Saudi forces kill campaigner in eastern province

 Regime forces in Saudi Arabia killed at least one person in the country’s volatile Eastern Province as Riyadh steps up its crackdown on dissent.
According to reports, the victim was a prominent anti-regime campaigner killed during a raid on the town of Awamiyah, press tv reported.
A number of people were also wounded when security forces stormed into Awamiyah in military vehicles and choppers while several arrests were made in the latest act of regime violence against activists in the kingdom.
The operation came after the Saudi Press Agency said one soldier was killed on December 14 near Awamiyah after an attack by "an unknown gunman firing from the farms".
Local residents have denied any role in the soldier's death and denounced such moves as part of the Saudi regime’s plans to intimidate them.
There have been numerous demonstrations in Saudi Arabia’s oil-rich Eastern Province since 2011, with the protesters calling for political reform and an end to widespread discrimination. Several people have been killed and many others injured or arrested during the demonstrations.
Activists say there are over 30,000 political prisoners in Saudi Arabia.
The Al Saud government has come under fire from international human rights organizations for failing to address the rights situation in the monarchy. They say Riyadh has persistently implemented repressive policies that stifle freedom of expression, association, and assembly.