Thousands of Yemenis took to the streets of Taiz city on Tuesday to protest against the extension of the UN-sponsored truce that ends on August 2 amid the ongoing siege by the Iran-backed Houthi militias on their city.
Europe and the United States are hoping to extend the ceasefire for six months, rather than two, and for the legitimate government and Houthis to agree to the proposal.
The Houthis have so far refused to implement the truce article on ending their stifling seven-year siege on Taiz city.
The truce, which has been in effect since April 2, demands, among its articles, the reopening of routes to Taiz, a move the militias have rejected.
Protesters on Tuesday said in a statement that the Houthis “do not believe in peace and do not fulfill their pledges.”
“They approach all treaties, pledges and agreements as opportunities to make military gains and deepen their oppression and destruction against the people, just as they are doing with the UN truce,” they added.
Moreover, they accused western powers and the UN of being lenient with the Houthis, “which has only encouraged the militias to exploit the truce and recruit more members, raid and shell residential neighborhoods, and use heavy weapons against children and women, which is now a daily occurrence in al-Bayda, Taiz and Dhale.”
They called on the Presidential Leadership Council, headed by Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi, to reject the extension of the “unjust” truce that “is now a cover for criminal Houthi practices against children, women and civilians.”
They urged the UN Security Council, European Union, Arab League and Organization of Islamic Cooperation to “take a just stand by the Yemeni people and support them in implementing relevant Security Council resolutions.”
The protest took place as US envoy to Yemen, Tim Lenderking returns to the region where he will visit Riyadh, Muscat, and Amman as part of efforts to extend the fragile truce.
Europe has also been pushing for the extension.
French Ambassador to Yemen Jean-Marie Safa held talks with Al-Alimi in Aden to persuade the Presidential Council to extend the ceasefire.
Official sources revealed that Al-Alimi told his guest that the council supports the international community’s efforts to achieve peace and stability in Yemen.
It is committed to a comprehensive and sustainable solution based on the national and regional references, and relevant international resolutions.
Al-Alimi urged the need to exert more international pressure on the Houthis so that they would commit to their pledges.
The Presidential Council ultimately is not opposed to the extension of the truce, but Al-Alimi and his deputies are insisting that it be implemented in full, most notably with ending the siege on Taiz.
