Protesters March for 270km in Yemen’s Second Life March  · Global Voices
Noon Arabia

Last year the revolutionary youth marched from Taiz to Sanaa for five days, covering 270km on foot in what they called the Life March. The aim of the march was to invigorate life into Yemen's ongoing revolution. This year the revolutionary youth commemorated the martyrs of the 2011 Life March by walking in their footsteps all 270km from Taiz to Sanaa. They were greeted at the borders of Sanaa and were joined by more youth and supporters.
The second Life March arriving at Sanaa. The youth carrying a banner that reads in Arabic “our revolution is a march of life”
Many netizens recalled last year's march with nostalgia:
@Nefermaat: Today I'm remembering the martyrs of the Life March last year…Dignity, Courage and Desire for Change were met by bullets and death! #Yemen
‏@BaraaShiban: #lifemarch was the crown of the peaceful revolution, thousands of youth travelling hundreds of miles facing military with their bare chests
@NasserMaweri: Recalling the great memories of the #lifeMarch #Yemen . Proud to have been part of the march that made history n will always be remembered
As the youth marched towards the presidential palace they were besieged by anti-riot forces. The youth staged an overnight sit-in in front of the presidential palace and demanded the clear removal of Ahmed Saleh, (ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh's son), Ali Mohsen and Ghaleb Al-Qamish, the three notorious army and security leaders that caused a lot of bloodshed in Yemen from any posts in the new military restructure. It was a cold hard night for the youth, with hardly any food and water was allowed in.
Yemen_ Updates tweeted:
@yemen_updates: Although PM says his government provided supplies to youth of #LifeMarch, dozens are stranded by the presidential palace, activists. #Yemen
Hanan Alshowafi added:
@Hanaalshowafi:
Only in #Yemen n the heart of WINTER Yemeni Army sieges Yemeni youth n Alsabeen Square denying them food&blankets!A great SIN #LifeMarch!!!
A video by yaheea alsowarii was posted showing how they spent the night in the cold weather chanting revolutionary slogans:
The goals of the Life March this year, as posted by the (News of the Yemeni Revolution) NYR Facebook are:
The Media Committee of the Life March issued the initial demands of the objectives of the march and sit-in:
1 – Dismissal of all military leaders and Supreme Security who worked with Saleh, headed by Ahmad Ali Saleh, Ali Mohsen Saleh, Ghalib Aalghemh and fully dismissing them and not reshuffling their positions in the new appointments, whatever the circumstances; and accelerate the implementation of the decisions of the army restructure and achieving safety, security and stability in the country and the extend the state power on the entire regions and provinces, particularly Saada and Marib.
2 – The release of prisoners of the revolution, and forcibly disappeared, and support the families of the martyrs and the wounded, and prosecute the killers of the rebels and looters of public wealth and the private sectors, and recover the looted and stolen wealth.
And it calls on all the popular forces to stand beside it and support it to achieve these goals.
Yemeni activists expressed their disappointment that the 2012 Life March wasn't getting any media coverage.
@NajlaMo:
Such a shame that we yemenis stand up with everyone who needs a voice and yet when we need it, we can't find that support #LifeMarch #Yemen
@WomanfromYemen:
#Yemen: if the peaceful #LifeMarch (where ppl walking 280km in protest) was happening in any other country it would've been TOP news (1/2)
@WomanfromYemen:
but i guess positive news on #Yemen isn't something that gets international media attention (2/2)