Hopes have been raised for a better future, but can they be achieved without bloodshed?
A GOOD COMMENT
Elham Manea
guardian.co.uk, Saturday 19 March 2011
"....I called her on Friday after hearing of gunmen firing on a protest rally in Yemen's capital, Sana'a, killing tens of protesters. The voices of ambulance sirens were clear and loud. They stood in stark contrast to the joyful and hopeful atmosphere of the sit-in camp three weeks ago, when Othman and I participated in a women's rally.
Othman, who is in her forties, was drawn to the Yemeni youth movement just like other members of Yemeni urban civil society. She was inspired by their unyielding belief in the possibility of peaceful political change in Yemen.
The youth, on the other hand, took their cue from the Tunisian uprising. One young female leading activist, Wameth Mohammad Shakir, explained that the day after President Ben Ali fled Tunisia they organised a demonstration in front of the French embassy: "We wanted to tell them, take your hands of Arab world's democracy." A day later a huge demonstration started out of Sana'a University. The uprising was launched and it spread to other cities in Yemen.....
Change is a must. Fuad Alsalahi, a political scientist at Sana'a university, says "a total political overhaul has become a national necessity". He suggests three scenarios: "A drastic reform implemented by the president himself; the street will explode and as a result the country enters a phase of political instability; or the Libyan scenario will repeat itself."
The first is not realistic given Saleh's history in sustaining the politics of corruption in Yemen. The second and third alternatives are certainly realistic given Yemen's power and tribal structures.
There is of course a fourth course: a vision espoused by the youths dreaming of peaceful and sustainable political change – one insisting that Yemenis deserve better than a choice between war and corruption. Unfortunately, this one is smothered by the violent response of Saleh's nervous regime."
A GOOD COMMENT
Elham Manea
guardian.co.uk, Saturday 19 March 2011
"....I called her on Friday after hearing of gunmen firing on a protest rally in Yemen's capital, Sana'a, killing tens of protesters. The voices of ambulance sirens were clear and loud. They stood in stark contrast to the joyful and hopeful atmosphere of the sit-in camp three weeks ago, when Othman and I participated in a women's rally.
Othman, who is in her forties, was drawn to the Yemeni youth movement just like other members of Yemeni urban civil society. She was inspired by their unyielding belief in the possibility of peaceful political change in Yemen.
The youth, on the other hand, took their cue from the Tunisian uprising. One young female leading activist, Wameth Mohammad Shakir, explained that the day after President Ben Ali fled Tunisia they organised a demonstration in front of the French embassy: "We wanted to tell them, take your hands of Arab world's democracy." A day later a huge demonstration started out of Sana'a University. The uprising was launched and it spread to other cities in Yemen.....
Change is a must. Fuad Alsalahi, a political scientist at Sana'a university, says "a total political overhaul has become a national necessity". He suggests three scenarios: "A drastic reform implemented by the president himself; the street will explode and as a result the country enters a phase of political instability; or the Libyan scenario will repeat itself."
The first is not realistic given Saleh's history in sustaining the politics of corruption in Yemen. The second and third alternatives are certainly realistic given Yemen's power and tribal structures.
There is of course a fourth course: a vision espoused by the youths dreaming of peaceful and sustainable political change – one insisting that Yemenis deserve better than a choice between war and corruption. Unfortunately, this one is smothered by the violent response of Saleh's nervous regime."
No comments:
Post a Comment