Nobel Peace Prize boosts Yemeni protesters' morale

By Nehal El-Sherif, dpa =

   Sana'a/Cairo (dpa) – Like every Friday, thousands of Yemenis gathered in the capital Sana'a to protest against President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Yet this Friday turned into a celebration for one of the country's most prominent activists Tawakul Karman, who won the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize.

   “I'm very, very happy,” the 32-year-old Karman told all those who came to her tent, set up inside the square, to congratulate her.

   For more than three years, Karman, who heads the pro-democracy group Women Journalists without Chains, has been leading anti-government protests.

   She has been a familiar face in the uprising that began in February calling for Saleh's ouster, following the fall of the Tunisian and Egyptian strongmen.

   “This prize is the first stage in prosecuting Saleh and his gang. Victory for the revolution begins now,” she said. “We will continue our fight against terrorism and arrogance.”

   Wearing a red floral headscarf and a black gown, Karman was surrounded by her family and supporters in the tent . But outside the square, others were celebrating not only the prize but what they feel will come after it .

   “Her win will definitely give momentum to the protest squares,” said political analyst Ahmed al-Zarqa.

   In a country where almost half of the population is illiterate, and women are rarely seen outside the house without a full-face veil, Karman managed to bring hundreds of women around her in the   anti-government demonstrations

   Millions of Yemenis have taken to the streets across the Arabian Peninsula country since February, demanding an end to the president's 33-year rule.

   Karman has been a driving force in rallying Yemen's youth to protest without seeking the support of opposition parties.

   However, Yemeni activist Shatha al-Harazi warned that opposition parties, including the leading Islamist party Islah, would not be happy with Karman's win as they see her as a force that can sideline their voice.

   “They would not like this because they know that she, as an individual, is an equal force to them, yet more independent.  The  prize will highlight her moves even more,” al-Harazi said.

   Karman was a member of the conservative Islah, but left it when they disapproved her calls to escalate protests and take the form of  sit-ins in front of presidential palaces and government buildings.

   But an activist from the southern city of Taiz, Karman's hometown, thinks that her relationship with the party will get better again soon, as her father, Abdel-Salam Karman is one of the Islah's leaders.

   This does not mean she will change her course of action  for the sake of the party, he said.

   “She represents courage. She represents the peaceful revolution. She also does not believe in talks behind the scenes,” added the activist, who gave his name as Abdul Rahim.

   At least 1,480 people have been killed in Yemen since protests began in February, according to government figures.

   “The problem within the opposition parties is that they fear change,” he said. “They want to remove the current regime, but they want the country to  tread on the same path.”

   However, youth protesters seek radical change and refuse to support the parties. Abdul Rahim believes that after the prize, the protest movement will be “a force to be reckoned with.”

   “Let's us begin a new stage to regain our country's glory,” Karman said in Sana'a. “Nothing is above the voice of right and peace.”