India, Albania and Yemen See Youth Protests Turn Violent Against Governments in Most Dangerous Countries

Youth-led protests and clashes have erupted in India, Albania and Yemen as demonstrators confront governments over issues ranging from election integrity and corruption to separatist mobilisation against advancing Houthis in most dangerous countries.

Youth Protests Escalate in India Over Election Commission

Two leaders of India’s youth-led Cockroach Janta Party were remanded in custody for five days after jumping security barricades to wave the national flag at the banned Jantar Mantar protest site in Delhi while demanding the resignation of the election commissioner over alleged voter roll manipulation favouring Narendra Modi’s party. [4] Delhi Police said the leaders Ashutosh Ranka, 30, and Saurav Das, 27, were taken into custody for their alleged repeated attempts to disturb public peace and violate the law. [4] The pair had jumped security barricades on Tuesday to wave the national flag at Jantar Mantar, a decades-old protest site that police have barred people from using. [4] Their alleged attempts to instigate others through social media to engage in similar unlawful activities were also taken into consideration, police said. [4] At the end of the five-day remand period, they could have their detention extended, be granted bail or be released. [4] CJP activists and opposition parties have defied a security crackdown to demand the resignation of India’s top election commissioner, accusing the poll body of manipulating voter rolls to benefit Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling party. [4] The commission, which oversees voting in the world’s most populous nation, has denied any wrongdoing. [4] Congress Party leader Rahul Gandhi backed the men, who were detained after entering the site. [4] “Waving the Tricolour at Jantar Mantar in a peaceful protest is not a crime,” Gandhi said on social media, referring to the Indian flag. [4] “Jailing youth for it is an act of cowardice.” [4] Gandhi yesterday said that “all protests are one.” [4] “Different banners, one cause,” he said. [4] CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke praised the men, saying they “knew they could be thrown behind bars,” but went ahead to wave the national flag. [4] “They’ve shown the entire country that the only way to stand up to a bully like Modi is to never bow down, no matter the consequences,” he said on social media. [4] The idea that Modi must be feared because he holds all levers of power has gone out of the window as India’s youth protest movement confronts an increasingly combative government. [1] Dr. Subir Sinha, Director of the SOAS South Asia Institute and Reader in Development Studies, argues that the political significance of the demonstrations extends far beyond the arrests of opposition activists and the growing confrontation between protesters and state institutions. [1]

Clashes in Albania as Students Join Flamingo Movement

Exiled Yemen STC leader calls for mobilisation against Houthis. — Source: thenewarab

Police fired water cannons at student protesters in Albania’s capital Wednesday as clashes continued for a second day, with demonstrators joining a broader anti-government campaign opposed to a development project linked to US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. [3] Officers in riot gear clashed with youths who set up street barricades using burning trash bins. [3] The demonstrations began over grievances with Albania’s public education system, but students later joined the so-called Flamingo anti-government movement, which is calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama over allegations of widespread corruption. [3] Dubbed the “Flamingo Revolution” after protesters used signs depicting the pink bird, the movement has staged months of rallies against the proposed coastal project, fueling political tensions in Albania. [3] Late Tuesday, a student rally turned violent, with demonstrators smashing shop windows and rioting as police used tear gas to disperse the crowds. [3] Police said 23 people were detained overnight, while six officers and one journalist were injured. [3] Clashes in Tirana between anti-government protesters and police officers intensified on Wednesday, as police used tear gas and water cannon against groups of mainly student demonstrators who threw stones, fireworks and Molotov cocktails at officers, damaging public institutions and private businesses. [5] The ground floor of one building was set on fire, while several traffic lights were destroyed. [5] Protesters chanted: “You don’t have enough handcuffs for everyone” and “Rama into prison, Berisha into prison”, referring to Prime Minister Edi Rama and opposition leader Sali Berisha. [5] Two opposition MPs from Berisha’s Democratic Party who joined the protest were told to leave. [5] One second-year law student told BIRN he was protesting so that “corrupt politicians can be brought to justice”. [5] Another young protester said they were demonstrating “for freedom, to overthrow the government”. [5] President Bajram Begaj said in a statement that he was “following with concern” the escalation of tensions in Tirana’s streets and called on “all parties to act with responsibility and restraint”. [5] “At this moment, the country needs more responsibility. The constitution and the law must remain the boundary for all, without exception. I remain ready to listen to all concerns,” Begaj said. [5] Based on preliminary information from the police, at least 20 protesters have been arrested. [5] “Violent acts and the destruction of property by fire directly endanger the lives of citizens, as well as public and private property,” police said in a press release. [5] According to the Ministry of Health “three protesters and two police officers are currently receiving emergency treatment; all are conscious and in good health”. [5] Euronews Albania journalist Alice Taylor said that while she was taking photos, a police officer took her phone without warning. [5] The Association of Journalists of Albania, AGSH, condemned the act, calling it “a direct obstruction to the reporting and documentation of the protest. This incident adds to other reported cases of violence, intimidation, and obstruction of journalists over the past two days.” [5] At least five journalists were injured on Tuesday during earlier clashes between the police and protesters. [5] The EU Delegation in Tirana expressed concern about police over-reaction and called for calm. [5] “Freedom of assembly and expression are fundamental rights and core European values. They should be respected and exercised peacefully. We take note of the allegations of excessive violence by the police against protestors and journalists,” the EU Delegation said in a statement. [5] “We expect police action to be proportionate and respect fundamental rights and expect these cases to be investigated as a matter of priority. We encourage all sides to de-escalate the tension,” it added. [5] Wednesday’s protest was the continuation of a rally from the previous day, when students were called upon to demonstrate in Tirana by the so-called “Flamingo Revolution” protesters. [5] The students came to voice their discontent over university conditions and the cost of living. [5] They also called for Prime Minister Rama’s resignation – a key demand of the Flamingo Revolution protests, which started in June as environmental demonstrations but evolved into an anti-government movement. [5]

Southern Yemen Rallies Follow Separatist Leader’s Mobilisation Call

Thousands of people have attended demonstrations across southern Yemen in response to a call from exiled separatist leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi for a “popular mobilisation” to halt the ongoing Houthi advance. [2] In his first address since fleeing the country in January, the head of the Southern Transitional Council on Tuesday called on southern Yemenis to join the Saudi-backed government’s efforts to turn the tide of the war. [2] Videos published by pro-separatist media showed mass protests in several cities - including Aden, Mukalla, Seiyun and Al-Ghaydah - which coincided with the anniversary of the 14 October revolution, the South Yemeni rebellion against British rule in 1963. [2] Some demonstrators were seen waving Emirati flags and carrying portraits of UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed in an expression of support for the STC’s main foreign backer. [2] “We declare the general mobilisation to defend the south and its national liberation project, and to continue the national defence battle against the Houthi militias and their Iranian expansionist project,” Zubaidi said in his televised statement. [2] He stopped short of issuing a specific call but urged southern Yemenis to “prepare to meet the call to defend our homeland … against the invading Houthi militia”. [2] Yemen’s internationally recognised Saudi-backed government has suffered major setbacks since its war with the Houthis resumed last month. [2] Since September, the Iran-backed Houthis seized control of the Red Sea coast and encircled Taiz, Yemen’s third-largest city and a major government stronghold. [2] It has also mounted dozens of attacks on Saudi Arabia, including a strike on Riyadh airport over the weekend that killed 13 people and wounded hundreds. [2] Political analyst Mohammed al-Qadhi said the timing of Zubaidi’s address was significant, coinciding with the 14 October revolution and the Houthis’ gains on the battlefield, which are “significantly altering the balance of power” in the country. [2] “The STC wants to demonstrate that it remains an important and influential force in the south and should play a key role both militarily and in any future political settlement,” he told The New Arab. [2] Zubaidi condemned the Houthi attacks on the kingdom but called on Riyadh to support the STC’s ambitions for south Yemen’s independence. [2] Saudi Arabia has fiercely opposed separatism in southern Yemen and in January launched a decisive military intervention against the STC and other UAE-backed militias. [2] The operation resulted in the dissolution of the STC inside Yemen and Saudi-backed groups asserting control over the south. [2] Zubaidi was charged with treason by the Yemeni government and he fled the country as a result. [2] He is thought to have been living in Abu Dhabi for the past nine months. [2] “Zubaidi’s intervention is primarily about political leverage,” Andreas Krieg, senior security studies lecturer at King’s College London, told The New Arab. [2] “He is telling Riyadh that southern forces are prepared to fight the Houthis, but not simply to restore a Saudi-backed Yemeni state that has spent the past year dismantling their political project. He is effectively presenting southern independence as the price of military cooperation.” [2] The Saudi intervention has also curtailed Abu Dhabi’s influence in Yemen, with the Emirati military withdrawing from the country and its surrogates being brought into closer alignment with Riyadh. [2] “Abu Dhabi wants to recover influence without again assuming responsibility for Yemen’s war,” said Krieg. [2] “What we are witnessing is an attempt to turn Saudi Arabia’s deteriorating military position into Emirati political leverage.” [2]

Government Responses and Calls for Restraint

Delhi Police on Monday said that they had removed the site from its list of designated protest venues. [4] Albanian President Bajram Begaj called on all parties to act with responsibility and restraint amid the escalation of tensions in Tirana’s streets. [5] The EU Delegation in Tirana expressed concern about police over-reaction and called for calm while noting allegations of excessive violence by the police against protesters and journalists. [5] In Yemen the exiled STC leader’s call came after the group’s dissolution inside the country following the January Saudi intervention. [2] Police actions across the protests included water cannons, tear gas, and detentions with at least 20 arrests reported in Tirana and 23 people detained overnight in earlier clashes. [3][5] International reactions included statements urging de-escalation and investigations into incidents involving journalists. [5]

Broader Context of Youth and Opposition Movements in Most Dangerous Countries

The idea that Modi must be feared because he holds all levers of power has gone out of the window as India’s youth protest movement confronts an increasingly combative government. [1] Dr. Subir Sinha argues that the political significance of the demonstrations extends far beyond the arrests of opposition activists and the growing confrontation between protesters and state institutions. [1] In Albania the protests evolved from education grievances and cost of living concerns into the Flamingo Revolution demands for Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation over alleged corruption linked to a coastal development project. [3][5] In Yemen the timing of Zubaidi’s address coincided with the 14 October revolution anniversary and Houthis’ gains on the battlefield which are significantly altering the balance of power. [2] The STC wants to demonstrate that it remains an important and influential force in the south and should play a key role both militarily and in any future political settlement. [2] These events highlight confrontations between protesters and state institutions across the three countries. [1][2][5]

What to watch next: Observers will monitor whether Zubaidi’s call leads to greater southern involvement in efforts against Houthi advances and how the STC positions itself for leverage in any political settlement.