The opposition’s lexicon and Mr. President [Archives:2008/1217/Opinion]
Mohammed Shamsaddin
Seemingly, the ruling General People's Congress (GPC) and its chairman Mr. Ali Abdullah Saleh don't like to use the opposition- established lexicon of terms to express certain problems, which the country is currently undergoing. Therefore, President Saleh harshly criticized members of his party in one of his speeches, claiming that they are following terminologies known to be used by the opposition.
He further said, “The ruling party members, who admit that a crisis exists, are wrong, and it is them who face a crisis. The presidential criticism of ruling party staff came following a speech by GPC Secretary-General Abdulqader Bajammal, who is also a former Prime Minister, when he said that “The military retiree's crisis has been almost resolved.”
Mr. President's annoyance about the word “crisis” compelled him to deliver a tough speech during one of the ruling party's extraordinary meeting. He pointed out that postponing the upcoming parliamentary elections is impossible as such may imply admitting that a crisis really exists.
Mr. President's criticism of his party's staff for using the term “crisis” was preceded by another criticism against them over their talk about corruption, however, he spoke frankly with his party staff ahead of the most recent presidential elections that gave him another seven-year term, saying, “I don't want to be an umbrella for corruption.”
“Terminology War”
The one, who observes speeches of the ruling and opposition parties, is bound to realize that both sides are engaged in a terminology war. They tend to rule out terms, which Mr. President doesn't like to listen to, and then replace them with other smoother terms containing the same meaning, but in a way not enraging Mr. President in order for the relation between both sides not to become tense over terminologies.
While giving speeches, Mr. President usually criticizes the opposition and says it suffers its own crisis as if using the term “crisis” by the opposition to voice issues it wants to discuss is a curse requiring an ugly reply. The ruler and his ruling party are supposed to use some of their time to correct mistakes they have committed on the ground, as well as address people's issues instead of using the same terminology and charges and at the same time ignore any mistakes and gaps related with electoral platforms of the opposition, its partisan structures and statements made by its leaders.
It is illogical for Mr. President to repeat the same expression in his speeches against the opposition saying it is suffering an internal crisis, however, it is natural for political parties and alliances to be exposed to fragmentations, splits and crises from time to time under the multiparty system. Otherwise, public freedoms and political pluralism will be meaningless.
Admitting crises is not a shame
In the brotherly State of Kuwait, we always hear about repeated crises between Parliament and the government from time to time. So, why Yemen's ruling party insists on denying available crises on the ground, which are no longer invisible. It is not shameful for the party to admit any mistakes it committed while the real catastrophe lies with ignoring any visible mistakes.
If political crises are viewed as one of the characteristics of the multiparty system, the remarkable media attacks and exchange of baseless charges is strong evidence of failure. Otherwise, how the ruler and his ruling party generalize that all those criticizing corruption are merely a group of individuals who lost their personal interests or were corrupt while holding key posts in the coalition government. Mr. President doesn't condemn himself for being the top official responsible for corruption and corrupt officials in the consecutive cabinet formations.
Source: Al-Nedaa.net
The opposition's lexicon and Mr. President
By: Mohammed Shamsaddin
Seemingly, the ruling General People's Congress (GPC) and its chairman Mr. Ali Abdullah Saleh don't like to use the opposition- established lexicon of terms to express certain problems, which the country is currently undergoing. Therefore, President Saleh harshly criticized members of his party in one of his speeches, claiming that they are following terminologies known to be used by the opposition.
He further said, “The ruling party members, who admit that a crisis exists, are wrong, and it is them who face a crisis. The presidential criticism of ruling party staff came following a speech by GPC Secretary-General Abdulqader Bajammal, who is also a former Prime Minister, when he said that “The military retiree's crisis has been almost resolved.”
Mr. President's annoyance about the word “crisis” compelled him to deliver a tough speech during one of the ruling party's extraordinary meeting. He pointed out that postponing the upcoming parliamentary elections is impossible as such may imply admitting that a crisis really exists.
Mr. President's criticism of his party's staff for using the term “crisis” was preceded by another criticism against them over their talk about corruption, however, he spoke frankly with his party staff ahead of the most recent presidential elections that gave him another seven-year term, saying, “I don't want to be an umbrella for corruption.”
“Terminology War”
The one, who observes speeches of the ruling and opposition parties, is bound to realize that both sides are engaged in a terminology war. They tend to rule out terms, which Mr. President doesn't like to listen to, and then replace them with other smoother terms containing the same meaning, but in a way not enraging Mr. President in order for the relation between both sides not to become tense over terminologies.
While giving speeches, Mr. President usually criticizes the opposition and says it suffers its own crisis as if using the term “crisis” by the opposition to voice issues it wants to discuss is a curse requiring an ugly reply. The ruler and his ruling party are supposed to use some of their time to correct mistakes they have committed on the ground, as well as address people's issues instead of using the same terminology and charges and at the same time ignore any mistakes and gaps related with electoral platforms of the opposition, its partisan structures and statements made by its leaders.
It is illogical for Mr. President to repeat the same expression in his speeches against the opposition saying it is suffering an internal crisis, however, it is natural for political parties and alliances to be exposed to fragmentations, splits and crises from time to time under the multiparty system. Otherwise, public freedoms and political pluralism will be meaningless.
Admitting crises is not a shame
In the brotherly State of Kuwait, we always hear about repeated crises between Parliament and the government from time to time. So, why Yemen's ruling party insists on denying available crises on the ground, which are no longer invisible. It is not shameful for the party to admit any mistakes it committed while the real catastrophe lies with ignoring any visible mistakes.
If political crises are viewed as one of the characteristics of the multiparty system, the remarkable media attacks and exchange of baseless charges is strong evidence of failure. Otherwise, how the ruler and his ruling party generalize that all those criticizing corruption are merely a group of individuals who lost their personal interests or were corrupt while holding key posts in the coalition government. Mr. President doesn't condemn himself for being the top official responsible for corruption and corrupt officials in the consecutive cabinet formations.
Source: Al-Nedaa.net
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[archive-e:1217-v:16-y:2008-d:2008-12-18-p:opinion]
