Yemeni secessionists demonstrate for independence ahead of peace talks

Thousands of pro-secession southern Yemenis protested in Aden Sunday demanding "independence and right of self-determination" on the eve of the UN-facilitated peace talks in Kuwait.

The new round of UN-facilitated peace talks are due to begin on April 18th in Kuwait and will focus on five main points in an effort to end Yemen's year-long civil war between the internationally recognized government and the Shiite Houthi group.

The anti-unity demonstrations were organized by the pro-secession Southern Movement, youth activists, and politicians of the former Southern Yemeni state.

"The southern people demand right of self-determination and other political projects are unacceptable," the pro-secession rallies' slogan reads.

The Parades Square in Aden's neighborhood of Khor Maksar and surrounding streets were packed with separation supporters from Yemen's north amid heavy security measures and deployment of armored vehicles in the area.

The crowds waved flags of what used to be Southern Yemen and hoisted posters of secessionist leaders, shouting slogans such as "We swore never to unite with northerners," whilst others carried banners.

Southern Yemenis have been demonstrating in the streets demanding their right to self-determination for several years without a response from the international community, Hussein Hanshy, a political expert based in Aden, told Xinhua.

Ali Naif, a student at Aden University, told Xinhua during the event that "We came here out of love for our southern regions and to renew our independence because uniting with northern provinces caused us a lot of suffering and disasters."

"Three of my brothers were killed during the war with Houthis who came from northern Yemen to invade Aden last year... we will keep demanding independence from them until death," Naif said tearfully.

North and South Yemen were peacefully unified in 1990, however their relationship deteriorated in 1994.

Calls for separation from the country's southern regions were renewed in 2007.

The southerners complained of being marginalized, particularly after loosing a four-month civil war in 1994.

Pro-secession protests are rising in the south during a deteriorating economy and discrimination allegations favoring the northerners.

Concerns have developed as the conflict in southern Yemen is causing instability, where the Yemen-based al-Qaida offshoot may take over further territories.

Source: XINHUA