Al-Sahwa [Archives:2004/702/Press Review]

8 Jan 2004
Main headlines:
– Sudanese researcher Dr Makki: Sana'a grouping faces three challenges
– Saudi bars Yemeni products
– JMP calls for solidarity with Sana'a University students
Columnist Zaid al-Shami mentions that totalitarian regimes consider opposition an enemy that should be eliminated and neutralized. For this end such regimes use country's capabilities to fight opposition and get rid of it. Those on the opposition side have no right to education, government employment and would not entertain the rights of equal citizenship.
On the other side the democratic regimes consider the opposition as part of the political system, as a political power working for the country's interest through its activities and programs and permanent monitoring of the authority. Opposition members enjoy all rights and advantages the constitution grants to the people of that country. The opposition there is granted the opportunity to express its visions and ideas through official and private media forums.
We may for example wonder where the position of opposition in Yemen is. Yemen has entered the club of the emerging democracies but the fact is that the opening is getting gradually narrower and the direction is heading towards totalitarianism and despotism. What is required is by the authority is a kind of opposition that does not oppose, pluralism that does not compete. The authority wants an opposition praising the government and mentioning its accomplishments.
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