Reflections of intellectuals and politicians The road through Yemens unity [Archives:2002/21/Reportage]

BY MOHAMMED BIN SALLAM
YEMEN TIMES STAFF
In celebration of Yemens 12th Day of Unification May 22, The Yemen Times asked some of the countrys leading thinkers and politicians where they think Yemen is going 12 years on. Following are their views.

Mansour Ali Rajeh, the Head of the Industry and Commerce Department at the Cabinets Office, stated the positive achievements that have been established during post-unification are a sign of democracy, pluralism and peaceful transfer of power.
Since unity, Yemens border disputes with the adjacent countries have been resolved. Border disputes with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Eritrea over the Hunaish archipelagos have been successfully resolved. Local councils have had administrative and financial decentralization.
Removing all previous secessionist elements, the declaration of Aden as a free zone has moved it into a free trade market.
At the same time, the economy has suffered in terms of purchasing power of the Yemeni Riyal and high unemployment.
Despite these difficult and deteriorating conditions, I believe that a certain kind of healthy atmosphere for investment should be provided. The individuals income will improve for the better. In order to get a peaceful and fair country we have to get rid of corruption throughout the country, Mansour Ali said.
Declaring unity in May 1990 has resulted in largest transitional period in the twentieth century, not only at the national level only but in the entire Middle East. Ever since, there has been so many achievements and developments either social, economic, cultural, political or on the field of freedoms including the freedom of the press and human rights.
We have different opinions, but there is quite good scope of democracy and freedom of expression. Plurality, passing the party law, election law and local authority law bear testimony to this fact.
Since 1990, Yemen has been witnessing important political changes attracting attention of researchers and writers in the world due to their local and regional dimensions and effects.
After unity, changes included democratic changes, reflections of the 2nd Gulf crisis, parliamentary elections in April 1993 and the political crisis during 1993-94 which culminated in the civil war of 1994. All those events were important in shaping the new political development in Yemen.
In this respect, we have shed light upon this important event in the history of Yemen during the era of the Yemeni unification.

Ibraheem Hussein Mohammed, a prominent political figure, said that during the post-unification era, people have become disappointed particularly during the 1994 civil war.

The era of political unrest
The political unrest broke out during post-unification, culminating in the 1994 civil war.
Since the 1994 civil war, Yemen lived under difficult and pitiable conditions, including instability, and tribal clashes, Hussien Mohammed said.
The investment conducted by both the private sector and the foreign sector has been restricted and limited. Generally speaking, after 12 years, Yemenis are still desiring a little change that could improve their living standards. The future of the Yemeni unification during the coming years seems to be accompanied by negative consequences which threatens the stability of the country, Ibraheem Hussien noted further.

Abduraheem Mohsen, a prominent political figure, said that the Yemeni society is disappointed during the aftermath of the 1994 civil war due to the wretched living conditions and the trade and that has been deteriorating rapidly.
Health sectors, education, high increases of the unemployed, people living under the poverty line and financial and administrative corruption in all its aspects has added insult to injury. I believe that encountering the crooked and the corrupt is a sacred duty to get rid of the current difficult conditions, Mohsen commented.

Gamal Mohammed al-Goabi, a prominent leader at the Nasserite Party, said that during the pre-unification era cultural conditions and the expression of freedom and pluralism were in lamentable conditions. During the post-unification era, things have completely changed. The 1994 civil war was a serious twist in the history of Yemen.
There was a certain kind of political disturbance and the autocratic system prevailed. Despite the existing of opposing forces, it had no effect in the political arena at all. Expression of freedom has witnessed a considerable slackening. Economic conditions has been also recessed. Social unrest has resulted in inevitable consequences including begging, unemployment, and people living under the poverty line. It has resulted in an inescapable economic predicament, Gamal Mohammed said.
The administrative status has been greatly deteriorated and this can be clearly detected in our day-to-day life. Undoubtedly, unemployment has become one of the most apparent economic and social problems, especially following its sharp rise by 40% as a result of recession on the market. Such circumstances add many restraints to economic and social development which necessitate a serious move to straighten the infrastructure.

Dr. Mohammed al-Afandi, the Chairman of the Yemeni Center for the Strategic Studies, stated that the achievement of the Yemeni unification is a resounding victory at both levels, Arab and Islamic. It is a candle-light that came in a time, after the world witnessed a certain kind of segregation and isolation.
At the local level, al-Afandi said, it is a culmination of struggle of the Yemeni people and representing a resounding victory with regard to achieving the goals of Yemeni unification.
Yemen has faced so many trial and tribulations through its long history. There are so many challenges that impede the process of progress. The main challenges include achieving an economic boom, alleviating poverty, improving the individuals income and adhering to the principles of the equal job opportunities.
On the other hand, the democratic practice and enhancing its experience constitutes a big challenge for Yemenis. Yemenis are well aware of this challenge and the necessity to establish an economic trade union as an indispensable factor, he said.
There has been a lack of balance by the absence of any economic and social ties in the one place, and between development programs and human resources in the other.

Ahmed Saleh Assalami, a member at the Central Committee for the Yemeni Socialist Party, (YSP) deals with this topic from different angles.
The Yemeni unification remained the main concern of the Yemenis as well as the political parties except a few people. We at the YSP, the Yemeni unification preoccupied our minds and became an integral part in our platform since the formation of the Arab Nationalists Movement (ANM) in Yemen and then the National Front, Assalami said.
After extensive meetings between the two Yemeni leaderships of the two countries at that time, starting from the Cairo Agreement in October in 1972, Tripoli Statement in November in 1972, the Aden Summit Agreement in November in 1989 and Sanaa Agreement in December in 1989, everything was facilitated between the two countries. A kind of hatred was removed among Yemenis.
On May 22nd, 1990 the republic of Yemen was born. It is a memorable event in the history of Yemen. The flag of Yemen was lifted for the first time in Aden. Major political forces were formed.
There was a certain kind of ideological instigation which resulted in murdering some prominent YSP leaders. There was a new coalition among the Islah Party, Brotherhood Moslems and Peoples Congress Conference (PGC) against the YSP. There was an oppression against the socialist leaders and the unity agreements were marked by wheeling and dealing. The YSP attitude towards these attitudes was characterized by extreme patience and that the unity would be achieved.
The YSP willingly accepted the unity and then it was rejected in a peaceful manner. Then political unrest began to intensify between the two parties, the YSP and the PGC. The 1993 elections was held and everybody knew the results of them. Consequently, the National Dialogue Committee was formed to find an immediate reconciliation between the two parties, but unfortunately it cam to a deadlock.
The situations began to be aggravated and the conflicts broke out in Amran. In this respect, the war continued and the proclamation of secession was announced. There were internal and external forces which had a great effect upon the 1994 civil war. The 1997 elections were held and the YSP didnt take part in these elections. The Secretary General of the YSP was banned to take part in the presidential elections.
Cultural, economical and military conditions have since deteriorated. More than 43 percent of families live under the poverty line and the number of the unemployed have reached 40 percent.
There is a reduction in the purchasing power of the Yemeni Riyal. There is a big gap between the rich and the poor. The living standard conditions of the middle class people have been deteriorating.
We dont blame unification for such deterioration. There are other issues responsible.
Unification means justice, equality, improvement and development for the benefit of Yemenis, Assalami said.
The Islah Party and the PGC won the parliamentary elections and what is needed is to fulfill promises that have been made. We hope more success and prosperity to the Yemeni unification and the Yemeni people, Assalami concluded.

——
[archive-e:21-v:2002-y:2002-d:2002-05-20-p:./2002/iss21/report.htm]