silver liningPlease do not ask for more trouble! [Archives:2006/932/Opinion]

Mohammed Hatem Al-Qadhi
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The hysteric media barrage the political regime is launching against the opposition parties entails a bad omen of the coming few months prior to the presidential and local elections. Upon hearing rumors that the former president of the South Yemen Ali Naser Mohammed would run for office, the regime has opened up the question of the mass graves of the January 13, 1986 Aden, bringing into mind of the Yemeni people the agonies of the infighting and reviving the bloodshed memories and hatred sentiments.

Again, the state-run- and -financed media have also tried to revive the hostilities between the socialists, saying that the socialists of the North have controlled everything and left nothing for the socialists of the South.

Last Thursday, the 26 September newspaper of the army said the US embassy had given the government some important documents about the South during 1980s. It described these documents as important, revealing secrets of the conflict between the leaders of the socialist party at that time and other relevant issues to their term in office.

This is really stupid. What does it mean to incite such kind of sentiments? Won't this hamper the national unity and stability of the country? They always say the unity is a “red line” and a taboo that must not be touched whatsoever the reason. I agree with my colleague Jamal Anaam when he said that the unity of the political parties is a part of the overall unity of the country. President Ali Abdullah Saleh has been always giving sermons on the importance of keeping the country united, burying the past hostilities and looking ahead for a better tomorrow. Why now recalling the past with all its miseries and pains? Won't this stir up the anger the people of the South who are now lamenting the pre-unification era wherein law and order was respected and cherished by everybody, despite the other wrongdoings of the socialist regime.

One can not really spell out the unwise and unruly discourse of the political regime and the ruling party media only in the context of the substantial impasse they are going through.

The political regime used to keep an iron grip over everything, even the opposition parties, sorting out differences with them through bargains and deals. But, when it has found out that these ways will no longer work out, it is going nuts and is behaving like a child who holds a gun and starts firing against everybody without knowing the consequences.

The ruling party's conflict with the Joint Meeting Opposition parties' coalition over the election committee and the decision of the opposition to mount its opposition against the election committee way of running the voters' register update aloof the political parties, and its threat to agitate the public protest against such measures- all have drive the political regime crazy. The regime of Saleh knows the grave consequences of running the election this way without the involvement of the political parties. It understands that even if the opposition takes part in voting and refuses the results because the election committee conducted the election committee alone, then hell will break loose. The election winner will not be legitimate and this might lead to protests country wise if the opposition continues to uphold this firm position. I m not here trying to defend the opposition but their demand to guarantee a fair play, which is, in fact, the first good step the opposition has taken and must go ahead with it. Otherwise, absence of election fairness will lead to nothing but frustration and disbelief in a democracy that brings no change.

Hey guys wake up and do not ask for trouble. This is not just a small trick as you always make. The consequences of instigating such sentiments and reviving the past memories of the South during the socialist are grave. For God's sake do not play with the fire and embroil the country into the turmoil of further mess and trouble. I can behold our political life clouded with suspense and fear of the coming few days.

We are already plagued with heavy problems and challenges at different levels. Yemen can not afford more trouble and crises. Our regime has been presenting initiatives and proposals to reform the whole world problems, reform of the Arab League, UN and the recent one is to be delivered the Arab League Summit concerning Arab solidarity. This is really stark madness. Our people in charge should better think about our own challenges and how to go out of this critical time in our history wherein the whole system is likely to collapse unless serious and earnest actions are taken immediately.

Let us keep our fingers crossed in the hope that the regime will realize the serious consequences of its stupid tricks on the country and its future hanging in the balance. Don't you think so?!
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