SILVER LININGPGC -Opposition: Dialogue & cloudy surroundings [Archives:2007/1036/Opinion]
Mohammed Al-Qadhi
Again, the ruling PGC and the opposition coalition started a new round of dialogue last week. It is fine that the two sides attempt to find a breakthrough for the serious challenges and points of disagreements over several political and economic issues. The elections law and constitution amendments and some other issues have been put on the agenda of their dialogue.
But, the atmosphere surrounding the dialogue meetings does not reflect any sign of hope that they would reach a positive outcome due to absence of confidence and trust as well as a clear vision about what they genuinely want. While the two parties jumped into their first session of the dialogue, we found that the ruling party spokesman accused the socialist party of supporting the al-Houthi rebels in Sa'ada. How can they make such serious accusations and then argue that they are serious about dialogue with the opposition parties including the socialists. I know this is politics and political tactics, but such a fertile ground of mistrust cripples any positive outcome of such a dialogue that turns into a waste of time and effort.
I understand that it is the responsibility of the two sides to create a proper situation so as to make their meetings a success. However, the biggest share of responsibility has to do with the ruling party which enjoys full power and handles the decision making process. The ruling party should not expect from the opposition coalition to blindly approve of its government's decisions of going to war with al-Houthis without any background information about the reasons behind the eruption of the conflict again and again. If the opposition or any civil society activists call for and end to the war, it does not necessarily mean that they are supporting the despised insurgency which is condemned by everybody. In other words, such a murky atmosphere of accusation and counteraccusation and media barrage between the two sides does not demonstrate any potential for success for the dialogue between them.
Can anybody tell Interior Minister about journalists' harassments?
Another issue I would like to spotlight is the heated fight between the two parliamentarians, Sultan al-Barakani, head of the ruling party caucus and its member, Abdulaziz Jubari, last week which thwarted the questioning of the interior minister on the increasing harassment and intimidations journalists have suffered. But, what is really ridiculous is the declaration of the interior minister that he has not heard about any violations or abuses of the journalists. I wonder where this man lives? Isn't the Minister of the Interior who should be aware of everything taking place in the country? Hey guys, can any of you go and talk to the minister about the problems some journalists have been facing?
The minister's statement shows, in fact, that the man does not have any respect for parliament, to the journalists or even the public. Is he fooling all of us or is it just the opposite? Such an official statement is really serious as it might be interpreted as a signal of approval on the part of the man and his ministry far all these abuses.
I guess we all agree that since this man has been in office the abuses of press freedom and journalists have never stopped. In addition, he and his officials have been imposing an embargo on the free-flow of information; he refuses to speak to journalists except those working for the state-run media. The man promised last year that there will be a media center at his ministry where journalists would have free access to information. But, the promise, which resulted from pressure exerted on the government by the media and international community to provide free access to information as a key element of any good and transparent governance remains unfulfilled just like many other promises the government has made.
Mohammed Al-Qadhi ([email protected]) is a Yemeni journalist and columnist.
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