Sheikh Abdullah bin Hussein al-Ahmar: Their (Scholastic Institutes) closure represented a retraction from the goals of the revolution [Archives:2002/34/Interview]

The Yemen Times has seized the opportunity of the 40th anniversary of the 26 September 1962 Revolution to hold a dialogue with Sheikh al-Ahmar the most prominent political figure in Yemen and the Arab/Islamic world. He has been very generous with us to give a thorough account on the great gains and achievements the revolution has brought to the Yemeni people and revealed many things about his relationship with the president, his stand versus closing down of the Scholastic Institutes and some pan-Arab issues.
Q: Forty years of the Revolutions march, what does it mean to you?
A: It means all that it means for the entire people whom it has delivered from darkness to bright light, taken them from prison to advancement and freedom from the situation it had been weighing down their yoke before the revolution. It was an unbearable situation having no similitude in the world regarding isolation, illiteracy, introversion, dictatorship and injustice. The revolution has breathed a new life into us.
Q: How do you assess the revolutions march?
A: The march of the revolution has been permeated with positive acts and negative acts, as is the case with other revolutions.
Q: Has the revolution realized all of its goals?
A: In some fields the revolution has achieved its aims and in some aspects it has exceeded those goals, but in some of them it has not achieved them in full. During the last twenty years there have been many of vital projects and great accomplishments achieved.
Q: How do you describe your relationship with the president?
A: My personal relationship with the president is good, from the beginning up till now. It is undeniable that the president has played a great role in achieving the unity of the Yemen, in reconciliation between Yemen and its neighboring countries, in exploration and investment of oil wealth that is the artery of life and also in the building of big services projects.
Q: You have been a contemporary of various political conditions, how do you appraise the situation in this era of democracy and political pluralism?
A: The existing democratic situation is more a slogan than tangible reality and is in the process of recession. Some years before now, it was much better. Nevertheless, there is a reasonable or rather tolerable margin of democracy at the present time.
Q: What about the local elections experiment?
A: As an experiment, the local council elections had faced many mistakes and excesses, but as regards the principle the elections represented a good accomplishment.
Q: Scholastic Institutes, one of the revolutions gains, is their closure a backing down from accomplishments?
A: Those institutes were actually among the achievements of the revolution and the republican system. Their closure represented a retraction from the goals of the revolution and also an act aborting its great march of science, education and openness. The closure of those institutes caused a shock to the entire people and it is assumed a big unforgivable mistake.
Q: What is your appraisal of the relations with the Gulf countries, especially with Saudi Arabia, particularly after signing of Jeddah treaty?
A: Yemens relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are very good and distinguished, especially after we had concluded the treaty. There is not now any political sensitivities or disputes.
Q: Do you expect Yemens accession to the GCC in the near future?
A: We consider what has been approved by the GCC member states as a step to be followed by others, we hope.
Q: You are well-known of your nationalist and Islamic stands, what is your attitude towards the present tepid stances to the Palestinian cause, as the Yemeni arena has witnessed demonstrations and fund-raising campaigns?
A: The tepidness or deterioration and surrender state of affairs is the responsibility of the Arab heads of state; kings and presidents who have accepted humiliation for themselves and disgrace for their peoples. The solution of the Palestinian cause lies in implementation of the United Nations relevant resolutions and granting the Palestinian people the right to self-determination.
Q: What is your stance regarding the U.S. threats to sisterly Iraq?
A: The American threat to Iraq is in fact a threat to the entire Arab and Islamic nation and the evil intentions of aggression expressed by America and president Bush are targeted against all the Arabs and Muslims and not confined to Iraq. The case of Iraq, if conquered, is like the application of the domino theory to the region. If it is defeated, such an occurrence, would precipitate the defeat of all Arab states and peoples. Therefore, it is not permissible for all Arab Emirs, or Kings or Presidents to keep silent towards such threats or surrender as they have done with regard to the issue of Palestine, They must tell Bush firmly that any aggression on Iraq is an aggression on all the Arabs and all the Arab heads of state, and that they would not adopt the stand of a spectator. They have to tell him that and shake off humility and surrender overburdening them. The more surrender the Arab rulers would demonstrate, the more would Bush, the Americans and the Jews be transcendent in showing their aggression. King Abdullah of Jordan and president Hosni Mubarak of Egypt and other Arab kings and presidents would not accept this disgrace and surrender.
Q: What are the most difficult situations you have faced in your long record of struggle throughout the past forty years?
A: Well, there are many situations. In the beginning there were the military situations in the battles of defending the revolution, then there were political situations following the revolutions stability and the end of wars. They are in fact more dangerous for they represent the greater Jihad, i.e., the political struggle. The political challenges we have been facing are many and more important than what we had faced during the wars on the Yemeni arena.
Q: What is your opinion about the Yemen Times newspaper?
A: I do not have an enough idea about it as I am not good in the English language but I learn from many people that it is a good newspaper. It represents a mirror reflecting the image of Yemen abroad and it is your duty and task as staff of the paper to convey the clear picture of Yemen.

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