On May 22, 1990, south Yemen (Democratic Republic of Yemen) and north Yemen (Yemen Arab Republic) unified, aftter being separated for about 40 years. In 1994, a war broke out, demanding South Yemen separation as claimed by Saleh's government. Many people were killed as a result of the war but Yemen remained united.
A political movement by the name "Harak" was formed in southern Yemen, demanding South Yemen independence. Harak is accusing northern Yemenis of stealing lands and properties from southern yemenis, which is not true! By generalizing, it's clear indication, Harak movement is following the same philosophy of Saleh's regime. To be fair, the lands, properties, etc. claimed by the Harak to be taken away by northern Yemenis were in fact distributed by Yemen government among high ranking government officials from both northern and southern Yemen. Yemen citizens in general are being depressed by Saleh's regime either in the south/north part of Yemen. The question is, is separation what southern Yemenis want? Fortunately, many southern Yemenis are against separation and for unity!
I was told by a friend of mine from Yafai, which is in southern Yemen, anyone raises South Yemen flag there is considered pro-Saleh. That shows how much southern Yemenis value unity. We all have been mislead by Saleh's regime for many years but our strength remains in our unity. I have said this before, but will say it again "20 years ago, we only unified the land but our revolution unified our hearts and souls!" Basically, Harak movement does not represent the general public in southern Yemen.
Martyrs of freedom from Aden, Sana'a, Abyan, Taiz and other Yemen cities paid their lives for a better tomorrow. Many of the former politicians careless about ordinary citizens rather have hidden agendas and special interests. They never cared about us then, simply served their personal interests. Is it the time now to criticize such people though? Bad move! Once we start pointing fingers at certain individuals, we lose our momentum on our common mission; which is bringing Saleh's regime down!
I kindly ask my fellow Yemenis, please do not let Saleh's goverment divide us again! We all love to see our beloved country, Yemen, prosper. We have many challengs ahead of us, but with our unity, patience and determination we can open a new page in Yemen's history. Let us put our past behind and work together for better tomorrow!
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Who Am I....
Who are you dude? Some people have asked me this question and felt obligated to give brief background about myself. I'm not politician nor a writer (that explains why I ended up in engineering school ) but an ordinary citizen of the free world. I joined Twitter mid January 2011 in support to the Egyptian revolution that brought Mubarak regime to an end. Unfortunately, I did not have the honor to participate in supporting the Tunisian revolution.
I go by Hameed Ali on Facebook, but that's not my real name. My real first name in "Mohamed" and prefer to keep my last name anonymous at this point. I'm Yemeni by birth, an engineer by profession and a freedom fighter by choice! I used to always avoid watching the news, simply because I'm not into politics, but the uprising in the Arab world inspired me like many people out there. It was inevitable for me to just sit and watch while innocent people are being slaughtered by dictatorships and family business regimes.
I already envisioned a change in Yemen, so the Twitter account I created was @Yemen4Change prior to Yemen Youth revolution kicked in. Couple of weeks later, Yemeni Youth in Washington D.C. had a meeting in preparation to organize weekly demonstrations to support Yemen Youth peaceful revolution. Yemen Youth in D.C. also formed Facebook group (Yemeni Youth Abroad for Change) and launched a website (YYAC) to document Yemen revolution. I'm honored to be a part of the YYAC team, who have organized many protests in front of the White House in Washington D.C.
My blogs will be for the most part short but straight to the point. Main focus will be on current events, specifically Yemen Youth revolution. On the occasion, I may write random blogs about different things. My blogs express my personal opinion and thought. Please feel free to drop me a note with any comment or suggestion
I go by Hameed Ali on Facebook, but that's not my real name. My real first name in "Mohamed" and prefer to keep my last name anonymous at this point. I'm Yemeni by birth, an engineer by profession and a freedom fighter by choice! I used to always avoid watching the news, simply because I'm not into politics, but the uprising in the Arab world inspired me like many people out there. It was inevitable for me to just sit and watch while innocent people are being slaughtered by dictatorships and family business regimes.
I already envisioned a change in Yemen, so the Twitter account I created was @Yemen4Change prior to Yemen Youth revolution kicked in. Couple of weeks later, Yemeni Youth in Washington D.C. had a meeting in preparation to organize weekly demonstrations to support Yemen Youth peaceful revolution. Yemen Youth in D.C. also formed Facebook group (Yemeni Youth Abroad for Change) and launched a website (YYAC) to document Yemen revolution. I'm honored to be a part of the YYAC team, who have organized many protests in front of the White House in Washington D.C.
My blogs will be for the most part short but straight to the point. Main focus will be on current events, specifically Yemen Youth revolution. On the occasion, I may write random blogs about different things. My blogs express my personal opinion and thought. Please feel free to drop me a note with any comment or suggestion
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Gulf Cooperation Council, Hello neighbor!
Yemen Youth revolution shock the ground under Saleh's government at the time Mubarak's regime came to an end in Egypt. Shortly after, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), lead by Saudi Arabia, proposed initiative to end Yemen's crisis. Even though it was in favor of President Saleh and the ruling party, General People's Congress (GPC), the opposition (JMP) agreed to it and signed it.
What about the Youth demands? In reality, Youth demands are legit but I doubt they'll be met under any peaceful agreement. President Saleh succeeded in manipulating the truth, coming up with various excuses such as AQAP among other things. I have to say, he did well on misleading the International Community, specifically the United States.
My message to the Youth "Do not wait for any foreign assistance/rescue!". We must take matters into our own hands. Yes, we have many challenges and differences but it's time to put differences aside and prioritize our work. The longer we wait, the harder it gets! Let us all put our hands together and give our revolution the boost needed to bring down the corrupt regime!
Many of us know that the government of Saudi Arabia has influence on Yemen government as well as some tribe leaders. Having stability and civil state in Yemen is considered great danger to the Kingdom next door! So our neighbor, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), will do everything they can to insure, the person to rule Yemen is puppet to them, not necessarily President Saleh.
I was against those who used to critisize the government of KSA but I was wrong. For some reason, I thought they were helping Yemenis but turns out they're helping no one but themselves. I won't get into the details about the Yemeni tribe leaders who receive compensation for their loyalty from the government of KSA. Bottom line is, Yemenis as a whole must stand together in this critical time of Yemen's history to face the challenges ahead of us. Let's face it, if Southern Yemenis, Houthis, etc. each demand dependent state, we'll NOT win over the existing regime. I still don't understand what part of that many people don't understand!
So, it's time to put our grievance behind and look ahead for brighter future. Let us not think about oneself but Yemen as a whole!
What about the Youth demands? In reality, Youth demands are legit but I doubt they'll be met under any peaceful agreement. President Saleh succeeded in manipulating the truth, coming up with various excuses such as AQAP among other things. I have to say, he did well on misleading the International Community, specifically the United States.
My message to the Youth "Do not wait for any foreign assistance/rescue!". We must take matters into our own hands. Yes, we have many challenges and differences but it's time to put differences aside and prioritize our work. The longer we wait, the harder it gets! Let us all put our hands together and give our revolution the boost needed to bring down the corrupt regime!
Many of us know that the government of Saudi Arabia has influence on Yemen government as well as some tribe leaders. Having stability and civil state in Yemen is considered great danger to the Kingdom next door! So our neighbor, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), will do everything they can to insure, the person to rule Yemen is puppet to them, not necessarily President Saleh.
I was against those who used to critisize the government of KSA but I was wrong. For some reason, I thought they were helping Yemenis but turns out they're helping no one but themselves. I won't get into the details about the Yemeni tribe leaders who receive compensation for their loyalty from the government of KSA. Bottom line is, Yemenis as a whole must stand together in this critical time of Yemen's history to face the challenges ahead of us. Let's face it, if Southern Yemenis, Houthis, etc. each demand dependent state, we'll NOT win over the existing regime. I still don't understand what part of that many people don't understand!
So, it's time to put our grievance behind and look ahead for brighter future. Let us not think about oneself but Yemen as a whole!
Yemen, what's next?
As Youth remain in sit-ins throughout major Yemen cities (Sanaa, Taiz, Aden, etc.), nothing have changed! The question is, why our revolution have lasted that long with no promising outcome? We're all aware of many challenges facing us as Yemenis but should never be an excuse!
President Saleh left Yemen two months ago for treatment in Saudi Arabic and that did not change anything. Ahmed Ali, his son, is doing a great job of killing innocent civilians. Our newly announced National Transition Council (NTC) did not even survive two days after the announcement. At least 30 pre-selected members refused to participate, claiming they were not consulted with ahead of time.
Anyways, what's next? Should our Youth just continue their peaceful protests? If so, till when?
We have to face reality! Youth can stay years in the sit-ins till they get sick and tired of it and eventually end up going home. YES! That's what will end up happening if Youth do not step up their game. The Joint Meeting Parties (JMP) won't get us anywhere and they already proved their failure many times. That does not mean we should just give up now, as we have reached a point where there is no return.
First step, the Youth throughout Yemen cities should coordinate their efforts. To my knowledge, there is lack of coordination among different groups in the Change Square in Sanaa! If we can't even communicate well among us, how would we expect to bring down Saleh's regime? Let us put our difference aside and focus on the common mission.
Yemeni Youth abroad will continue supporting the Youth in Yemen but there is not much we can do if tents in the Change Square have turned into popular places to chew Qat. If we want a change in Yemen, we must first make a change within ourselves!
President Saleh left Yemen two months ago for treatment in Saudi Arabic and that did not change anything. Ahmed Ali, his son, is doing a great job of killing innocent civilians. Our newly announced National Transition Council (NTC) did not even survive two days after the announcement. At least 30 pre-selected members refused to participate, claiming they were not consulted with ahead of time.
Anyways, what's next? Should our Youth just continue their peaceful protests? If so, till when?
We have to face reality! Youth can stay years in the sit-ins till they get sick and tired of it and eventually end up going home. YES! That's what will end up happening if Youth do not step up their game. The Joint Meeting Parties (JMP) won't get us anywhere and they already proved their failure many times. That does not mean we should just give up now, as we have reached a point where there is no return.
First step, the Youth throughout Yemen cities should coordinate their efforts. To my knowledge, there is lack of coordination among different groups in the Change Square in Sanaa! If we can't even communicate well among us, how would we expect to bring down Saleh's regime? Let us put our difference aside and focus on the common mission.
Yemeni Youth abroad will continue supporting the Youth in Yemen but there is not much we can do if tents in the Change Square have turned into popular places to chew Qat. If we want a change in Yemen, we must first make a change within ourselves!
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Who is ruling Yemen now?
Let me introduce you to Ali Abdullah Saleh and family, currently ruling the Republic of Yemen:
- Ali Abdullah Saleh (father), President of the Republic of Yemen,
- Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh (son) commander of the Republican Guard and Special Forces,
- Yahya Mohammed Abdullah Saleh (nephew) Chief of Staff of the Central Security,
- Tareq Mohammed Abdullah Saleh (nephew), commander of the Special Guards,
- Ammar Mohammed Abdullah Saleh (nephew) Under the National Security Agency
- Ali Mohsen Saleh Al-Ahmar (step-brother) First Division Commander,
- Ali Saleh Al-Ahmar - Air Force commander and the commander of the Sixth Brigade Aviation,
- Tawfeek Saleh Abdullah Saleh (nephew) tobacco company and sulfur national,
- Ahmed Kahlani (father-in-law/4th wife) started as Sanaa City Mayer, then Governor, then Minister,
- Abdul Rahman al-Akwa (brother-in-law/3rd wife) moving from the Minister to the Governor of capital Sanaa,
- Omar Arhabi (brother of the daughter's husband) The Director of the Yemeni Oil Company,
- Abdulkarim Ismail Al-Arhabi (uncle of the daughter's husband), Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Planning, Director of the Social Fund for Development,
- Khaled Arhabi (son-in-law) Director of the Presidential Palaces,
- Abdulwahab Al-Hajjri (brother-in-law) Yemen's ambassador in Washington, D.C.,
- Khaled Abdel Rahman al-Akwa (brother-in-law/Second wife) and Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
- Abdulkhaled Al-Kadi (cousin of the president/mother side) The President of Yemen Airways,
- Mahdi Maqawleh (related to Abdukhale Al-Kadi/ from the same village as the President) Commander of brigade in Taiz and Commander of the South Army Division,
- Muhammad Ali Muhsin (from the President’s village), commander of the East Army Division,
- Saleh Aldhanin (from the President’s village) the former commander Khalid Army Division,
- Ali Ahmed Doid (son-in-law) Tribes Affairs,
- Numan Doid (brother of the daughter's husband), Governor of Sana'a, former Governer of Amraan, Amraan cement factory Manager for 10 years,
- Jubran Mujahid Abu Shawarib (brother of the daughter's husband) Amraan Governor and the list goes on and on….
Please feel free to correct me if I made a mistake in the above list. Our goal is to let the world know, Saleh's government is no different than a family business!
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