A/HRC/21/37 governorate capitals. The delegation also noted that a draft counter-terrorism bill had not yet been passed and that there was still no parliamentary oversight of the two main security organs. C. Freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association 34. During the reporting period, the sit-ins that characterized the protests in 2011 continued in a number of towns, in particular in Sanaa(albeit with smaller participation), while large demonstrations were held to protest against the immunity law or to call for the completion of the reorganization of the army. In the south, tensions among protesters heightened, especially where pro- and anti-separation activists clashed. Several squares in Aden and Mukalla were attacked or burned; there was no indication of intervention by the police to preserve the right to peaceful assembly. The Minister for the Interior stated that no new instructions had been issued with regard to the conduct of police forces during demonstrations. In Ta’izz, violence in the context of public demonstrations was reported, and the mission was informed that, in al-Bayda, at least three known peaceful activists had been abducted and found dead with signs of torture. 35. Journalists allegedly continued to be threatened and attacked, and targeted in assassination attempts. At least 25 such events were recorded during the reporting period, while 11 cases of illegal arrest and unlawful detention were reported. In addition, the premises of media organizations were attacked or looted, professional equipment stolen or damaged and, in at least eight instances, thousands of printed copies of newspapers were seized and destroyed. The perpetrators of these violations came from all parts of the political spectrum; worryingly, it appears that persons occupying official positions or wearing uniforms may have engaged in such acts with full impunity. Journalists were also brought before courts and sentenced, even though their cases should have been presided over by a specialized court in Sanaa. 36. The delegation paid a visit to the office of the newspaper Al-Ayyam in Aden, following its visit of July 2011. Since being forced to close in 2009, the newspaper has faced a number of attacks and court cases brought against it by the Prosecution. 9 The publisher stated that he had received encouraging information from the Government on the reopening of the newspaper; he had, however, also requested that he be given a number of assurances before resuming activities. 37. The members of the mission noted that the transition under way was marked by the multiplication of associations, mostly human rights non-governmental organizations, many of which were based outside the main cities and in parts of the country where, previously, few activities by human rights defenders had been reported. According to lists provided by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, 106 human rights non-governmental organizations completed their registration process in the last quarter of 2011 and at the beginning of 2012. At the time of the mission, 80 human rights organizations were still undergoing the registration process. 38. Although the above developments are welcome, the delegation also received consistent information on interference by the licensing authority of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, which reportedly viewed with suspicion the establishment of human rights groups, especially claiming to address issues of accountability and transitional justice 9 See for example, “Witnesses in Al-Ayyam case turn against prosecution”, Committee to Protect Journalists, 10 January 2012. Available from http://cpj.org/2012/01/witnesses-in-al-ayyam-case-turnagainst-yemeni-pro.php. 11