15 years laterBut only on the calendar [Archives:2005/844/Opinion]

Yes, we were around when the flag of the Republic of Yemen was being hoisted in Aden fifteen years ago. It was one of the most dramatic moments in the history of this nation, to which so much misfortune has been fated for almost half a century before that moment of elation. When the flag was finally put up, most Yemenis really thought that Yemen was truly embarking on a new era of hope and determination to overcome all the obstacles that stood in the way of the development of Yemen. Actually, unification in itself was thought to be the only medicine Yemen needed to join the international community of progressing countries. We were also told that unification was not all we were getting on that fateful day of 22 May 1190. We had a plateful of democratic reforms that were to really put the country along the ranks of the most modern nations in the world, whose history has shown that unless the people have an active role and say in governance, there can be no progress to look forward to and there can be no prosperity to hope for.

The people applauded. We then had the memorable Transition Period from 1990 to 1994, right after the first real attempt to put this novel democracy we had hoped would put this country on the right course in practice. But, unfortunately by the time we got to those first elections, it was clear that the leading political factions in the country, with their armies and all sorts of state paraphernalia were getting themselves ready for a whole different ball game. Right then and there, we could see armies beginning to take their places, as if Yemen had become the fighting arena for anyone with any muscle to display and impose their renditions of political philosophy on the poor people of Yemen. To think that the latter really thought for a while that their leaders had grown more mature than they have ever been in the past. Wishful thinking, it was indeed. After unification, the people of Yemen actually told their leaders, “thank you very much, and we forgive you for all your past sins and fumbling. We forgive you for all the resources and dough you squandered. Now that you are going to throw the ball back to the people, keep all you have and leave the people to manage with whatever is left.” Really, the people of Yemen deserve some gratitude for their gullibility in believing that their leaders had their own perceptions about all that transpired after that day of elation. In fact, one can almost be sure that the powerful political factions were actually gearing the country for an ugly showdown, that was to destroy a lot of whatever accomplishments the country has achieved over the since the Revolution and the end of British rule over the South. It was also the destruction of so many dreams and so many hopes. Progress seemed just around the corner, but alas, all those hopes and dreams were eaten up by the ugly flames of a power struggle, with the end result being that the people again were the losers. What happened? Even after all the political factions signed a historic document that set the ground rules for truly getting Yemen on a sound footing, the Document for Pledge and Accord became no more than a waste of time and effort, because, before that, our leaders had already put themselves on a course for a decisive military showdown to set the clock of time back another ten years from then. The observer only wishes to point out that indeed history has shown that military showdowns based on agendas prescribed by narrow interests can never yield fruitful results for the people of Yemen, who continuously believe somehow that God is bound to right the directions we are heading for. Our leaders have frankly not allowed even fate to do its wonderful arrangement of things to suit the people's aspirations, even when all the factors are going for them!

On the contrary, our people have been misled and misguided as to the real intentions of leaderships that fail to look beyond the borders of their own interests. The partying Amman in February 1994 ended with the Battle of Amran in April 1994, and the war clouds shed their fiery rains in the country. The rest was a matter of arithmetic: who had the numbers and knew how to play with the money was bound to win. This is called government by elimination, not by a peaceful transfer of authority.

Yet, the people were careful to insist that we really wanted the unity and the other side mistakenly believed that it could go back to an ancient era and prove itself and then seek unity later. So, the attempt to put the political clock backwards backfired and the people were left with the same pre-unification regime that once only prevailed on one side of the partition between north and south. The balance of power that existed prior to the War of 1994 did have its merits to a certain degree. It provided an aura of democratic vibes all over the country and if you wanted to say something, you could count on a faction of the competing political machines to back you up. The war ended all of that and all you had was what the winning side was willing to grant: nice words but poor delivery!

After 11 years since that tragic showdown, no balance of power, no hope of political relief from a quasi totalitarian order, with a lot of lip service to democratic political ideals and even contempt for our long cherished values. The future has never been more uncertain than it is now, as we are unable to truly predict what is in store for the nation, when the government has no clear definitive ideas itself of where we are going and when will the interests of the people of Yemen take precedence above all interests? Fifteen years and that question is still looking for a meaningful answer. Now it is not just the Yemeni people seeking the answer. The international community will also have its own say and dictates to decide the course our nation will take. The situation is even more complicated now than it was fifteen years ago and regrettably, most of the complications are intended just to keep the people away from having a real genuine role in mapping out their own destiny.

Happy birthday ROY!
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