Now, It is Time To Look Inward [Archives:2000/26/Focus]

COMMON SENSE
By: Hassan Al-Haifi

With the signing of the Border Accord between the Governments of the Republic of Yemen and the Royal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, we can now, to all intents and purposes say, all external troubles are over! For decades now the Governments that prevailed in Yemen, in all their different manifestations have put the blame of their troubles on foreign interference, influence or instigation. Thus all the instability and unrest were laid to blame on foreign sources. Over the years, however much of the external menace has been brought under control in one form or another, including that which existed when Yemen was still a partitioned country of two sovereign states. One would expect now that the last of the foreign excuses for the ills of the country has been rectified thanks to the signing of the Border Agreement between Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
While the role of foreign forces or circumstances cannot be altogether overlooked in assessing and managing the state of affairs in a country, it goes without saying that if your house is in order, it becomes very difficult for outside forces to have any strong influence in these affairs. Outside forces would find it very difficult to disrupt the normal proceedings of Government and to prevent the general population from leading normal steady lives.
Up to now, many of Yemen’s foreign issues have been pretty much overcome. They can no longer be said to represent an excuse for the unstable situation in the country and for the poor showing in solving the economic and social difficulties that are faced by the country, and which hit hard at the majority of the population. Moreover, it is well directed foreign policy that will do much to avoid all the foreign hassles we may be subjected to, if such policy is geared to lead to the best interests of the nation. If we can safely assume that all that is being said about the Border accord in the official press and media is of any truth, then we can safely assume that we cannot look outward anymore for answers to our predicaments and, accordingly, a more inward orientation would be the only logical course to pursue for the Government to start tackling the general mess that everyone in the street seems to think we are in.
This inward approach the Government must adopt would first of all entail a serious, objective and candid assessment of what it is that seems to make life so difficult for Government and the governed alike. This inward approach would require that the official media and press stop projecting a different image of what the country is actually going through and to be given a freer atmosphere to point out how we really are and who is really responsible. If the Government insists on painting a rosy picture of everything then we are really lying to ourselves and not helping Government face up to the calamities. In fact, transparency is the logical approach for the Government media to take. Transparency enables Government to grasp fully the real tasks that lie before it and thus represent a helpful guide to determine the progress and the inefficiencies of government accordingly. Without this transparency, no one is fooled but the government itself, by all the hogwash that one is fed over the government media.
On the political front, we have to determine really if the constitutional framers had the present political apparatus in mind, when they drafted the Constitution. As a true working democracy, how far have we gone to give empowerment to local government and not government administrations? And how much control do the local communities have over their resources? Moreover, have we dealt with the opposition in the manner that truly manifests that we are indeed a multiparty system? It sometimes appears that the number two party seems to have little weight or influence in responding to the wishes of their constituencies, let alone the other opposition parties, outside the PGC-Islah alliance, who have become literally dcor to impress a foreign audience, rather than an effective force to present a check against excessive domination by any unilateral political machinery. And that machinery has yet to prove its ability in strengthening the national framework and fulfilling whatever can be achieved of the national aspirations of the Yemeni people at large. Therefore, our political situation needs to be seriously assessed in a way that would lead to the redirection of the country politically along the lines of true democracy and the enhancement of human rights, beyond the slogans and cliches, which have now failed to impress even the foreign audiences they are aimed at.
On the other hand, it is time that we have a government that truly is based on transparency and accountability, for much of the inefficiency of Government can easily be attributed to the fact that performance, in its true and felt sense, is rewarded and inefficiency Ð which includes neglect Ð is punished and made publicly known. We can not hear about severe crimes happening within a certain institution, that are inexcusable, yet continue to see the very same officials who run that institution appearing on the TV screen, as though the matter does not involve them or concern them. One would at least expect that these people, no matter what their political weight is, should be suspended, for the neglect that cannot be excused or denied, which led to the occurrence of such crime. This represents the core of the inward approach that must guide future Government in Yemen; otherwise, we will never make any progress towards alleviating the awesome problems that the country is facing. Without accountability in Government, the future will continue to be dim and void of any signs of hope.
Then comes the security situation. For sure, it is difficult for any hopes to be placed on the tourism sector, if tourists are unable to be assured that their hard earned vacations in Yemen will not turn out to be nightmares that outdo the worst thriller movies on the market. There is no doubt that the security situation must be given top priority, if we are also to encourage investments of both Yemenis and foreign investors, who cannot even hope to have their staff’s safety and the protection of their assets guaranteed from any surprise attacks by mysterious embezzlers coming out of the desserts or mountain hideouts. There is no question that Yemen’s past security paradise has been negated by the increase of robberies, burglaries, murder and all the other crimes which Yemen was almost free from just a decade or so ago. Thus when we assess the security situation, we have to look at the causes of each problem faced by the security apparatus, and to determine what can be done within the security apparatuses in the country Ð and they are numerous – to make them more effective against deterring crimes before they occur, rather than just find out:”Who done it?” and why is it that so many criminals get away so easily with what they perpetrate?
There is also a need to determine what are the needs of the security apparatus. One cannot expect the chief of security in Al-Jouf or Marib to deal with the security problems there with only one car and a handful of men to support him. Moreover, security forces will not be adequately motivated when their salaries and wages hardly pay the cost of bread for their families during the month, let alone provide them with any amenities. Thus, it would almost seem fair to assume that corruption would be excusable in the security forces, if they are extremely underpaid and if they have no motivation or proper incentives to encourage them to carry out their duties to the highest professional standards expected of them. On the other hand, the law must be enforced in a fair and equitable manner, with no immunity to anyone, otherwise security forces and law enforcement officers would almost find it unreasonable to enforce the laws on the average citizen, while the wealthy and powerful get away from the most heinous of crimes. Even our security forces do have a heart.
While there are many issues that need a more serious inward examination, it would be sufficient to say that the above represent what would appear to be initial positive directions for Government to take domestically, now that all our foreign hassles are over. That seems to be what the Government is trying to tell us.

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