Text of the statement

In light of the poor living conditions that citizens suffer from as a result of the significant rise in the prices of basic foodstuffs, the increase in housing rents and the low level of income due to the collapse of the value of the national currency and the low salaries and wages in a way that do not meet the most basic needs of the citizen, not to mention the faltering of those salaries that some state employees receive such as the military, civilians and retired. And in light of the presence of authorities that think only of increasing the collections of levies and unconstitutional and illegal fees, which have burdened the citizen and only some powerful people benefit from these levies.

And in light of the intensification of poverty, where the majority of people are below the line of extreme poverty and the low services provided by the state to the citizen. In light of all of the above, the citizens of Hadhramawt were surprised by a new decision that was taken individually by the Hadhramawt Oil Company branch. This decision stipulates a significant and obscene increase in fuel prices for the second time in a row within a few months and in a manner that does not take into account the living conditions experienced by people in this governorate, as the price of fuel (oil and diesel) reached 600 Yemeni riyals per liter. This portends more tragic repercussions than what people have reached before because most commodities and services are closely linked to the ups and downs of fuel prices. As the prices have reached an unbearable limit and the ordinary citizen cannot tolerate it.

We in the political parties and components, unions, associations and many bodies, personalities, activists and human rights organizations, and behind us the majority of the people of this governorate affected by these actions, reject these unjust increases against the citizens and consider them absolutely unacceptable and do not suggest that the responsible authorities are aware of what the situation of people has reached in Hadhramaut in particular. With this behavior, the authorities in Hadhramaut, whether they feel or not, are pushing the citizen towards the brink of an abyss in light of authoritarian arrogance that cannot bear to hear any popular voice that expresses people’s suffering and criticizes mistakes. Rather, the authorities continue to distort any peaceful movement and consider it undesirable and not allowed at all, and this threatens to increase popular tension that inevitably leads to an unconscious or unwelcome collision, and this matter serves the enemies of the homeland and achieves for them what they aspire to from the disintegration of national and community cohesion in Hadhramawt, so the concerned authorities must realize the seriousness of this if they are not have already realized it.

We, the signatories below this statement, declare our full support for the citizens to alleviate their suffering, make their voice heard and adopt their just causes by examining a number of options and the moves that must be taken by us in the coming days, which would put pressure on the concerned authorities to carry out their duties and act responsibly regarding the conditions the people suffer in this governorate.

It is very unfortunate that the Hadhramawt authorities adopt such unfair price increases against the citizen unilaterally, while other liberated governorates, their officials did not dare to make such decisions, even though Hadhramawt is going through better conditions than other governorates and has more resources. Hadhramawt comes at the fore in the oil-producing and exporting governorates, which mainly finances the central state budget.

In conclusion, we call on the government to intervene immediately to stop these unjust price increases and to re-evaluate fuel prices to suit the citizen’s situation and level of income, and this is enough to correct the prices of many basic commodities and main services related to this file.

We also call on the local authorities to give priority to the interest of the citizens in this governorate and to reconsider many issues, especially with regard to strengthening the relationship between citizens and the authority, improving the performance of the executive bodies, activating the role of regulatory and judicial bodies, opening the door to dialogue and understanding between the authority and the political and social, cultural and youth components in order to enhance the internal cohesion to face the challenges that the governorate and the country, in general, are going through.

May God protect Hadhramawt and the country in general.

Issued on Tuesday, July 27, 2021.

Mukalla - Hadhramaut

The signatories to the statement:

1) The Yemeni Islah Party

2) The Nasserist Unionist Popular Organization

3) The Southern Al-Haq Party

4) Arab Socialist Baath Party

5) Yemeni Al-Rashad Union Party

6) Al-Nahdha Movement for Peaceful Change

7) Syndicate of Educational and Teaching Professions

8) Yemeni Teachers Syndicate

9) Discontinued Soldiers Association

10) The Peaceful Popular Stand

11) The Committee for Follow-up and Defense of Detainees

12) National Solidarity Party

13)Justice and Building Party

14) The Popular and Rights Committee in Hadhramawt

15) Hadhrami Federal Gathering