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Tuesday, 12 February 2013
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  • Yemen: Political Interference in Massacre Probe

    (Sanaa, February 12, 2013) - The killings took place at the southern edge of Change Square, a then-burgeoning protest camp. As tens of thousands of protesters ended their midday prayer at a rally they had named the Friday of Dignity, dozens of gunmen in civilian clothes shot at them from the street and houses, including the Sanaa residence of a provincial governor.
    The 69-page report, “Unpunished Massacre: Yemen’s Failed Response to the ‘Friday of Dignity’ Killings,” found that the previous government’s criminal investigation was fraught with political interference and ignored evidence implicating government officials. Prosecutors also failed to investigate why security forces led by Saleh’s nephew abandoned their posts at the scene before the gunmen opened fire. Yemeni authorities should reopen the investigation, Human Rights Watch said.
    After multiple postponements, a criminal trial based on the flawed investigation began in Sanaa in September. The court listed 43 of the 78 defendants as fugitives from justice. The fugitives included two sons of a pro-Saleh governor, both ranking security officials, who are the top two suspects. Victims and their lawyers accuse the security forces of making no effort to find those at large. Lawyers for both victims and defendants are demanding a new investigation.
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