Weapons of mass destruction [Archives:2008/1218/Opinion]
Moneer Al-Mawri
When foreign researchers discuss Yemen's problems, they attempt to be more objective. They also warn against Yemen changing into a failed state. I don't know when our state proved being successful in order to be feel concerned about its potential failure. Our state has been failed since the very beginning and there is no need to worry about this fact.
And, as researchers don't know Yemen like I and other Yemenis do, they deal with things as they appear and diagnose symptoms of the disease, but never investigate the real causes of the disease or sources of the pain. As a result, they describe the primary challenges currently facing Yemen as follows:
One: The issue of South Yemen, which is being described by President Saleh and senior ruling party leaders as “meaningless”, while in fact it made them concerned during the daytime and overnight.
Two: The inflammable Houthi-led rebellion in Sa'ada for the sixth time, plus its expansion to the provinces of Al-Jawf, Dhamar and Sana'a before or after the latest presidential elections, particularly as Saleh doesn't see the rebellion as “meaningless”. He rather sent negotiators to Qatar and dealt with Houthis as a real field force that defeated his army troops.
Third: The problem of Al-Qaeda Organization in the Arabian and its past collaboration with the regime. Despite the fact that Al-Qaeda in Yemen is not that strong in a way posing a real threat to the current authority in Sana'a, it encourages other foreign forces against Yemen's regime and attacks foreign interests in the country. The Qaeda Organization in Yemen has become more able to change Yemen into a starting point for launching massive terrorist offensives outside Yemen, most notably as the regime exploits Al-Qaeda as a means to beg money from foreign organizations, however, it doesn't exert hard efforts in fighting Qaeda comrades.
Fourth: The problem of pervasive tension among people and opposition parties' bases because of rampant corruption, oppression, barbarism and piracy. In the meantime, we don't know what Yemen armed forces may do if people revolt against comprehensive oppression the government practices against them. Iran's Shah was the fourth strongest power in the world when the Iranian people revolted against his corruption. That was only one year after President Saleh assumed power in north Yemen.
Fifth: The problem of presidential replacement and competition over legacy. This is also an ambiguity about effectiveness of a president amid absence of real democratic tool, under which contenders rely on ballot boxes, not no the armed forces, to achieve their dreams of assuming power. I hope that Yemen doesn't experience conflict between the central security personnel and republican guards over who will be the next President.
Conflict over power
This is the real problem (conflict over power) as visualized by foreign researchers. They hold the view that the problem is urgent and requires workable solutions. In the meantime, we agree with those researchers that the problem is dangerous, but we differ with them over its causes. The problem and its alikes are merely symptoms of a dangerous disease, which is the source of all pains in Yemen.
Yemen's current authority is the source of all these pains, particularly as we are currently suffering the negative consequences of its poor policies. Since the current ruler assumed power, his policies have not only threatened our lives, as they will also continue threatening lives of next generations.
The current leadership in Yemen exercises absolute financial, administrative and military powers, however, it behaves in an irresponsible way. This leadership, without an exaggeration, can be described as “Weapon of Mass Destruction” due to the absolute powers it holds. The way this authority behaves may lead to fragmenting the nation and threatening its future, plus destroying all what Yemenis have so far built throughout their history.
Having made a deep glance at the above-mentioned five problems highlighted by foreign researchers, we would have realized that the current authority in Yemen is their sole source. This authority is the primary reason for formation of Faithful Youth Organization in Sa'ada and its policies are responsible for escalated political congestions in the southern governorates.
Source: al-masdar.com
——
[archive-e:1218-v:16-y:2008-d:2008-12-22-p:opinion]
