Anti-qat project [Archives:2007/1033/Opinion]

By: Samia Al-Aghbari
I was shocked at the way Yemeni members of Parliament dealt with the qat issue while discussing a project to fight and organize qat planting and trade. Instead of discussing terms of the qat ban, many MPs began defending qat planting and trade, maintaining its various advantages for individuals and society as well. However, such MPs exaggerate qat's advantages.

Instead of highlighting priorities and concerns of citizens and their need for reasonably priced food, accommodation, clothing and medicine; tackling poverty and unemployment or discussing the risks associated with corruption, the MPs supported farmers to continue planting, trading and consuming qat. They neither indicated its negative aspects and risks to both individuals and society, nor did they think of alternatives to qat.

Those defending qat provided numerous justifications to support their objection to the anti-qat law under the pretext that qat draws youths' attention away from other risky habits like alcohol and drugs. They added that pesticides aren't used only for qat, but they're also used on fruits and vegetables; thus, authorities should ban importing poisonous pesticides, not qat planting.

What shocked me most is that some MPs confirmed that many Yemeni families and individuals depend upon qat as their main source of income, with one MP noting that nearly 90 percent of Yemeni families depend on qat planting and trade as their main source of income. Consequently, if the new law bans or restricts qat planting and trade, it may cause a huge catastrophe. Additionally, levying high taxes on qat and qat sellers is bound to affect the incomes of numerous families.

On what do these MPs base their judgment because there are no official statistics supporting their words? If they are correct, Yemen actually will experience a catastrophe simply because qat is a locally-consumed commodity not exported to other countries. It doesn't bring hard currency into Yemen, yet it greatly impacts the environment because qat planting causes soil to lose its fertility and consumes large quantities of water, which is a contributing factor in exacerbating the nation's water shortage, in addition to other social, economic, cultural and health harms.

Numerous studies, research, symposiums and conferences have highlighted issues regarding qat planting and trade, but failed to increase citizens' awareness about qat's risks. Such studies were opposed by officials who support qat planting.

Something that made me laugh was one MP who strongly defended qat planting and holds the view that banning such planting is bound to enrage citizens nationwide, thus leading them to engage in protests and demonstrations. Exactly which citizens does this MP mean? Qat farmers, qat sellers or those who benefit from the qat trade and planting?

Such protests and demonstrations will be based on the fact that qat draws their attention away from claiming their legal rights, since the narcotic substance helps them escape several problems.

The most risky issue involves exploiting religion to support the qat trade and planting. Many Yemenis claim that chewing qat is permissible because the Qur'an doesn't ban it. However, this contradicts a jurisprudence rule noting that the public interest must be preferred to plight, meaning that national efforts are required to eliminate the plight of qat in favor of public interest and health.

MPs who defend the qat trade and planting don't really defend the public interest as much as they defend the personal interests of those who already have qat farms or operate within the qat trade.

On the other hand, those who oppose qat planting, trade and consumption constitute only a small number. Their voices remain unheard because their opposition stems from their will and determination that qat planting and trade are risky.

Ordinary Yemenis, most of whom are addicted to qat, consume the narcotic substance as a type of escape from reality or their inability to solve persistent problems. For simple citizens, qat is the only means to spend their leisure time in a positive way.

Those who support issuing a law to organize qat planting, trade and consumption affirm that the law's main goal is to stop the expansion of qat plantation and increase awareness about qat's risks and negative aspects. They stress the necessity of finding alternatives to qat planting and compensating those subjected to loss after passing the qat ban.

Yemeni society's primary problem isn't due to qat planting, as the main goal is stopping the most risky phenomenon of corruption and all of its dimensions. If such phenomenon is discussed seriously, the qat issue, as well as other issues, will be easy to tackle.

What's the benefit of issuing a law organizing qat planting and trade when corrupt officials control everything? Who will obey, protect and defend the law? Moreover, how can a law like this be applied when citizens are unaware of the risks associated with the narcotic substance?

Yemen's situation necessitates fighting corruption first, in addition to establishing a national strategy to eliminate such a destructive phenomenon.

Samia Al-Aghbari is an active female Yemeni journalist working in Al-Sahwa newspaper and contributes to other media
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