Aden (South24 Center)

The Southern Transitional Council (STC) condemned what it described as a “full-fledged crime” following the crackdown on a peaceful rally it had called for in the city of Mukalla, Hadramout governorate, on Saturday, April 4, which resulted in the killing and injury of protesters.

The STC’s official spokesperson, Anwar al-Tamimi, said the events constituted a “full-fledged crime,” holding Hadramout Governor Salem al-Khanbashi and the participating forces directly responsible for opening fire on protesters.

 Read more at: Two Protesters Killed as Security Forces Open Fire on STC Rally in Hadramout

The Council also accused the Saudi committee of managing the situation in Hadramout, asserting that it bears responsibility for the violations committed against demonstrators during the peaceful event.

The STC rejected the local authorities’ narrative that armed elements were present among the protesters, describing it as “misleading claims” aimed at justifying the use of force against peaceful demonstrators, and stressed that the rally had been pre-announced as peaceful.

In a notable political response, the Southern delegation in Riyadh announced the immediate suspension of all its official activities and duties in protest against what it described as a “crime” against peaceful protesters.

The delegation held the Ministers of Defense and Interior, as well as the Governor of Hadramout, fully responsible, demanding their dismissal and referral for investigation. It also called for an urgent and transparent inquiry under international supervision.

The Southern delegation had departed for Riyadh on January 7, following rapid military and political developments in Hadramout and Mahra. Those developments culminated in the withdrawal of Southern forces after Saudi airstrikes targeted them in Seiyun, and their replacement by “Nation’s Shield” (Deraa al-Watan) forces and other formations in sensitive positions.

Days after those developments, the delegation announced from within Riyadh on January 9 the dissolution of the Southern Transitional Council, in circumstances that sparked widespread controversy and were rejected by the Council’s institutional base inside the country.

On the human rights front, the UK-based Frontline organization condemned the use of lethal force against peaceful protesters, describing it as a gross violation of international law. It called for an urgent international investigation, accountability for those responsible, and an end to the use of force against civilians in Hadramout.

The Civil Network for Media, Development, and Human Rights also condemned the firing of live ammunition, describing the incident as a grave violation of the right to life and peaceful assembly.

These condemnations followed a joint statement by the Hadramout local authority and the Security Committee, which justified the use of force on the grounds that the rally had not obtained “prior authorization,” and alleged the presence of “armed elements in civilian clothing” among the protesters.

In an apparent attempt to contain public anger, the President of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), Rashad al-Alimi, said he had contacted the Hadramout governor to review measures taken to “protect civilians,” and directed the opening of an urgent investigation into the circumstances of the incident.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Ibrahim Haidan announced that he had called for the formation of a committee to investigate “attacks” on security personnel.

On Saturday, Mukalla witnessed a mass rally in support of the STC, which was met with a crackdown and live gunfire directed at peaceful protesters. Authorities had deployed military forces hours before the event in an attempt to prevent it, but failed to stop the gathering.