NDC members currently conducting field visits in Aden governorate have expressed their sorrow over clashes between the police and Southern Movement protesters. The clashes occurred on Sunday after southern protesters gathered in front of the hotel where NDC members are staying.

The NDC members stated that all citizens have the right to hold peaceful demonstrations and said that they had submitted a letter of protest to the commander of Yemen’s Fourth Military Zone.

In response, the commander said an investigation into the situation had been launched and that the names of those involved in the crackdown would be made public. 

Separately, NDC Secretary General Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak said each NDC segment had the right to present its issue, southern secession included.

“Before the NDC’s launch on March 18, all were speaking about rights when it came to the southern issue, but now people are talking about rights and its political aspects it,” he said.

At a meeting with young activists and representatives of Aden’s civil society organizations and marginalized citizens, the NDC Secretary General said a number of topics were being transparently and consensually discussed at the conference.

Members from the NDC’s Army and Security, National Issues and Transitional Justice and Independence of Special Entities Working Groups delivered presentations on their aims while visiting Southern governorates.

Activists and representatives then presented their transitional justice ‘visions’ and submitted proposals for how best to construct a national army which is liberated from the interests of particular societal segments.

Some southern activists in attendance demanded that the NDC allow for southerners’ right to secede, while also discussing the grievances and forms of exclusion which they said led to their secessionist demand.

Marginalized citizen representatives placed a spotlight on their segment’s sufferings and said they hoped the NDC would provide outcomes which serve all Yemeni citizens.