Media accused of provoking February violence in Hadramaut

The fact-finding ministerial committee on violent acts occurred in Hadramout province late in last February submitted its report to the cabinet on Tuesday. In its weekly meeting chaired by Prime Minister Mohammed Salem Basindwa, the committee said that the main reason behind the violence in Hadramout was the media that have fueled the people's reactions to the events taken place in Aden province on February 21. The committee added that some forces have no interest in maintaining the national unity had provoked directly and indirectly people and used their available means help raise grudges and hatreds among people. According to the testimonies the committee heard and meetings with all parties including wounded people, the report gave a brief account of the events since it had begun, confirming the death of two people due to the events as turned into violence that had also wounded 37 civilians and military individuals. It praised the wisdom of the local authority and the security forces in dealing with the marches, a matter that embodied their faith in the right of citizens to expression of opinion peacefully, in spite of the illegal acts coupled with the calls of civil disobedience in Mukalla, such as blocking roads, attacking security personnel and driving students out of schools by force. The report indicated to the condemnation and rejection of the people of Hadramout, including the peaceful Southern movement factions of the violent acts, which they said it is criminalized by laws and tradition, stressing the need of the security authorities to assume their responsibility in capturing the perpetrators and reveal the facts to the public. The committee has made in its report a number of recommendations to tackle the repercussions of the events in the province and not to be recurred. The cabinet directed the fact-finding ministerial committee alongside the finance minister and Hadramout governor to prepare a timeframe to carry out the recommendations in order of priority.