In order to avoid an inevitable catastrophe [Archives:2007/1106/Opinion]
Abdulelah Al-Qadasi
Noble and sincere personalities, intellectuals and political party leaders are now obliged to suggest a practical vision in order to rescue the country from multiple threats that have began to escalate in the southern and eastern governorates. Such destructive threats are increasing over time because of the terrible dominance of corrupt individuals and influential persons who grabbed citizens' lands, and looted public and private property without any legal, constitutional or moral justification. Authorities in those governorates did nothing to stop influential people from dominating other's property and exercising human rights abuses.
Corruption has become rampant in all the government offices without an exception while events, seen in the southern governorates, are merely reactions rejecting the unjust situations that contravene all the human laws and legislations. The way the government confronts sit-ins and demonstrations with treason charges and labels proctors as traitors and enemies of the national unity is responsible for the escalating tensions and exacerbating living conditions, thereby making it impossible for authorities to contain the situation.
As we are anticipating the regime to adopt practical steps for reaching the minimum level of social justice, nothing of this takes place except for widening the living gap between social groups at the expense of the sought equality. The state must have no choice but to open a comprehensive and serious dialogue for suggesting fair solutions in the eyes of the dialoguing parties. And, the persisting issues must be resolved in a way serving the national interests and protecting the homeland via exterminating corrupt officials and influential figures, who are spreading in different state's agencies.
Accusing demonstrators of being traitors and enemies of the national unity may lead to devastating conflicts between the enraged people and the government troops. And, conflicts of this type are usually exploited by the army and security forces to crack down on citizens under the pretext of protecting homeland and enhancing national security and stability.
The duty of homeland protection is not limited to the army since this patriotic duty consists of the inner feelings and sentiments of Yemeni citizens, males or females, youths or aged people. This duty also depends on citizens' loyalty with their government, and such loyalty doesn't exist unless citizens experience social justice, enjoy their rights and feel the dignity of their citizenship. This implies that homeland must not be a private property for a particular group of people, be it a family or a tribe.
The country with all its trees, valleys, pains and mountains is a homeland for every native born and raised in its soil. As said earlier, homeland protection must be a mandatory on every citizen while citizens should sacrifice all that they have for the sake of their homeland's security and stability. But, these words don't mean shedding citizens' blood to ensure stability and continuity of their oppressors, who underestimate their being citizens, insult them, and abuse their rights and dignity.
Yemen is a homeland for the ruler and the ruled as well, and both are responsible for what is taking place and what will take place in its soil. The ruled is accountable for his/her silence and indifference toward the various infringements that lead to corruption, and corruption that leads to destruction. The ruler is accountable for not avoiding the repeated mistakes in running the country's affairs, thereby helping them become persisting threats to national security and stability. There is an inevitable catastrophe unless the ruler reforms the standing situation.
Source: Al-Nihar Weekly
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