As we enter a new millennium, Yemen Times readers say it: “CHANGE IS INEVITABLE!” [Archives:2000/02/Front Page]

This is one of thousands of letters that we have received from readers in Yemen and abroad, pleading for ‘change’. As the Chief Editor of Yemen Times, I saw it as my duty to reflect the desire of our citizens to achieve this change. Even though they may seem desperate and hopeless of any possible change in the near future, by sending us these letters, I think that they still have a little hope left that there will be change. However, most of them truly feel that there is no hope. On my part, I want to prove them wrong. I want to show that there will be change! As a Yemeni, I myself want this change to come, hence I join them in their hope that our leadership will realize the dire need for change to the better.
I know it is not an easy decision. But only the president has the right and the power to make it. He has the power to get rid of all the crooked and corrupt officials. He has the power to change the selfish and greedy individuals surrounding him, because they are the enemies of change, and staying where we are – at the bottom of the list – serves them and only them, and damages the country.
It is about time that we rise to be a proud nation, with strong commitment to develop and improve. It is about time that we realize that change will come, whether we are ready or not. It has happened in many countries all over the world before, and it can definitely happen again in Yemen. We have the natural resources, the oil, the gas, the working force, the strategic location, but what we need now is the commitment. We need a strong commitment in order to bring a halt to the deterioration of our position among the nations of the world.
The president now has the opportunity to mark this year as a beginning for strong and decisive actions in which he will begin implementing a gradual and essential change. He has the choice of bringing new blood into the government and getting rid of the old-fashioned crooked officials that have bled the country of resources. He can make great changes -not only reshuffles- but renewals of ministries and the government, which has been decaying for years. It is time that we bring qualified people from the younger generation that will be able to bring Yemen to the position it deserves to be in the listing of Arab and world countries.
Sometimes, for change to occur, it is important that the leadership generates an inner feeling of commitment to achieve that change. There are many ways to achieve this. But for it to happen, the president must first begin to listen to his conscience before his advisors. He can consult them, but in the end, he must favor the the people. It may take a month or two, a year or two, or even a decade. But we must all understand that change will come no matter how strong the resistance, because today, change has simply become inevitable.
  “President Saleh has to prepare the country for the 21st century. This can only be done by introducing meaningful change into the system. The two foremost requirements for any modern system are accountability and transparency. He cannot continue to give lip service to these issues. He has to show he means real implementation…President Saleh has to lead with more change.” Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Saqqaf (1958-1999)
Walid Al-Saqqaf
Chief Editor
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