SILVER LININGThe groundless fight of Al-Houthis [Archives:2007/1028/Opinion]
Mohammed Al-Qadhi
The state has to act to protect the country from potential dogmatic fighting. There is no reason why the opposition takes action in criticizing what the insurgents are doing; the opposition statement concerning the fight in Sada'a criticized the so-called the excessive use of force in the national and political issues of difference.
But what is the national cause for which the Al-Houthis are fighting? They are fighting for a nonsense excuse which is the right to chant anti-US and anti-Israeli slogans. It is really ridiculous that these people have to die for such meaningless reasons which we all do denounce.
Yes, we do agree with the opposition that the regime has made grave mistakes here and there and even in handling the issue of the Al-Houthi from the beginning but this does not mean they should not be held accountable for battling the state. In fact, the state has the right to crash any armed groups that are challenging law and order and embroiling the country into the turmoil of violence and in-fighting for stupid grounds. These people have the right to peacefully express their views just like any other parties but according to law.
It is the country and the citizens that are paying the bill of such confrontations; the cost of the first two rounds of the fight in 2004 and 2005 are over $600 million; this is really too much for a fragile and weak economy like ours to bear. We could have channeled this amount of money for a number of development projects. Such kind of fighting is bringing severe damage to the country's security, stability and tourism and investment activities.
Yet, the state has to move with the same enthusiasm to protect the rights of the people and bring peace to them wherever they are and regardless of their regions. I mean if the government wants to maintain the respect and sovereignty of the state, it should deal with its people on an equal basis. The stand of the government towards the dilemma of the people of al-Ja'ashin in Ibb is really disgraceful. The people have been tenting in Sana'a in lookout for a solution to their problem caused by the influential Sheikh and member of the Shoura Council Mohammed Ahmed Mansur but to no avail.
Such practices from the state truly incite the public rage and make them feel happy when the government is in a fix. The regime has genuinely to realize the danger of people taking the law into their own hands, trying to defend themselves against any sort of oppression and injustice just by force.
This is really horrific. But this does not really justify the people fighting each other for fighting and such disorder will mean our catastrophic end. Constitutionally, the state has to fulfill its duties, preventing the country falling into violence.
Mohammed Al-Qadhi ([email protected]) is a Yemeni journalist and columnist.
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