Security lost in the state of heightened security [Archives:2007/1097/Opinion]
By: Ali Al-Sarari
We have to discuss the security issue in Yemen in a clearer way than what is perceived now. The approach to that are the questions being raised about the reasons behind current security deterioration. Do these reasons reflect disability or failure on the part of security authorities?
In both cases, disability of security authorities can be linked with the lack of facilities and equipment for the security apparatuses to perform their duty in a better way. The issue may be symptomatic of poor qualification of security leaders and their simple experience in the area. But, the failure of security authorities can be attributed to the nature of security policies applied in real-life situation, as well as the nature of goals the concerned authorities seek to achieve.
Due to its current situation, its is difficult for one to label Yemen among the countries, the affairs of which are run in conformity with the effective constitutions and laws.
For the majority of the world countries, the constitution and law are considered the basis for the daily business. The security apparatuses of many countries worldwide work according to the constitutions and do their job as stipulated by their states' laws.
The Yemeni state is governed by a comprehensive security system, which is concerned with controlling and dominating the country's affairs. The state's affairs are controlled by a type of security system imposed by higher security officials, who, at the same time, constitute the political leadership of the country.
For this reason, a country like Yemen is administered by power of the majority and sometimes with the participation of power forces. In this case, the official security policies applied in Yemen are based on a list of personal interests (or the interests of influential persons). Consequently, ethics of the job as stipulated by the constitution are usually thrown in drawers.
Anyway, no one can say that the deteriorating security condition in Yemen is the result of weak performance of the security apparatuses. Instead, it is the product of unwise security policies that direct duties and goals of security institutions.
Yemen is a country rich with its security installations, but in several cases, the military institutions turn to behave as if they are affiliates to the security authorities. This has been very clear during most of the domestic wars when the army and other military forces were used for purposes other than those stipulated by the constitution. They join any tribal and sectarian conflicts, or any clashes for the sake of illegal plundering of lands.
In other cases, the armed groups, who have relations with influential persons and high-ranking officials, play a major security role, thereby violating the concerned law. Similarly, the official media call armed tribal groups and militants volunteers. These groups are delegated powers to kill innocent people and replace the security forces, which were formed by the law.
In all cases, the security matter in Yemen is run according to the administrative system of arbitrary orders, and not according to the concept of the security institutions that were formed and organized by the law. In the ideal states, the objectives, jobs and duties of security agents must be exercised as stipulated by the law.
However, in the backward countries like Yemen, the administrative and disciplinary style for organization performances of security apparatuses is the basis of discrimination and inequality between recruits.
The main issue that concerns us here stems from a bitter fact, the core of which is the loss of security in the sate of heightened security. The issue is embodied by the tragic consequences of the terrorist bombing in Marib that killed at least six Spanish tourists and two local tourist guides, and injured others.
According to the official statements by President of the Republic and Interior Minister, the authorities obtained information indicating the involvement of Al-Qaeda Organization in the bombing. But such information had nothing to do with identifying the suicide bombers.
Such allegations couldn't help beatify the image of Yemen and its security authorities that claim to explore intents of Al-Qaeda elements. Such behavior foolishly implies a historic and strong bond between security authorities and Al-Qaeda Organization in Yemen.
The use of terrorist groups in the domestic political conflicts is part of the official security policy that remained employed by the authorities for a long time period, particularly after the government found itself obliged to fight with terrorist groups due to pressures by foreign forces such as the United States of America. The authorities haven't quit their mechanism of using the same armed groups while shaping their policies.
Also, they don't remain committed to a clear conduct when they declared their partnership with the United States of America in the war on terrorism. They demonstrated no clear stance during their fight with terrorism as they have been attempting to deceive both parties of the conflict: terrorism and the United States.
This is the primary reason that made the security authorities, which claim to know about all the intents of Al-Qaeda Organization, indifferent toward foiling Al-Qaeda terrorist plots. In the meantime, they exceptionally engaged themselves in fabricating dangerous and immoral security accusations against the journalist Abdulkarim Al-Khaiwan and the so-called the Houthi terrorist cell in the capital city. It is an evident fabrication and those who invent it can find no one to have faith in it. Loss of security in the state of heightened security is the result of invented security fabrications, which authorities are engaged in at the expense of real and authentic security measures.
Ali Al-Sarari is a Yemeni Journalist and a well-known politician. He is the head of the information department at the Yemeni Socialist Party.
Source: Al-Nass Weekly.
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