A Nation for Sale
In about a year from now most Yemenis were
optimistic and enthusiastic about the prospects of change, and for a brighter future. Change was the big title for Yemenis who are dreaming of a better life. A life were justice prevails. At that time the “change” meant bringing back the good values of people. Values that were covered with rust and buried under tons of personal covets.
Truth, right, fairness, justice,.... and many good words have disappeared from our life in Yemen. All we could hear is corruption, kidnapping, killing, theft, and unjustice. Yemenis were dreaming of changing all of that. Tens of thousands of Yemenis joined the
demonstrations, and many others were ready to support them.
It seemed that people got fed up with the continuous deterioration,
not just in their standard of living, but also in their own values and ethics. Although everybody was contributing to the situation, there was no way out, and it seemed that a mass movement was the answer.
Day after day, the well known "youth movement" gathered support, and day after day the same movement's ideals eroded. The masses were under tremendous media pressure and could not realize how the movement has lost its basic objectives.
The struggle became a power struggle. The power sharing arrangement that was prevailing, was no longer acceptable to some partners who thought that they deserve more. They took advantage of the "youth movement" and were able to monopolize it. It was a chance that they could not miss. The long-lived regime was not ready to give up. In this seen the objectives of change took the back stage in a boiling theater.
The competition for the public continued between the regime and the opposition. After a few weeks it became clear that no one is able to precede. The last resort was the military confrontation. The war started between the state and the opposing forces, and again there was a fine line that none of them could cross.
Many asked, and in away still puzzled about it, Why the regime was able to stand?. The government was already weak before all of this started. The authority of the government was only present in certain areas, and above all the government had hardly any financial resources after the blow up of Marib oil pipelines. How did it happen? and what kept the regime from collapsing?
On the other hand there was a tremendous support for the "youth movement", or that is how it appeared. Why did the movement fail to win the battle?
After all, one would wonder, how did the country hold together?. The poor economy continued to function, and people continued to go about their daily life trying to secure their needs. The government continued to pay salaries even at times when many people stopped paying taxes.
The "lousy" system continued to function and people were saved from the consequences of its collapse. Apart from history, psychology of Yemenis, and the traditional structures that saved the country from dropping into a total ِchaos, how did the country sustain economically?
Traditionally the government of Yemen has always resorted to the Gulf Countries. Saudi Arabia in particular has been providing aid to the government for decades. In critical times such as those of 2011, the neighbors must have put more money.
How about the opposition? How were they able to stand for months? Were did they get their finances? How did they finance thousands of people sitting in the streets, and of course chewing Qat!.
Islah, the head of the opposition, has its own big "investments", but is that enough?. Another source is the government itself that kept paying defected military division. This is not enough. The other money from those supporting the movement. Local people, yes, but how much they could afford in crisis time. Money was definitely coming from abroad, from those supporting the Yemen movement. Many noticed the exchange rate of the Yemeni Riyal going up at times a collapse was more logical.
So, values, good values, truth, justice, who cares?. Change, yes, we have it!!!!
The political deal came. The opposition, the regime, both had no choice. Redistribution of power, yes, change, what?... It is sold...!!!
Go and Vote for it.
