Yemen Monitor / Shabwa / Exclusive:
The (dissolved) Southern Transitional Council (STC) failed on Tuesday to hold a popular rally in Shabwa Governorate (southeastern Yemen), amid a heavy security and military deployment in the provincial capital, Ataq.
Local sources and eyewitnesses told “Yemen Monitor” that security and military forces carried out an extensive deployment on the main streets and key intersections in the city of Ataq.
According to the sources, the security deployment was concentrated around the “Al-Asal” roundabout, which was scheduled to host a demonstration by the Shabwa branch of the STC.
Video clips published by media outlets affiliated with the STC showed dozens of protesters gathering around a security vehicle, chanting slogans in support of the Transitional Council, which has been declared dissolved.
In response, the so-called Executive Body of the STC in Shabwa Governorate stated that the city of Ataq had turned into a “closed military barracks.” According to the statement, the security and military deployment prevented the holding of an event intended “to show solidarity with Hadramawt.”
The statement also revealed a campaign of arrests targeting three STC members: Mohammed Ali Al-Awlaki, Saleh Maqlam Al-Khalifi, and Mohammed Omar Baqityan.
Commenting on what happened in Ataq, activist Yasser Al-Sayli pointed to a notable shift in security roles within the governorate, considering the events as a “return to normalcy” following previous political and military changes.
Al-Sayli said in a post: “What is new is that the forces that used to protect them and confront the protesters previously are the same ones that are now suppressing and chasing them.” He wondered, “Who would have believed it?”
Last February 11, the city of Ataq witnessed bloody clashes between STC elements and security forces, which resulted in 29 casualties, following an attempt by a Transitional Council demonstration to storm the local administration building.
