Yemen
(Boy is it hard getting any attention on Yemen and away from Dan Rather and the campaigns, even though a free press in Yemen is clearly in the best interests of the US by being in the best interests of the Yemeni people. )
President Bush has said: “A vibrant, successful democracy at the heart of the Middle East will discredit (terrorists) radical ideology of hate.” OK, how about Yemen?
It’s in the Middle East. It’s democratizing: Yemen is one of the very few Arab countries moving forward with power sharing. Almost all the rest are “stuck in the widespread regional syndrome of political blockage or the trap of liberalized autocracy,” according to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
So Yemenis really don’t like US Middle East policies and President Saleh has said: “We are not allies of America or collaborators, but we cooperate with the Americans within the framework of the international community in order to combat the world’s evil, terrorism.” But since when is popularity a prerequisite for promoting democracy?
Iraq is costing billions of dollars and worse yet the lives of our beloved patriots in the quest for a better world. And there on the tip of the Arabian Peninsula is Yemen, with a partially elected (partially appointed) rather effective parliament. It has twelve political parties. There’s even a Children’s Parliament, and Yemen already has elections.
Despite 35% unemployment, with half the population literate, Yemenis are forging ahead, hungry for self determination.
The US could be a little more supportive, if for no other reason than to enrage bin Laden, who often tries to recruit Yemenis directly: “Youth of Islam everywhere, especially in …Yemen, jihad is your duty.” How about as a tribute to the 17 military members who lost their lives in the port of Aden in the attack on the USS Cole?
For example, the State Department could vocally support the Yemeni media, which has been a leading force driving the democratization process. Even school children know that an unfettered media is the linchpin of an informed electorate, that a free press balances the power of the people with that of the government.
Neocon supreme, Paul Wolfowitz recently said: “One of the worst possible ways that power can be abused is to take away the freedom of the press and thereby remove one of the most important mechanisms for ensuring that government respects the rights of its citizens.” All of America would agree with Paul on this one. All of Yemen would too.
Until a few weeks ago, the Yemeni press had been perhaps the least restricted in the Middle East. Then one newspaper got a little too critical of President Saleh. Contravening the law prohibiting retribution against journalists, the West Sana’a Court sentenced Abdulkareem Al-Khaiwani, the editor-in-chief of Al-Shura Weekly, to prison for a year.
Al-Khaiwani received a quick, secretive trial, without full legal council, during the judicial vacation. He was convicted of incitement, insulting the president, publishing false news and causing tribal and sectarian discrimination. The paper was banned for six months.
The Yemeni Public Forces Union believes the sentence “reflects the excessive influence of the executive authority, and its disrespect for the separation of authorities.” A statement from the Joint Meeting Parties said: “Civil rights will not be equally attained unless the executive authority stops controlling the judicial authority.” President Saleh is the Supreme Judicial Council Chairman.
Can the US really bear to let this stand without protest? One Yemeni noted: “What we are facing is an extreme challenge, to defy the outdated and backward mentality that wishes us to regress to a state of dictatorship and oppression. This we resist and will never accept. But if we are alone, we will soon find ourselves in jail.” It appears in Yemen the “rescue ship” is taking on water and may go down altogether.
If it is worth all the effort to move Iraq from a dictatorship to a democracy, isn’t a little effort on the behalf of the Yemeni free press a good investment? The noble Yemeni people are a people hungry and working hard for their democracy. A strong statement from America in support of their freedom of the press is warranted. Colin, Richard, I’m looking at you.
Works Cited
LOOK DOUG CLICKABLE LINKS:
Bin Laden Message to the Iraqis: Bin Laden
Bush quote: Bush
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Working Papers. Middle East series. Number 39, June 2003. pages 6 and 7.
Children’s parliament: Kids Parl
CIA fact book Yemen: CIA
IFEX official charges: IFEX
Joint Meeting Party Statement: Party
Salah democracy statement: Salah
Salah collaborator statement: Salah
Saqqaff editorial: editorial
Wolfowitz: Wolfowitz
