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Citizens speak out. As people continue pressing for improved living conditions and human rights
for themselves and fellow countrypersons, they gather in squares and march in the streets
of nations like Egypt, Colombia, Libya, Syria and Yemen.
EGYPT - Among indications that the current military rulers are attempting to create a
central role for themselves in a future government, thousands of protesters arrived in Tahrir
Square on Friday, July 22 where they demanded a faster shift to democratic civilian rule.
They also continued pressing for the resignation of certain cabinet officials, including Justice
Minister Abdel Aziz al-Gindi, whom protesters say is responsible for delaying trials of
officials from the former regime.
COLOMBIA - Over 5,000 indigenous peoples from nine tribes in the town of Toribio gathered
in protest of a plan announced by President Juan Manuel Santos to install more troops
in the region as they demanded that both the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces
of Colombia (FARC) group respect international human rights and remove bases and camps from
indigenous lands.
SYRIA - The head of the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdel Rahman, told
Agence France-Presse that over 1.2 million citizens throughout Syria marched in protests
on Friday, with the death toll rising to at least 11 people. These include five killed
overnight in Homs when security forces in tanks arrived to stop protests there, and
six shot later in other areas as many rallies against the government took place despite
the extensive crackdown. Two UN officials on Friday made a joint statement expressing
alarm at the possibility of Syrian security forces committing crimes against humanity,
and urged an independent investigation of the crackdown. Meanwhile, the French and British
foreign ministries also spoke out Friday against the army’s brutal violence especially in
Homs, saying that the government must instead listen to and protect fellow citizens.
YEMEN - Tens of thousands of Yemeni citizens across the country rallied in the streets
Friday, protesting shortages of water, fuel, and electricity as they also renewed calls
for the resignation of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who is still in a Saudi hospital recovering
from injuries sustained in the June 3 attack on his presidential palace. Meanwhile, in
southern Taiz, a young girl and her mother were killed with the brother left wounded
as government forces clashed with pro-activist tribesmen.
As we mourn the loss of precious life and are saddened by the injured and suffering,
we pray for the turmoil in all nations to completely subside and that people everywhere
may decide to live in shared safety, freedom and peace�