I was chatting with a Yemeni expatriate in Riyadh when I asked him about the reasons, both political and otherwise, behind the riots, mass demonstrations and bloody protests that have engulfed southern parts of Yemen recently. Unhesitatingly, he said that all these acts are a planned conspiracy. “What is happening has nothing to do with the false claims of some exiled voices who reiterate that these protests are organized on purely economic reasons such as the sharp increase in the prices of fuel and foodstuff. These riots are fueled by regional and international powers so as to undermine the unity and stability of Yemen. “In simple words, these timely and well-organized protests are not just a natural and spontaneous reaction from people against what they believe to be a social inequality. The aim is to put an end to the unity of Yemen.” It happened so that night while a private Yemeni TV channel was broadcasting a live talk-show hosting two political figures, one representing the Yemeni government and the other defending the opposition. The debate was full of insane accusations from both sides. The Yemeni government is apparently stressing that unity is a sacred, untouchable doctrine and that nobody has the right to discuss it. Opposition, on the other hand, is determined to go far with its requests that nothing is off the table, even the unity itself. The recent wave of riots and protests coincides with the big political challenges Yemen faces, inside and outside. Yemeni security forces are carrying out a massive manhunt for Al-Qaeda operatives who find Yemen a save haven for training, recruitment and regrouping. Al Huthi group, a small pocket of Shiite fighters operating from mountainous areas of northern Yemen, has launched several attacks on the Yemeni forces in the past three years. Somalia, only few kilometers from Yemen's southern shores, is awash in deep-seated political and factional confrontations between the government and the insurgents. As the fighting there intensifies, thousands of refugees are fleeing their war-torn zones heading for Yemen's southern coasts adding more to the already deteriorating human situation there. Economic woes are another reason of people's anger and despair in Yemen. With prices of fuel and foodstuff continuing to rise, impoverished and low-income elements of society are evidently impacted. Many are unable to make their ends meet. Revenues from tourism have also declined sharply because of the global economic downturn. The hard economic times are unparalleled in the country's recent history. However, advocating a military solution for the problem is not workable. Military confrontation between the government and its adversaries will bring nothing but more misery and destitution to Yemenis. A diplomatic solution to the problem requires that both sides work together to bridge the gab between them and restore confidence and, more importantly, address intriguing issues that affect ordinary people. As a sign of serious involvement in addressing domestic problems, the Yemeni government should forcefully combat poverty, corruption and inequality. Serious reformist steps should be taken to block any separatist moves from gaining momentum. Government-imposed restrictions on certain opposition newspapers are pointless and are disastrously affecting freedom of expression. Gulf States also must recognize the strategic significance of Yemen's stability and economic prosperity. Instability there poses a devastating threat to all Gulf States. Gulf States are required, more than ever, to look towards investing in Yemen. The labor market there is a great asset to Gulf's economies, which are still reliant heavily on laborers coming from the Indian subcontinent. In conclusion, Yemeni integrity must be persistently preserved and strenuously protected. But this should not be used as a pretext to suppress journalism or deny people their natural right to be equally represented and that such rejection is what damages any prospects for a viable unity regardless of how strong this unity may look like. – SG The writer can be reached at [email protected] __
