What Others Say… [Archives:2001/04/Law & Diplomacy]

Mr. Hassan Al-Odeini, Chief Editor of Al-Osbo newspaper, thinks that constitutions are usually flexible enough to cope with changing circumstances. Therefore, he does not agree with applying any amendments to constitutions unless great political, social and economic changes take place. Such changes are not likely to take place in a short span of time, he says.
“Yemen’s constitution was set up to suit two different tastes upon the declaration of unification. After the consolidation of unity, there had to be some amendments to back up the tendency towards a more open political system and an economic system based on open Market policy.” However, he feels doubtful that the amending of the constitution, in 1994 and now, was due to this tendency.
Al-Odeini seems less enthusiastic about local elections either in their endorsed version or in that demanded by the opposition. “In my opinion,” he said, “Yemen needs to build a modern centralized system based one law, order and equality.”
Although a member of the PGC, Sheikh No’man Msad Othman claims to have no idea about the nature of the constitutional amendments. He said that neither he nor the citizens of Al-Dhalea know what is behind the amendments. “The official media promotes amendments without detailing the facts. It would have been better if promotion had followed a series of lectures, or the distribution of booklets and documents about the real nature of amendments, instead of referring them to referendum in a short time, he said.
He concluded by questioning the purpose of amendments, whether they are in the general interests of people or only serving a particular group.
The Yemeni Socialist Party (YSP) has for a long time been calling for decentralization and for local councils to develop democracy in a sense that all people can practice it, manage their lives, handle their shortcomings, etc., according to Mr. Abdulghani Abdulqader, member of the political office of the YSP.
Despite all shortcomings, violations and the attempts to control results of elections, Mr. Abdulghani viewed Local Councils Elections as a promising start that will, in the course of time, be more developed. “People must not misunderstand our position and treat it as contradictory with our principle. We want to strengthen the beginning and reveal violations and show how to reject them,” he said.
He looks upon the appointing of LC chairmen by the government as a kind of clinging to centralization which is a result of lack of confidence in these councils. “This will not help the experience prosper. There will be a kind of contradiction between elected councils and appointed leaders. Unless leaders are also elected, many differences will be bound to emerge,” he said.
As for the constitutional amendments, “At this particular time, I think that they will deepen the national divide because they follow a political crisis when the country is in dire need for reconciliation upon which amendments might be more acceptable and appropriate, he said. “I think that the constitutional amendments help a particular party to be in power until it illegally reaches the position of one-party-rule.
Mr. Mansoor Ahmad Saif, Information Dep. chairman in the Supreme Election Committee (SEC), talked about measures pertaining to the referendum on constitutional amendments and local elections and said “We have started carrying out an information plan by conducting a campaign to promote awareness in all the media through many series of programs. This plan includes many stages starting with the awareness promotion, covering activities of the SEC and covering activities of the observation committees in districts and the other sub committees.”With regards to the awareness promotion campaigns, he said “We maintain the interest of people to participate in the upcoming elections through different techniques including anthems, presenting shows of the legal and constitutional texts and acting scenes. Within the information campaign there will be several interviews with people concerned in the SEC on TV so as to elaborate more on many issues relating to these elections, voting process and voters.
The election guide has also been prepared, in which some annexes on the rights and duties of candidates are noted down. This guide will be distributed in the field so as to help candidates and to stand them on a better stead regarding their rights and duties. They will also be used by committees as a visual reference that will help facilitate their work to enforce the law.”
With regards to the international organizations avoiding monitoring the upcoming local elections, he said “Local elections are an administrative and not political activity so local organizations monitor them. It is enough that local organizations take part in them. A number of local organizations have applied to monitor these elections. On our part we will do the best we can do to provide the facilities possible. However, we can’t afford the expense of inviting foreign organizations to monitor these elections.””Should we talk about the ensuing local elections, we have to consider all its aspects and all the parties involved: the people and the two authorities concerned legislative and executive. Local elections have been endorsed both in form and content by the two authorities. Now it is up to the people to have the final decision on them, constitutionally at least,” said Hafid al-Bukari.
He added: “Personally, I do not see any substantial content in the constitutional amendments in keeping abreast of the international developments taking place world-wide.
“I may not be exaggerating the point if I say that the current constitution has been formed to meet the times, and the political, cultural and social conditions that are ahead of our time. If that is the case then it is only proper that the constitution be amended to meet the time we are in. And since the people will vote either in favor or against these amendments, it’s they who have the final say. Even if the people decided to “tar their faces again”, as one of the people commenting on those who will vote for these amendments, referring to the time when the Imam called the people to put tar on their faces so as to protect them and they did that.
As for the ensuing local elections, though it is an important step, paving the way for a healthy democratic and administrative experience, many problems and new wrong deeds may appear as a result, mainly due to the limited resources. For example, one may wonder how many projects and facilities can these councils’ members establish if we take in mind the fierce and severe fight they will have to attain privileges, expenses, credits, cars, etc before even thinking of improving the life conditions of their people!
The other question mark is “What are the main resources of these councils? aren’t they from the people themselves
So ultimately the people will come to realize that these councils are nothing but money-collecting funds, abusing what will be collected from the poor people, especially in such weak administrative systems in the country, fragile awareness level on the part of people and weak sense of responsibility on the part of officials. This happens at a time when constitutional amendments are calling for making wise use of expenses through extending the parliamentary and presidential elections terms for two extra years. However, despite this proposed declared policy, expenses will be spent lavishly every two years on the local elections.
All in all, it seems that there is no other option. Therefore, it is only advisable to interact with what is possible rather than having a passive stance that will breed nothing new.”
 

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