Local Elections and Constitutional Referendum: A Mixture of Bullets and Ballots [Archives:2001/09/Focus]
COMMON SENSE
By: Hassan Al-Haifi
It seems as if when something good ever appears to be in the making in this country, there are elements in society that insist that for the Yemeni people, even the best things in life can be turned into a mockery by mischievous elements that distort all the aspirations of the majority of the people in this country, who seek nothing more than to be dealt with honestly and equitably and to be given a break from all the folly we have made out of everything from religion to politics to wedding celebrations and even to funerals, let alone the democratic process.
While the recently held local council elections and referendum for the unneeded amendments to the Constitution were somewhat hesitatingly welcomed by the majority of sincere citizens, it was clear that the evil monsters that loom over everything that involves national sentiment and the public will have again proven that no matter how much lip service we give to democracy and the pluralistic approach to dictating the public will, there are still many well entrenched people that either fail to understand the sincere intentions of those who have put the hopes of the nation on this approach to deciding the political future of the country. On the contrary, it seems that these elements insist that only they shall dictate the future of the country and it is they who ostensibly and clandestinely control the fate of their people. It amazes any observer that despite the more than 10 years’ experience with democracy and political pluralism, it goes without saying that we have not gotten any closer to really allowing the Yemeni people to decide freely and objectively what is right for the future of the country and who shall be given the mandate for directing the course of the country towards achieving the aspirations of all simple and sincere citizens of the country. On the other hand, it seems clear that the common practices of democracy have become nothing more for all those who have turned every facet of our society into a mercenary enterprise, than another opportunity to fill their pockets and bleed the state coffers to satisfy their own selfish drives and manipulate the public will to suit their own whims.
Notwithstanding all the above, it is just incomprehensible that in a simple democratic process that supposedly determines political will in a peaceful manner, the country turned into a battle ground for power brokers and thugs who care the least about their people’s desire for manifesting democratic practice in a peaceful manner that reflects the cultural and civilized nature of our people. On the contrary, these evil elements have preferred to show that we still have a long way to go before we can turn the political process into a peaceful win or loose contest that is freely decided by the ballot box, rather than the bullet box. What ensued over the last two weeks defies explanation as tens lost their lives for no logical reason except to affirm that the way is still open for the enemies of the Yemeni people to disrupt any activity or function that on the surface seems to be for their benefit, but in the end turns out to be another of those terrible games some people play to suit their own selfish drives and to make a mockery of what might appear a real qualitative leap in the political process, that should eventually drive these monsters out of the political arena and send them to hell for all the mischief they have carried on for so many years, without giving the people any break from their evil deeds.
Why should there be so many lives lost and why were there so many infractions in what should have been a peaceful endeavor ? Obviously, the idea of fair play has yet to enter the minds of those that have had a free hand in determining the political course of the country and failed to do so successfully and honorably. It goes without saying that even political processes are bound to be guided by sound behavior and practices, where the last thing one can envision is to have the guns come out to ensure that the voting process is no more than a clich like all the other cliches we have been fed by the regime, as it tightens its hold over the will of the people more and more, by forcefully implanting its elements at every level of authority, leaving the people with less to hope for as the future becomes at the mercy of these elements and the society undergoes systematic fragmentation and decay in all spheres of life.
If that is not enough, it seems clear that even the ruling parties themselves find it difficult to engage in peaceful political endeavors as they turn to their guns to ensure that whatever piece of the pie they have is not eaten away by their allies and “strategic partners”, which underscores the fact that the constituents of the regime fail to understand that there just has to be some room for what the people view as the logical approach to take: let the ballots decide and put away the bullets forever, before you finish each other off and drive the nation into needless uncontrollable civil strife, which is the last thing the country needs now, considering all the mess they have put the country in for no logical reason whatsoever and by distancing themselves from public sentiment and national interest altogether.
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