic “He who is killing in the south wants the geography and does not want the unity”

The first session for the National Dialogue, originally set for mid-November, has been repeatedly delayed, mainly due to differences between the southerners. It is now scheduled for March 18, yet after the last bloody events in Aden and the increasing death toll in the southern provinces, many suspect it will still take place as planned.

National Dialogue Technical committee head Ahmed bin Mubarak condemned using violence in the name of unity
CCYRC tweeted:

#NDC S Dr. AhmedBinMubarak: We can't avoid secession but we can boost unification by building confidence bridges not by slogans #Yemen #Aden

@CCYRC: NDC Secruitry & CCYRC member Dr. AhmedBinMubarak ,I don’ know wht r benefits of killing Yemeni of cool blood&by nam of revlotin #Yemen #Aden

Summer Nasser tweeted:

@SummerNasser: #Yemen: As we get closer to the date of the “National Dialogue” event on March 18th, there will be ongoing conflicts in Aden.

She urged:

@SummerNasser: Remain peaceful, southerners. Once you draw your weapon against those who are oppressing you, it will be the day you regret it! #Aden #Yemen

Mai Saleh tweeted:

@A4Mai: What's going on in Aden kills any chances for peaceful solution not to mention the southerners participation in the National Dialogue #Yemen

Mohammed Jarhum tweeted:

@moejarhum: A wise man said separation is not by force and neither is unity #Yemen #Aden

The monologue of bullets and blood which the government chose in Aden is surely jeopardizing the fate of the National Dialogue and unity in Yemen. Yet, what is more alarming besides the bloodshed and ongoing clashes is the hate speech from both sides of the conflict in Yemen, promoted by news outlets and posts on social media.

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Atiaf Al Wazir tweeted:

@WomanfromYemen: At noon today,Muneef alzubairi set himself on fire protesting lack of care by Yemeni govt to wounded revolutionaries pic.twitter.com/nZkSVEud

@WomanfromYemen: Muneef who set himself on fire today is alive but suffering severe burns, he's currently in the hospital. #Yemen

Blogger Afrah Nasser posted a post about him in which she wrote:

Shocking images of Munif has spread like fire over social media websites but I hope those political leaders have bothered to see them. Munif was rushed to the hospital and he managed to survive. Though, he suffers from sever injuries. “I want us to have a second revolution,” he shouted while he was setting himself on fire, today.

Striking injured revolutionaries

The protesters injured during the revolution have yet to receive adequate treatment or care from the government. Following the death of Taha Mohammed Al-Ariqi, who was hurt during the revolution, a group of injured revolutionaries staged a sit-in protest (some even went on hunger strike) in front of the Cabinet office, demanding the government to provide them with financial aid to get treated abroad.

An Injured protester holding a sign that reads in Arabic “They rose on our blood and we beg them for medical treatment”.

Yemen Updates tweeted:

@yemen_updates
Injured protesters staged a sit-in at the cabinet gate &went on hunger strike protesting official negligence of their medical needs. #Yemen

Journalist Aron Baron added:

@adammbaron: morally, opposition politicians inability to secure treatment for injured activists is disturbing. politically, its simply moronic. #yemen

Remembering the Revolution

Yemenis are commemorating the second anniversary of February 11, 2011 – the day their revolution began.

Mohammed Al-Asaadi tweeted from Taiz where the revolution began:

‏@alasaadim: I'm in Taiz witnessing the crowds gathering to celebrate the 2nd anniversary of #11Feb revolution. A remarkable day for #Yemen & #Yemenis.

A design commemorating February 11th, the beginning of Yemen's peaceful youth revolution

Yemen is known to be the second most armed nation in the world (after the U.S), yet Yemenis impressed the world with their peaceful marches. Men and women flooded the squares of Change and Freedom every Friday across 21 provinces, for over a year.

Two years have passed since Yemenis went to the streets “demanding, dignity, freedom and a life worth living”, as the SupportYemen team echoed in this video:

Yet looking back at what has been achieved many feel a bitter disappointment. Living conditions in Yemen have not improved, and according to some, have even deteriorated further. The country continues to suffer from electricity cuts and water shortages.

The military has not been properly reconstructed yet, although some decrees have been passed by President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi. The suffering economy has not improved either. Much needed development and relief pledged funds are still awaiting the “Friends of Yemen” conference in March, hosted by the UK. Also set for March is the ever elusive National Dialogue, which is supposed to deal with political divisions and bitter grievances that threaten the country's unity and draft the new constitution preparing for the 2014 presidential election. President Hadi chose March 18 to be the launch date of the conference – a date that some Yemeni found to be very distasteful since it marks the second anniversary of the “Friday of Dignity” Massacre in which 52 people were killed by the regime forces.

Osamah Fakih tweeted:

@osamahfakih: March18 for National Dialogue n #Yemen is provocation 2 obliterate the anniversary of the #Friday_of_Dignity.Nations have their own memorie

Summer Nasser added:

@SummerNasser: I find Hadi's decision to make the National Dialogue on March 18th, also known as the anniversary of Dignity Friday, disrespectful. #yemen

Journalist Adam Baron tweeted:

@adammbaron: as #yemen's elites squabble abt natl dialogue, most here remain mired in a daily struggle to eke out a living amidst a moribund economy.

Even Yemeni students studying abroad are suffering from the corruption that the new government inherited from the old regime which the revolution “supposedly” overthrew. Students in Algeria, Germany, Egypt, Sudan, Malaysia and Russia are struggling with financial difficulties and mis-treatment from the educational sector in the embassies abroad. They have been staging sit-ins in their respective embassies and so have their supporters in Yemen staging sit-ins in front of the Ministry of Higher Education, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who have been blaming each other for the responsibility behind their hardship. This video was uploaded on YouTube by VSJ Germany with messages od students in Germany recounting their problems and asking the government to solve them as soon as possible:

Mohammed Al-Asaadi tweeted:

‏@alasaadim: Saleh is toppled. Family rule in #Yemen are gone. Construction, development and advancement are to follow. Thx to #11Feb youth revolution

@alasaadim: These crowds I see in Taiz and are everywhere in #Yemen will defend their nation & revolution. #11Feb is the start of a long march.

Rooj Alwazir tweeted:

@Rooj129:STRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIKE!! Youth of #Yemen are striking tomorrow to bring the #revolution to victory! #feb11

Afrah Nasser tweeted:

‏@Afrahnasser: In the 2nd anniversary of #Yemen's uprising, I'd lik 2 congratulate th #US, #KSA & th rest #Gulf states 4 suppressing the people's revo.

Ataif Alwazir wrote a blog post: “Revolution 1.0 has ended & Revolution 2.0 has begun”
She wrote:

Those of us who have dedicated our life to speaking out about injustice, those of us who felt betrayed by the system, those of us who went to bed hungry, those of us who were tortured in prison, those of us who couldn't find a job, and those of us who had to face the corruption of the government on a daily basis, were ecstatic that this day has finally come. We all went out dreaming, and refused to wake up from our dream.

Then there was the biggest blowback, and the stab in the back to the youth revolution: the signing of the Gulf Cooperation Council's plan, under the support of the “international community”. The plan gave immunity to Saleh & many in his regime. Adding insult to injury, the plan stated that there will be a “one man election” and that the next president would be Saleh's vice president-Abd Rabo Mansour Hadi.

With the signing of the GCC deal, it seems that everyone (regime and opposition parties) had a piece of the cake, except the independent youth who started the revolution with big aspirations for change and dreams of building a new Yemen.
A video of a Yemeni rap song commemorating the revolution's martyrs was uploaded on Youtube by sakhr galeb and was shared widely on Facebook and Twitter.

Despite the many disappointments, grievances, international interference, setbacks and unaccomplished goals, history has taught us that revolutions do not succeed overnight. A lot of commitment, effort, faith, hope, patience and above all time is needed for any concrete change to happen or for any desired results to occur. The fact remains that today is February 11, the day written in history as the date in which Yemen's revolution started… and seemingly it will continue for a long time.

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So much importance and media hype was given to the meeting, yet Yemeni netizens and residents were apprehensive of the traffic that such a meeting would cause.

Journalist Adam Baron tweeted:

@adammbaron
UN Security Council will be meeting in Sanaa tomorrow. my yemeni friends are already complaining about the traffic that will result. #yemen

@adammbaron
new checkpoints related to the UNSC's visit already fueling major gridlock in sanaa. #yemen

On the day of the meeting heightened security measures, checkpoints, road blocks and hovering helicopters paralyzed the capital Sanaa and annoyed it's residents.

Baraa Shaban tweeted complaining:

@BaraaShiban
It took me 40 mins to do the journey that takes me 10 mins everyday, #UNSC visit to #Sanaa #Yemen

@BaraaShiban: #Checkpoints , #Checkpoints #Checkpoints this is insane, we literally can't move … #Yemen

Osamah AlFakih tweeted:

@osamahfakih: Hearing helicopters more than usual for the #UNSC meeting in #Sanaa #Yemen

@osamahfakih
I wish if such security procedures are taken daily for the safety of citizens first not only for the #UNSC meeting in #Sanaa #Yemen #UN

Matthew Russell Lee wondered:

@innercitypress
Will US be pausing drone strikes near Sanaa? http://www.innercitypress.com/sc4yatrips012413.html … MT “@yemen_updates #UNSC meets on Monday in #Yemen”

Will Picard also tweeted:

@YemenPeaceNews
Seriously, what's the point of shutting down a city of 2 million just to have the same pointless meeting you could have in NYC? #Yemen #UNSC

The UN Security Council Delegation press conference after meeting with President Hadi

The UNSC delegation held a private meeting with the Reconciliation Government, National Dialogue Technical Committee, the Military Committee, leaders of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh's General People's Congress, leaders of the Joint Meeting Parties, and the ambassadors of the 10 countries which are sponsors of the Gulf Cooperation Council's initiative.

Simultaneously, thousands of protesters marched in the capital Sanaa demanding that ousted president Saleh be put to trial and demanded freezing of his assets, huge demonstration in Yemen's southern city of Aden were also held demanding secession.

Baraa Shaiban tweeted:

@BaraaShiban:
Youth revolution prepare a mass march right now, parallel of the visit of #UNSC members

Hussain Yafai also tweeted

@crazyyafai:
the chants now in the sqaure in Aden is “we are the decision makers” , referring to the fate of #SouthYemen.

Freelance Journalist Joe Shaffer, based in Yemen, pragmatically tweeted:

@JoeSheffer: ‏The arrival of the UNSC shows that the national dialogue really isn't going well. This kind of shuttle diplomacy is nonsense. #yemen

He added on his blog:

And so unfortunately the grand sum total of the shuttlers’ contribution to the political-process, has been to cause a whole lot of disruption to people in the capital city and little more. In the climate of the madness which surrounded today’s visit, local people in Tahrir Square were being stopped from carrying bags by officers from the Central Security Forces and the number of checkpoints in the city exploded overnight until roads were gridlocked. It’s sure to have contributed to Yemeni people’s spiralling opinion of the outside world.

There is no doubt that Jamal Benomar and the whole of his UN Special delegation team have and continue to work exceptionally hard for the people of Yemen and towards the national dialogue; and the above should not detract from his efforts. Its also fair to say that as an individual Benomar seems both genuine and sincere in his desire to make this peaceful settlement to work.

Others will point out that whilst the dialogue might not be going so well, the fact that the country has not descended anywhere near into a Syria-esque civil war shows that it is has in some ways been a success.

Will Picard added:

@YemenPeaceNews
To mark today's useless UNSC visit to San'a, re-posting my op-ed on the dangers of “checklist diplomacy” in #Yemen: http://bit.ly/11zQ5C3

He wrote:

This checklist diplomacy is out of touch with messy reality, and is ultimately unproductive. In fact, under the guidance of its “Friends,” Yemen could complete each of the items listed above without changing a single aspect of the situation on the ground.

What Yemen needs is not a checklist or a roadmap, but real international engagement based on the very real crises impeding progress toward stability and security.

Ironically the same United Nations Security Council which supported former president Ali Abdullah Saleh immunity and the one candidate presidential election in Yemen, were publicly displaying their support for President Abdu Rabuh Mansour Hadi and the “peaceful transition” in Yemen. Yet, the sanctions against former president Saleh which President Hadi had hoped for were not achieved during their visit. After many threats by the UN to take steps against those who are obstructing the political process, in a press conference after the meetings, the head of the UNSC delegation said that how they would deal with individuals obtructing the GCC initiative will be discussed during the next UNSC meeting in New York. As if Yemen which has been in turmoil for the past two years still had the luxury of time. Needless to say the US drones that had been striking Yemen almost daily since the beginning of the year were not even on the agenda.

There were mixed reactions from Yemenis regarding the visit:

@yemen_updates
#UNSC delegates left #Sanaa after creating: 1- positive momentum for transition process in #Yemen & 2- crazy traffic jam in the city. #FF

‏@WomanfromYemen
Q: President #Hadi obviously has the support & backing of the international community, what about the “local” community? #Yemen

@ShathaAlHarazi SC & Zaiani who blessed the transition shld explain y we struggle to pass a fair TJ law when Saleh got the Immunity so fast #Yemen

@imothanaYemen: Quite a significant day for Yemen and a couple of very challenging months ahead #Yemen #UNSC

This is a Storify of more reactions to the visit.

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Adam Baron, a freelance journalist based in Yemen, tweeted:

@adammbaron:
the same day barack obama proclaimed that “a decade of war is now ending,” #yemen's mareb province saw its 4th drone strike in 3 days.

Gregory D Johnsen, author of the book The Last Refuge: Yemen al-Qaeda and America's War in Arabia, tweeted:

@gregorydjohnsen:
Hard to square this: “A decade of war is now ending” http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/21/16626094-obamas-inaugural-speech-the-full-text?lite … with this: Drone strike in #Yemen (Ar) http://almasdaronline.com/article/40678

He added:

@gregorydjohnsen:
Current US strategy in #Yemen seems to be predicated on idea that US can kill enough AQAP members to dissuade others from joining

@gregorydjohnsen:
Two of those targeted in weekend drone strikes by US in #Yemen were brothers of AQAP fighters who had already been killed

@gregorydjohnsen:
@nk Since US has started bombing #Yemen in De. 09 – AQAP has more than tripled. Drones aren't, in my view, only reason but a major one

Managing editor of Foreign Policy magazine Blake Hounshell also tweeted:

‏@blakehounshell:
“A decade of war is now ending.” Applause. (Drone strike earlier today in Yemen.)

Web artist Josh Begly tweeted:

@joshbegley:
“A decade of war is now ending.” (With a long weekend, in honor of Dr. King, constellated by four US drone strikes in Yemen.)

Writer and photojournalist, Dustin M. Slaughter tweeted in dismay:

@DustinSlaughter:
As @BarackObama is being sworn in, here's a list of children in #Yemen, #Pakistan killed by US #drones: http://ow.ly/gZL5S #MLK #Inaug2013

With Obama's inauguration on MLK Day, I find it important to note how much King would be protesting our nation's first Black President. From drone bombings to Guantanamo to warrantless wire-tapping, surveillance of U.S. citizens, and increased deportations, the Obama administration is not the change we want to see in this world, it is the problem, writes Jonathan B. Tucker on Facebook

Monday, January 21, was also Martin Luther King's Day – the great man who in 1967 said “When scientific power outruns moral power, we end up with guided missiles and misguided men.” Many tweeps shared the tweet saying that while King had a dream, Obama has a drone.

Immortal Tech drew the analogy between the two leaders:

‏@ImmortalTech:
Dr. King said “I have a dream.” Not, “I have a Drone & a Kill list with Americans on it but you can't see it or know how you there.”

Although Obama pledged to end the “war on terror” and to restore respect for the rule of law in US counter-terrorism policies, the use of drones has dramatically increased during his time in office.

Glenn Greenwald, a columnist and blogger for the Guardian, tweeted:

@ggreenwald: Many suggested that when Obama said “a decade of war is now ending”, he meant to add: “and a new one is beginning” http://is.gd/sLFwpz

Micah Zenko, Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, tweeted earlier:

@MicahZenko:
Panetta on drone strikes today: “The reality is its going to be a continuing tool of national defense in the future.” abcn.ws/WmU4Oi

Just a day after Obama had won the re-election, US drones hit Yemen – a move which was translated as four more years of drones for the country. With the nomination of the Drone Czar John Brennan to head the CIA, the drones are likely to increase as well. It is worth pointing that their effectiveness has been greatly debated in eradicating Al-Qaeda in Yemen, whose members have increased since 2009. US drones have certainly been breeding anger and resentment towards the US administration.

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Massive crowds from all southern provinces turned out in the anniversary of reconciliation and forgiveness in Aden

Sarah Jamal tweeted:

@Sarah_Sanaa: Southerners have been travelling to Aden for 3 days to celebrate Reconciliation & Tolerance in memory of Jan13. #Yemen https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.phpfbid=3657884704860&set=a.1099982238897.13486.1806908431&type=1&theater

Protesters rallying for the carnival of reconciliation in Aden raising the flag of the former South Yemen.

She tweeted some facts:

‏@Sarah_Sanaa: On this day:Jan13.1986 only in 1 month civil war in Aden resulted in 10,000 killed, 60,000 displaced&refugees and 3000 disappeared.. #Yemen

She also added:

@Sarah_Sanaa: A couple of families that used 2 be enemies in 1986 war get married tdy during reconciliation&tolerance protests #Yemen https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=413804755367005&set=a.342590145821800.80568.342578075823007&type=1&theater …

A song based on the theme of reconciliation and forgiveness was posted on
ابو عبود (Abu Aboud) YouTube channel:

Hussein Yafei tweeted:

@crazyyafai: january 13th is the day all #SouthYemen tribes, political parties & factions made peace & forgave each other for previous wars & differences

‏@crazyyafai: millions from all over #SouthYemen marched to #Aden city to protest the 7th annual year of forgiveness & peace between all Southerners.

@crazyyafai: This is a picture that combines the 3 protest in #SouthYemen in 3 different squares, 2 in hadrmout & 1 in Aden. pic.twitter.com/7rhCG6PQ

Three different huge parades for reconciliation in Aden and Hadhramaut.

A video posted on YouTube by Mueen Amin showed the impressive crowds chanting for southern reconciliation

Four years after the unification of the Yemen Arab Republic and the People's Democratic Yemen Republic on May 22, 1990, Yemen witnessed a three month civil war between the armed forces of the former Northern and Southern Yemen states, which initially was to protect the unity, yet it jeopardized it even further. The war resulted in the defeat of the southern armed forces and many of the Yemeni Socialist Party leaders and other southern secessionists, who wanted to end the unity, fled to exile. Many southern lands were looted by northern tribal heads and officials and thousands civil servants and security officials were laid off. During President Ali Abdullah Saleh's rule hundreds of southern activists have been killed, injured or imprisoned in crackdowns by security forces. Even under president Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi's rule, a crackdown on secessionist has occurred.

After the 2011 revolution in Yemen and the ouster of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, initial attempts have been recently made to appease the southerners. President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who is originally from Abyan, a province in the southern part of Yemen, ordered the formation of two committees to address the southern grievances. One was responsible for handling complaints about looted lands after the 1994 civil war while the other was responsible for cases of the dismissal of thousands of public servants and military personnel from their positions after the war. Although the transitional government offered giving the south 50 per cent of the seats of the conference, many Southern Movement groups are still resisting the participation in the National Dialogue Conference, which is expected to take place in the next few months.

@crazyyafai: South & North Yemen united in 1990 & in1994 Saleh waged a war on the south & turned it 2 an occupation instead of unity based on partnership

@crazyyafai: all of the resources including oil in the south were divided between tribal leaders & war lords in the North as a booty of war after the war

He added:

@crazyyafai: Much thanks for president Hadi for ordering all security forces not to fire on the #SouthYemen protest today, Saleh would have killed many.

@crazyyafai:President Hadi is really trying hard to save the unity of #yemen but General Ali Mohsen & corrupt tribal leaders will stand in his way.

Summer Nasser posted on her Facebook saying:

I realized the massive massive crowds today all over the city of Aden. Although I'm from the south, but not pro-separation; I came down to this comment after seeing some photos: “This is real and its getting stronger.” Despite some internal issues b/w the southerners, their mission is pretty much the same: separation from the North.

Something we cannot really ignore… because the ‘mission’ and attitudes towards it is only growing.

Yesterday's event was yet another indication that the call for secession has become loud and clear. With the ouster of President Saleh and the “somehow” fall of his regime, which made both sides of Yemen suffer under its rule, one hopes that there is still time for rectification and reconciliation. Some recent attempts have been made to save Yemen's unity by president Hadi, yet it will certainly need more effort. Less foreign interference, rapid and concrete steps towards healing the grievances by holding those accountable for causing them and restoring what has been wrongfully done is imperative in order to salvage this unity, in any shape or form.

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TEDxSanaa – Inspiring Hope

‏@ShathaAlHarazi: Although I was awarded an important international award last June, I say the best thing happened to me in 2012 is hosting #TEDxSanaa #Yemen

The speakers selected were creative and successful Yemeni personalities from different backgrounds, ages and in various fields (business, media, medicine, science and technology) who inspired the audience with their creativity, determination, innovative ideas, success stories and motivational presentations.
The event was live streamed and divided into four sections, allowing for breaks and a variety of artistic performances in between. The event started with a video message from Chris Anderson TED's Curator to TedxSanaa, who was amazed and exited that a TEDx event was held in Yemen and wished the team good luck. Video messages by Yemeni talents (Dr. Hilal Lashual, Dr. Nasser Zawiya, Dr. Manahel Thabet, Dr. Ayoub Al-Hammadi, Dr. Elham Manea, Mrs. Zahra Al-Harazi) who could not be there were also played on a large screen during the event.

Here is what some of the speakers said about the event on Twitter:

Emad Almsaodi tweeted:

مؤتمر تيدكس صنعاء كان مفعم بالحيوية والإبداع والأمل. تعرفت على شخصيات ألهمتني بالفعل. شكراً لكل من وقف وراء هذا الحدث الرائع #TedxSanaa

‏@almsaodi: TedxSanaa conference was full of vitality, creativity and hope. I go to know personalities that truly inspired me. Thank you to everyone who was in charge of such a great event.

Abdulrahman Jaber tweeted:

لا أدري بماذا اصف الشعورالعام في تيدكس صنعاء… سوى انه يوم استثنائي بكل ماللكلمات من معاني… اليمن ظهرت وردية اليوم… :) @tedxsanaa #yemen #يمن

@ARJaber: I don't know how to describe the general feeling in TEDxSanaa…except that it is an exceptional day in every sense that word can convey…Yemen appeared rosy today.

Iona Craig, the Times correspondent in Yemen, tweeted:

@ionacraig: Yemeni youth should be running the country if professionalism and slick presentation of #tedxsanaa is anything to go by.

Yemen Peace News tweeted saying:

@YemenPeaceNews:Yemen's youth are showing their community and the world their outstanding potential today at #TEDxSanaa. Congrats to all involved!

Sadeq Alwesabi wondered:

‏@sadeqalwesabi: I'm wondering if our ‘stupid’ officials are following #TEDxSanaa or they're chewing #qat. I'm sure they're doing the second. #Yemen

Yet it seems Yemen's Human Rights Minister, Hooria Mashhour was the only official following the event. She tweeted:

‏@Hooria_Mashhour: By following up @tedxsanaa I breathed up and have the feeling that the best era of Yemen will be coming

She added:

‏@Hooria_Mashhour: @mariamahmed36 @tedxsanaa I wish that minister of higher education, vocational training and M. Of labour are there to see the youth and

@Hooria_Mashhour: @mariamahmed36 @tedxsanaa think how to give them opportunities to take part in developing the country

Amal Alsuqaf posted on Facebook saying:

What a great conference @TEDxSanaa, inspired hope, overcoming obstacles, creativity, the future to become
I can't say enough about this great event :)
Thanks for the organizers, speakers, attendees
You made the new year better ♥

She also posted a photo album of the organizers and speakers behind the scene in TedxSanaa.

Sara Al-zawqari proudly tweeted:

‏@Sous_AlZ: #tedxsanaa was the best way to end the year! Amazing, diversified & Inspiring! Couldn't be more proud http://instagr.am/p/T6S6R_NV15/

Dr. Hilal Lashuel posted this photo on his Facebook wall:

Dr. Hilal Lashuel photo design addressing everyone who was behind the success of TEDxSanaa

Kudos to the TEDxSanaa organizers, presenter and all the inspirational speakers for this huge success. The event was just a sample of a promising Yemen, full of hope and people with dreams who have the potential and the perseverance to make them happen. The year in Yemen finally ended, thanks to TedxSanaa, with the hope of a better and brighter Yemen.

This is a storify of some of the tweets posted on Twitter during the event and after.
All the videos of the speakers in the event will be uploaded on TEDxSanaa's Youtube channel.

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January:

* Five killed as Yemen police, protesters clash in south. The protesters were calling for secession and rejecting a Gulf-brokered plan granting President Ali Abdullah Saleh immunity from prosecution when he steps down. Three protesters were killed and 18 others were wounded, in addition two policemen were killed and five others were wounded.

* Overnight drone strike in Yemen kills 15, including ‘at least four Al Qaeda leaders’. Up to 15 militants, including four Al Qaeda leaders, were killed in an overnight airstrike in the city of Loder in Abyan province, southern Yemen.

February:

* Yemen army kills two anti-election protest. Yemeni troops killed two people when they opened fire on a rally in the southern province of Dalea calling for boycotting the election to replace outgoing President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

* Yemen's One Man Election

Many Yemenis believe that taking part in this election is pointless since the election results are pre-determined, as was the imposed GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council] deal and the immunity it granted Saleh. They doubt that it will bring about any real change in Yemen in the foreseeable future with Hadi, another military man replacing Saleh, and thus that there is no prospect of the civil state which the revolution demanded, especially with Saleh's family still controlling the military apparatus and his regime still intact.

March:

* Suicide bomber kills four Yemeni soldiers. At least four Yemeni soldiers were killed when a suicide bomber detonated a vehicle full of explosives near a checkpoint in the southern city of al-Bayda.

April:

* Gunmen attack Yemen’s major airport. Gunmen loyal to Yemen’s ousted president blasted buildings at the country’s main airport with anti-aircraft guns, forcing authorities to shut it down. A day after Yemen’s new President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi fired key security officials appointed by ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh, including his half brother, the air force commander Mohammed Saleh al-Ahmar, and his nephew, Tariq, who headed the presidential guard.

*Yemen electricity supply hit in power plant attack Tribesmen attacked a main power plant in Marib causing the capital Sanaa and cities Taiz, Hudaida and Ibb to suffer reduced electricity due to the attack.

May:

*Suicide blast on eve of Unification Anniversary, nearly 100 people were killed and at least 200 were injured.

*Anger at expansion of US drone war

The use of drones on Yemeni soil to kill “suspected” al Qaeda leaders, the unjustified killing of a teenager and many other innocent civilians commonly referred to as “collateral damage” and the illegal detention of a journalist, has fostered more animosity towards the US. […] The US clearly needs to re-evaluate its counter-terrorism policy in Yemen by addressing the socio-economic underlying causes that produce terror, rather than focusing its aid solely in the fight against al “Qaeda” and continuing with the drone attacks which kills innocent people, alienates, angers and aggravates the general Yemeni public, giving extremists a motive to join militant groups.

*Yemeni al-Qaeda leader ‘killed in drone strike’. Fahd al-Quso was hit by missiles fired from an unmanned drone. His death and another man's was confirmed by al-Qaeda and Yemen's embassy in the US. At least 20 soldiers had been killed by militants in revenge for the attack.

June:
*Attacks on Southern Yemen jeopardize National Dialogue

While a National Dialogue is under way to discuss many of Yemen's issues, central security forces attacked Mansoura's square, where separatist activists staged sit-in protests for over a year, destroying their tents and using live ammunition to disperse them, killing and injuring some.

*Electricity Woes in Yemen

Electricity, food and water are basic human needs and have been the main demands of the majority of Yemenis long before the revolution started and still continue to be so. Nothing seems to have changed with the overthrow of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh and living conditions only seem to get worse under the new National Consensus Government. Most Yemenis are living in dire conditions due to the daily and long hours of electricity cuts that have been affecting most areas of Yemen, from the north to the south.

July:
*Another suicide blast rocks Sanaa. A suicide bomber detonated himself at the southern gate of the Ministry of Interior killing nine and injuring 15.

August:
*Yemen Republican Guard in deadly clashes in Sanaa. Five people were killed and at least nine were wounded, near the defence ministry.

September:

*Yemen minister survives assassination attempt. Maj Gen Muhammad Nasir Ahmad, Yemen's defense minister survived an assassination attempt, which killed seven bodyguards and five civilians in the heart of the capital, Sanaa.

*Anger as 13 civilians killed by US drone strikes A US drone missile missed it's target and according to local reports 13 civilians, including three women, were killed as a result.

*29 Dead in 8 Days as U.S. Puts Yemen Drone War in Overdrive. Not even the killing of 10 civilians over the weekend seems to have slowed the pace in the United States’ secretive, undeclared war.

*Yemenis march demanding prosecution of ex-leader.
Tens of thousands of Yemenis took to the streets of the capital Sanaa demanding the prosecution of Saleh, who stepped down in February after a year-long uprising, demonstrators marched also in other Yemeni cities.

October:

*Deadly blast rocks Yemen military base. Militants drove a vehicle loaded with explosives into the base in Abyan province. At least 15 Yemeni troops were killed and more than a dozen injured.

*Yemen security officer at U.S. Embassy killed in Sanaa The attackers, on a motorcycle, opened fire on Qassem Aqlannear his house in the center of Yemen's capital, Sanaa.

*Yemeni counter-terrorism official shot dead. Ali al-Yamani was shot by two gunmen on a motorcycle in Damar province where he was leading counter-terrorism efforts.

*Yemen to Investigate Explosions at Weapons Store Bombings at the headquarter of the first armored division were a result of a fire inside a weapons store that included missiles and tank rockets, no casualties were reported.

*Yemen LNG gas pipeline blown up again. The 320-km (100-mile) pipeline supplying the $4.5-billion plant has been attacked several times this year.

November:

*US drones hit Yemen a day after Obama won the elections. The strike was less than 40km from the capital Sanaa and in the hometown of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh. Adnan al Qadhi, a former AQAP member, and two of his bodyguards, Rabiee Lahib and Radwan al Hashidi, were confirmed to have been killed in the strike.

*A Ashoura celebration was attacked in Sanaa Four people were killed and more than a dozen were wounded in an explosion that targeted a Shiite Ashoura Celebration in the capital Sanaa.

December:

*New attacks on electricity lines, Air Force foils pipeline bombing Unknown elements attacked electricity transmission lines again, in Wadi Abeeda district of Mareb Province.

*Intelligence Officer Shot Dead in Eastern Yemen Colonel Ahmed Baramada, deputy intelligence office in Hadramout, was shot dead, by gunmen on a motorbike near his home in Mukalla.

*Airstrikes in Yemen kill 6 Al-Qaida suspects. Yemeni security officials say six al-Qaida suspects have been killed and 12 others wounded in army attacks on militant positions around the country.

*
Yemen LNG gas pipeline blown up again. The pipeline was last blown up about 295km north of gas liquefaction plant on Oct. 30. It was repaired in November and loaded a few cargoes of super cooled gas in early December.

*Yemen Says Artillery Rockets Behind Explosion at Gas Pipeline Yet another explosion hit the natural gas pipeline in southeastern Shabwa province. The pipeline was bombed by two artillery rockets as an act of sabotage.

*Assassination campaign continues against intelligence officers
Yemeni intelligence chief escapes assassination Col. Mohammed Hajeb, the military intelligence chief in the areas of al-Wadi and Sahara escaped an assassination attempt.

The assassinations and violent attacks have often been attributed to the usual suspect “Al-Qaeda, although no investigations have proven their involvement, others accuse Saleh and his loyalist for the volatile security condition that Yemen has been experiencing since his handover of power.

*Yemen's Long Awaited Army Restructure A number of long awaited decrees were issued, including restructuring the armed forces into four major units – land forces, navy, air force and border forces, and abolishing the Republican Guard and the First Armored Division and with them the dismissal of Saleh's relatives and Ali Muhsen from the military leadership.
Yet even that didn't seem to grant their final dismissal from the military as news surfaced of their possible appointment in the new restructure.

*Two US Drone Strikes in Yemen for Christmas five suspected militants were killed in both attacks.

*17 killed as Yemen army, tribesmen clash: tribal sources Yemen's army launched an offensive against tribesmen suspected of repeatedly sabotaging an oil pipeline in Marib, 10 tribesmen and seven soldiers were killed in the clashes.

*Three Westerners kidnapped in Yemen's capital, Sanaa In an unprecedented and further deterioration of the security situation in Yemen, masked gunmen seized three foreigners at a shop in Sanaa's city centre.

*Gunmen kill two high-ranking officers in Yemen Colonel Salem Gorbani and Brigadier-General Fidel al-Zahari were killed by gunmen on motorcycles within a 30 minute interval.

So for Christmas in Yemen, 2 US drone strikes killed 5, heavy clashes in Marib killed 17 and a brigadier an officer were assassinated in Sanaa.

*Protesters March for 270km in Yemen's Second Life March Yemen's youth commemorated the martyrs of the 2011 Life March by walking in their footsteps all 270km from Taiz to Sanaa and staged a sit-in at the presidential palace, demanding the dismissal of Saleh's relatives from leading positions in the army and intelligence.

*Gunmen attack Yemen oil pipeline after repairs according to official sources lost production because of attacks on pipelines in the east cost the government more than $1 billion dollars in 2012, while oil exports fell by 4.5 per cent.

*Two suspected al Qaeda-linked insurgents were killed in a drone strike in Yemen Two menriding a motorcycle west of the coastal town of al-Sheher, in the eastern region of Hadramout, were fired at by the pilotless aircraft.
Gunmen in Yemen kill intelligence officer Officer Mutea Baqutian, was heading to work Saturday in Hadramawt province when he was stopped by gunmen stopped his car shot him and then fled.

Meanwhile, Yemen is preparing for a six-month National Dialogue Conference, which has been challenging to organize, resulting in it's postponement several times. The shares of political parties and other groups participating was finally reached and the conference is due to start sometime early next year. Many Yemenis hope that a fair constitution addressing the needs and aspirations of Yemenis will be drafted and voted on in a referendum before the upcoming presidential election in 2014. Yet to the dismay of many, ousted president Saleh plans to head the GPC (General People's Congress Party) delegation at the National Dialogue shaping Yemen's future!

The year 2012 in Yemen has been a year full of assassinations, explosions, kidnappings and US drones. Yemenis hope that the coming year will bring the long and much awaited stability and security the country needs.

Thumbnail image :US Air Force General Atomics MQ-1 Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). Image by Flickr user james_gordon_los_angeles (CC BY-NC 2.0)

Written by Noon Arabia · comments (2)
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Protesters who took part in the march, staged a sit-in in front of the presidential palace, demanding President Abdu Rabbo Mansour Hadi to issue a presidential decree and clearly dismiss Ahmed Saleh, son of the former President, and General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, former commander of the First Armored Division, in addition to Major General Ghalib Al-Qamish, head of the Central Political Security.

A video of the attack was posted via Youtube by Youthstand47:

Benjamin Wiacek tweeted with disappointment:

@Nefermaat: Peaceful #Youth protesters attacked in #Sanaa: tear gas, beating up, shots, cars, etc… “new” govt, “new” security, same results! #Yemen :(

Baraa Shabaan, one of the youth who joined the Life March in Sanaa tweeted, a series of tweets explaining what happened to the youth protesting at the presidential palace.

‏@BaraaShiban: 1. Since 4 pm, no food or water was allowed in, with a heavy presence of riot police … #Yemen

@BaraaShiban: 2. At 6pm, riot police started attacking the youth who came to support the protesters … #Yemen

@BaraaShiban: 3. 8 ppl were injured due to the heavy beating & the others were affected by the tear gas … #Yemen

‏@BaraaShiban: 4. The riot police started attacking the protesters at the presidential palace at 7:30 pm … #Yemen

@BaraaShiban: 5. Most of the youth got heavily injured due to the severe beating, & 7 fainted due to the tear gas … #Yemen

‏@BaraaShiban 8. (actually .6) Fahmi, one of the youth protesting at the presidential palace got ran over by the riot police car & got blocked out immediately.. #Yemen

‏@BaraaShiban: 7. We lost contact with the protesters & we realized that some if them were detained & released an hour later … #Yemen

‏@BaraaShiban: 8. Fahmi, got transferred to Aljomhoori hospital & still in a dangerous condition… #Yemen

‏@BaraaShiban: 9. The youth started gathering in front of Hadi's home with a heavy presence of soldiers … #Yemen

The youth called for a Press conference to clearly explain what happened that evening. The conference was held at the Yemeni journalists syndicate and was attended by activists, journalists and news channels.
The Media Center for Change Square posted a photo album on their Facebook page of the Press conference.

Press conference at the Yemen journalists syndicate to reveal the details of the attack on the youth in the Second Life March

A video of the statement that was read in the Press conference was posted on YouTube by mohmmed alyemeni

Sarah Jamal, who attended the Press conference, tweeted:

@Sarah_Sanaa: Life March protesters: we will not stop until president Hadi issues a clear decree 2 sack Ahmed Ali, Ali Mohsen, Al qamish fm army #Yemen

@Sarah_Sanaa:Life march protesters: The organizational committee does not represent us or the revolution, it only represents JMP #Yemen

@Sarah_Sanaa: 2nd. Life March demands a fair immediate investigation in what the protesters faced at the presidency #Yemen

Baraa Shiban tweeted in dismay:

@BaraaShiban: I think the Interior Ministry haven’ t realized yet …. the date is 12/2012 not 2010 … #Yemen

Sadly, the same scene is repeating itself in Yemen – the repressive security forces are once again clamping down on the peacefully protesting youth, who are steadfast and committed to achieving the goals of the revolution.

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