Al-Shoura [Archives:2003/637/Press Review]

18 May 2003
Main headlines:
– Fighting inside the capital kills seven people
– Long list of cabinet members, indicating no change in policies
– Detainees in Ibb continue their strike,
– Al-Hauta residents demand transfer SARS disease quarantine from residential areas
– Exiles demand lifting sentences against them to return home
– Saudi-Yemeni meting discusses problems of exportation
On tribes and political parties Mr. Khalid Mohammed Hashim wrote an article saying the 22 of May in 1990 had given birth to indivisible twins; the unity and political pluralism. Theoreticians and advocates of the multi-party system had expected to contain tribalism as a political entity and to raise tribalism mentality, through the pluralist political action, from its narrow scope to the national and pan-Arab sphere to form a tributary for the building of the modern Yemeni state, in addition to ending one of the most dangerous social problem represented by tribal revenge.
When pondering this aspect after the elapse of 13 years of unity and political pluralism we find that what the theoreticians were hoping for has turned upside down. The tribe managed to contain the political parties and to say with confidence that the tribe has imposed itself on the parties and the latter have become hostage of it. And we are consequently to find that the phenomenon of party's tribe a tangible reality and rather the party has become the tribe of he who has no tribe. In a quick glance at candidates of the parties nominated to run the parliamentary elections this year, we can realize the extent of the parties' contribution to stabilization of the concept of the political tribe. The tribe was the most influential criterion in deciding the choice of the political parties' candidates.
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