CURRENT UPRISING IN SOUTH YEMEN AND REVIVAL OF SAADA WAR
Guest Post by Abu Yemen
The latest mass demonstrations which took place on the 13th of January 2008 in Aden, south Yemen were cracked-down by both the army and the military police who used excessive force to disperse the masses causing the deaths of four demonstrators and more than thirty sustained injuries.
The Yemeni dictator Ali Abdullah Saleh who once claimed to be the pioneer of democracy in the Middle East proved once again to be a mere tyrant, most corrupt and power-hungry. His links with well-known terrorists have been established beyond shadow of doubt. Consequently, the situation in Yemen should always be under observation and therefore extra effort should be given to remedy and rid Yemen and its people from the yoke of this dictator.
The alarming situation in all south Yemeni governorates as well as the four year old war in Saada should convince responsible governments in the world to consider bringing enough pressure on the regime to liberate the Yemeni people from such totalitarian regime. Ignoring the responsibilities of free world governments (USA and Europe) to intervene in order to set right the prevailing situation in Yemen will cause further miseries to the people of Yemen and expose stability and economic interests to hazards and grave risks.
Tackling the political complex should not be dependent on false promises repeatedly undertaken by the dictator to carry out a plan for overall reforms. To this effect, we all remember his earlier promises during the presidential elections and subsequent public speeches made to the people.
On a state visit to Japan two years ago, the dictator of Yemen announced his decision not to stand as a presidential candidate. A few months later, he made the usual u-turn and declared that he was urged by his political ruling part to stand elections for the alleged good of the country.
The major issue in the present political turmoil is whether the unity of both Yemens, north and south, should be maintained or whether there should be a return to two Yemens which was the case prior to 1990. The problem is not in the unity of the two Yemens but the type of totalitarian regime that forced itself upon the people causing wide spread corruption and violation of democratic institutions and human rights.
