Beheading is less painful than salary suspension [Archives:2008/1122/Opinion]

By: Abdurraqeeb Al-Anisi
To get out of the gloomy political tunnel and stop the terrible economic deterioration, the Yemeni government is advised to take a considerable package of quick practical steps and primary reformative procedures. And, because the political and economic courses are organically correlated with each other and this correlation is crucial to reforming the country's situation, there is no possible way to separate between both vital courses.

The government and its agencies are not recommended to concentrate on repairing the two courses one by one or one at a time since this will mean a breakdown of their correlation. Neither course of the two can have a different context, particularly as the objective and logical goal behind making any political reform initiatives in the present or the future focuses on reshuffling the old institutional structure. The reshuffling needs to be based on new, scientific and practical technical rules that can ensure an effective and efficient management of the country's affairs. Also, these rules have to be dynamic enough so as to prevent financial and administrative corruption, and put a stop to bureaucracy, bribery and favoritism, phenomena that are rampantly exercised in the various, military, security and civic institutions of the Yemeni governorate.

From a another perspective, concept of the comprehensive political reform may be summarized in ensuring continuity of the political, unionist and democratic conduct, which in turn has to be based on the commitment to the principle of pluralism and respect for the peaceful transfer of power. Officialdom has to show more respect for the legitimacy of nomination and ballot boxes.

As an essential political demand, reform has turned to constitute a common denominator, which in principle, is agreed and backed by all Yemeni people irrespective of any technical, theoretical and tactical differences or any incompatible viewpoints. It goes without saying that the sought political reform process, expected to be undertaken in the near future, may not have any value, significance or feasibility unless its effects and positively reformative results are directly and evidently reflected in recovering the country's ailing economy and improving its citizens' living standards.

At this point, we can understand well the essence and nature of the prospective comprehensive reform program, as well as the risks associated with its relevant tasks, dimensions, horizons and goals. The matter requires all the existing political forces nationwide – government, opposition, parties and NGOs – to understand well that partial and slow reform procedures are impossible to achieve any positive, useful or meaningful results.

In the meantime, implementing the comprehensive reform program is the biggest challenge of the current historic stage to have been ever seen since the national unity was established on May 22 of 1990. Reform is a possible and easy task. It is also achievable and applicable if the government and opposition expend joint efforts and come together for the sake of reform, change and development.

I wrote this article in retaliation for the remorseful and shameful threats directed to me from time to time over my political articles, published in Al-Thawri weekly, which mostly criticize the Yemeni government's failed policies and repeated mistakes.

I have faced threats of beating, humiliation, imprisonment and reputation damage.

I had hoped that this is the limit of threats directed to me, but regretfully they included the suspension and deduction of my low salary if I don't stop writing such critical articles. If applied, such an inhuman and ruthless procedure will definitely lead to the starvation and death of my seven younger kids, who committed no sin. Then people will be shocked when it becomes clear to them that my kids have fallen victims of my critical writing. To behead me is less painful than to deduct or suspend my salary so that my children can survive.

Source: Al-Thawri Weekly
——
[archive-e:1122-v:15-y:2008-d:2008-01-21-p:opinion]