Government and opposition exchange of accusations indicates looming crisis [Archives:2006/928/Front Page]

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March 13 2006

SANA'A, March 12 ) Woman Journalists Without Constraints (WJWC) and Al-Nas for Journalism Establishment organized a meeting Saturday, March 11 concerning peaceful transfer of power and the priority of political reform. Many ruling and opposition party leaders attended.

Papers that were presented indicated huge political differences prior to election time. Socialist Party General Secretary Dr. Yasen Saeed Noman defended the opposition, saying it is not falsely charging anyone. He said what they are presenting is “A scientific perspective for resolving problems and complications our people suffer. No individual party can undertake this alone. Dialogue remains the only way to reach compromise.”

Noman asserted that economic and administrative crisis is not the root of Yemeni crises. He said there is a missing link in the vicious cycle that controls the entire circle: “The regime is the fulcrum and producer of this circle and it bears the blame.”

Yasser Al-Awadhi, head of the General People's Congress (GPC) bloc, said he hoped the overt cases the opposition raises will be the same ones discussed behind closed doors. He added that the GPC will nominate President Saleh and demanded the opposition be earnest in the presidential election contest. He criticized previous elections, saying they were run unitarily. Al-Awadhi hoped the next election will be dually contested, adding that his party cannot be the ruling and opposing party at the same time.

Islah (opposition) Party General Secretary Mohamed Al-Yadomi said the difference with the GPC is a difference in programs, confirming that the GPC program proved to be a failure. He said political powers, civil society organizations and citizens announced their refusal of GPC administration methods, adding, “We as opposition forces can manage to rule the country in a better way. The polls will be the arbitrator between the ruling party and the Joint Meeting Parties (JMP).” Al-Yadomi confirmed that they will not go to the polls unless there are constitutional and legal electoral guarantees.

Mohamed Qahtan, Secretary of Islah's political circle, assured that the opposition is insistent that presidential elections be an access to change citizens' lives, confirming that the situation will not tolerate anything other than change. He continued, saying that peaceful change is the only method for such change.

Yunis Haza', head of the GPC political circle, considers the opposition's continued criticism of the GPC political juggling, asserting that under President Saleh's leadership, Yemen has become a symbol for peaceful transfer of power. Haza' added that the GPC desires its deeds to coincide with its words. He criticized the opposition parties and described them as parties suffering old age symptoms, saying they attempt to cover their own failure by highlighting others' failures.

Many interjections concerned the matter of enhancing the democratic experience. The meeting's heated debates disclosed deeper political differences that are widening from one day to another. Discussions also disclosed the gap between the ruling party and the opposition, especially realized by the opposition's demand to change the elections committee to pave the way for free elections, which the GPC has refused.
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