Vengeance impacts economic development [Archives:2006/931/Business & Economy]

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March 23 2006

Mahyoub Al-Kamali
Revenge problems in Yemen still exist and negatively affect the country's economic development, as well as project implementation, especially in tribal and countryside regions requiring much attention.

The situation still is pending despite a March 17, 2004 presidential directive dictating the necessity of quickly deciding vengeance cases. Nevertheless, many revenge problems remain unsettled, though some individuals and local authorities have contributed to solving some of them. In this regard, the latest government mediation has led to reconciliation between two tribes in the wake of clashes and exchange of fire due to property disputes over tracts of land.

After a two-year lapse since the presidential directive was issued, a temporary truce was established between Hajjah governorate's Shars tribe and Amran governorate's Bani Mahdi tribe in preparation for finally solving their dispute. In the meantime, security authorities retained six members from the two tribes as a backdrop in a dispute over land ownership, which local sources say are state-owned.

The presidential directive stipulated forming a national committee and other sub-committees to end the revenge phenomenon in Yemeni governorates. The committees selected many cases that were unsettled despite modest progress realized in this regard in comparison with the graveness of vengeance problems in which the president personally participated in solving one of the most dangerous cases.

In implementing the presidential directive, Yemen's Cabinet approved a draft presidential resolution concerning forming a Higher National Committee to deal with revenge issues. The Cabinet instructed taking all necessary measures and arrangements, including holding general reconciliation meetings between tribes to solve their cases. The reconciliation meeting should be called by The state should call such a meeting, which will be binding upon all parties to implement, in addition to pointing out all vengeance issues, settling all problems related to them and treating their causes and impact. The aim is to end the phenomenon for good, thus establishing security and safety in society.

Numerous meetings, symposiums and workshops have been held regarding this phenomenon, with several follow-up committees being established. Some such committees began their tasks, with Dhamar governorate district committees seeming to be outstanding in their activities. Two months after the presidential directive, they clarified that the number of revenge cases in the governorate amounted to 106 resulting in 581 individuals killed. Hadha' district in Dhamar governorate occupied first place in this regard with 40 vengeance cases claiming 392 lives.

The local development process in regions haunted by revenge has been hampered by problems aggravated by vengeance issues. Additionally, the issue of weapons spread and trade has resulted in feeding revenge issues at a time when the government's draft law presented to Parliament concerning organizing weapons possession and carrying remains undecided in Parliament drawers until now.

In implementing state efforts to accomplish local development projects, authorities acted to end the vengeance phenomenon, achieving some solutions to problems from which Abyan governorate has suffered. Efforts exerted by Governor Farid Majwer succeeded in defusing revenge problems between two tribes on the basis of respect, cooperation and a pledge to abandon any aspects of violence and instigation of conflict and enmity. Local authorities there also succeeded in signing a five-year reconciliation contract regarding revenge issues.

Such a contract also was Amran governorate district citizens' response to the president's call to end the revenge phenomenon. Efforts also succeeded in Al-Beidha governorate where tribes signed a five-year reconciliation agreement whereby vengeance matters will be tackled and solved.

Local authority officials say results of the past two years' efforts to solve Yemeni society's vengeance issues still are meager in the face of hundreds of pending cases. Officials urge the necessity of solving the issues' causes as a major condition to conquering them. Such efforts should be accompanied by religious awareness campaigns that stipulate prohibiting killing individuals except by law and concerned authorities. Such campaigns also should enlighten citizens on the consequences of personal revenge at family, tribal and societal levels.

Most recent studies emphasize the importance of expanding social and media participation in enlightening the public about the danger of vengeance via intensive religious enlightenment programs devoted to showing Islam's stance on revenge. Studies also urge media to tackle revenge's consequences, as well as join efforts to overcome its negative results on national reform and development.

The revenge phenomenon's spread has resulted in urging many donor countries to abstain from maintaining their assistance and many investors have ceased investing in areas where tribal conflicts have spread, leading to tourism activity recession.

Studies found that local development is flourishing in stable regions where state and local authorities are able to carry out development plans and find solutions to society's problems, as well as providing job opportunities, building roads and involving inhabitants in implementing services and development projects in the countryside.
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