JMP, meant to develop and continue [Archives:2002/36/Focus]

BY HASSAN AZZAIDI
Part of Yemen Times efforts for sounding out opinions of Yemeni political and partisan personages from various political affiliations, we sought the opinion of Secretary-General of the Union of People’s Forces Party Mohammed al-Ruba’ie, member of the Joint Meeting Parties (JMP), who has confirmed that the JMP has emerged according to necessities of the current stage in the course of the national action. It has come to continue and grow through practical experiments.
On whether there are variations in attitudes among the opposition parties constituting the grouping, al-Ruba’ie said the JMP was not a response to encounter a certain stage or period but to face and deal with all coming periods. It was not against certain party or authority but rather responding to requisites of the present stage for consolidating foundations of the genuine political pluralism and to deal with practices violating content of the democratic action.
Responding to speculations some leaders of the PGC predicting the opposition parties alliance as temporary not exceeding the period of registration related to the parliamentary elections, al-Ruba’ie made it clear the PGC attitude is reckless and proceeds from a narrow-minded stand. He added that it would be better for the PGC to keep its composition and balance for facing such similar stands. Future conditions and stances could have many aspects and instances that would not comfort it continues to adopt such a superficial views.
He added that “All parties of the JMP are unanimous that the period of voters registration is a stage for confirming foundations of the democratic action. Since this is the task all parties of the joint meting have in mind it is no doubt that their alliance is not hostage to the stage of voters registration operation but rather to continue for much longer periods. As for the Islah party it is not different from other opposition political parties grouped within the Opposition Coordination Higher Council .
As opposition parties it is the task of all to maintain our course that may lead us to a real practice of democracy despite all the ways meant for emptying it from its right and proper contents.”

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