All of us know that democracy is a government of the people by the people for the people. However, democracy in the philosophy of the Yemeni militias means a government of the people by the militias for the militias against the people.
Militias and the Yemeni political parties adopt freedom, peace and democracy just in news but not in reality. Yemenis are longing for peace, co-existence, stability and justice. Yemenis know that they shall struggle to take their rights. They know that Life is full of pain, yet they must be optimistic and face life with courage. Most of the Yemeni critics, writers, novelists, politicians, journalists and the leaders of the opposition parties are suffering from the militias. Yemenis have made a peaceful revolution against the former president Ali Abdullah Saleh and produced many martyrs in 2011 for their dignity, freedom and equal citizenship.
When Yemenis had deposed Ali Selah, they thought that they removed the corrupted regime, and now they shall start to build their country. However, other militias and tribal fighters have emerged. These militias are supported by Iranian government and the former president, Ali Saleh. Ali Saleh sides with these militias to revolt against the Yemeni government and The National Dialogue Conference (NDC) in 2014. However, we do not only blame Houthis and their ally, Ali Saleh. We also blame the President Hadi who allowed militias to capture Amran, a Yemeni governorate. He allowed Houthis to kill Hameed al-Gosaibi, the commander of Brigade 310. Then, Hadi allowed Houthis to control Sana’a, the capital of Yemen. Yemenis know that president Hadi conspired with Houthi’s militias against Islah party.
Radical militias and the Yemeni political parties do not believe in each other. They do not accept each other. They want Yemenis to obey them by force. Freedom and democracy in their philosophy mean to obey their political leaders or religious characters. They want Yemenis to be slaves. In addition, militias hate to see stability and tolerance. Their priority is how to kill the intellectuals and innocents. They do not appreciate that they have banished more than 2 millions from their homes since their military coup in 21 September 2014. Militias’ war has created a destructing humanitarian crisis. More than 80% of the Yemeni people are classified as food unsecure.
All of us know that The UN failed to strengthen ceasefire monitoring committees on the ground. All the negotiators have not achieved the five-point agendas until this moment. Some of these five-point agendas are withdrawal from the cities and official institutions, handover weapons and the return of the Yemeni legitimate government to practice its responsibilities.
In fact, we want Houthis to hand over their weapons. But realistically we know it is not going to happen. First, no armed militia drops off their weapons voluntarily. Second, it is clear that the coalition and Hadi’s army are unable or reluctant to make a military win. So what do we have now based on these facts? What are the potential scenarios? Whether we like those scenarios or not? In my point of view, Peace Talks in Kuwait between Hadi’s government and Houthis and their ally, former president, Ali Saleh will not solve the Yemeni crisis because all of them do not believe in peace, plurality and co-existence. In addition, how can we achieve peace and the militias and their allies are still in control of Sana’a, much of the northern governorates, weapons as well as missiles.
Moreover, International community has to know that problems in Yemen can never be solved by the war mongers which created them. We know that these militias are a cause of killing thousands of Yemenis because of their military coup. “According to the UN, more than 6400 people have been killed in this proxy war.”
Houthi’s rebels want a national government before handing over their weapons and the Yemeni legitimate government wants national government after Houthis handover their weapons. All of them try to impose their agendas and aim on each other by force and lies. Furthermore, Houthis want to make a transitional government of consensus a precondition for applying Security Council Resolution 2216. In fact, Houthi’s rebels will not handover their weapons because violence is a part of their ideology and culture. There are also many militias will not handover their weapons.
Finally, all Yemeni militias do not have any choice except to accept the International Security Council Resolution 2216 if they want peace. In my opinion, Dialogue, co-existence, tolerance and not sectarian war are the Logos of Peace that the Yemeni people need today. The delegates have to know that Peace Talks in Kuwait are not abstracts collective, principles, agendas and reports. The negotiators have to know that “Peace is not merely a distant goal we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal” Martin Luther King said. They have also to know that “Peace cannot be kept by force, it can only be achieved by understanding” Albert Einstein said.
Adel Doshela is a Yemeni researcher and freelance Writer, currently writing his PhD in English Literature. Follow him in tweeter: @DoshelaAdel