Yemen: Intervention necessary for peace!
The times have changed and no country today can afford to remain indifferent to what is going on around (‘A statement of intent in Yemen’, Gulf News, March 29). The anti-social outfit in Yemen has demonstrated unforeseen courage in the past few months to challenge the system in place, and they have unarguably attained a moderate degree of success in their wily attempts. This has resulted in breeding more such forces across the globe. No nation is safe today from the wild imaginations and devilish dreams of such extremist-minded people, who can take shape in unstable times and grow at a stunningly high rate.
Therefore, concerted action is needed from all those who wish for a peaceful region surrounding their nation. The days of engaging in diplomacy over long periods are fast becoming non-viable options, as one side has no vision to understand the other’s viewpoint or simply refuses to even know more. Such scenarios are disastrous, because when two elephants engage in a fight, it is the grass that suffers. The children are the worst victims of this phenomenon. They have not even seen the world fully to understand why they are being victimised and forced to spend their lives in such horror, depravity, ignominy and pessimism.
This is bound to cause some turbulence for some time, surely, as the forces might not give up so easily. Sometimes, a momentary disturbance is needed to arrive at a longterm peaceful solution. This is a perfect scenario demonstrating this.
From Mr Suhas Inamdar
UAE
‘He painted the colour of hope’
Today, separation in Yemen is not just a political crisis that can be cured in the near future because it is an ideological, sectarian and regional separation (‘Hadi urges Yemen supporters to rise against Al Houthis’, Gulf News, March 29). Al Houthi rebels occupy cities in Yemen such as Sana’a, Taiz and Hudaydah and then they used a Yemeni aircraft to bomb the President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi, who was imprisoned in the capital, and was forced to flee to the second capital.
The GCC and other countries took the advice of Yemeni tribes and are now exercising their right to help the Yemeni people first and foremost. The GCC and other Arab countries have reason to intervene in Yemen, ahead of Iran. After all, the only benefit to Yemen from Iran is the opportunity for Al Houthi rebels to acquire weapons to kill and suppress the people.
Yemenis consider President Hadi a saviour from the fierce and destructive crises in the country. He is approved by the Yemenis, from both the main and opposition parties. Hadi worked with all political and tribal affiliations in order to establish a stable, popular and legitimate presidency. In the process, he painted the colour of hope and dreamed that the country could be led out of its impasse to preserve the people’s safety. But, situations like this require internal and external support.
However, you can’t shortcut the way to legitimacy and inventory management of Yemen. The country is full of political expertise and national talent, capable of actually resolving the conflict, take Yemen out of this predicament and avoid hassling neighbouring countries with what is happening.
In the meantime, Hadi must stay in his position as a symbol of the Arab union force and a message to the entire world that the GCC terms must apply. The people of Yemen are facing a difficult and fateful test. Either be or not to be.
From Mr Mohammad Al Hajeri
Al Ain
Arabs are not alone!
It’s a good warning for all those countries who think that Arabs are alone and not a force to be reckoned with. This demonstrates how united we are in the Middle East and what we can do when something needs to be done.
From Mr Osama Khan
UAE
Facebook comment
Good to block Iran
Good moves, especially sanctions on Iran for its trading in Gulf countries. Iran has been protecting and aiding Al Houthi to destabilise Yemen’s neighbouring Gulf countries.
From Mr Thoppeeh Troyo Cubao
Dubai
Facebook comment
Prudent action from Saudi
Macro politics have been the reason the civil conflict in Yemen has not been dealt with sooner. The growing volatility and destabilisation in the country brings about a vulnerability to each GCC country, as well as the relationship between each member state. The threat that this conflict exposes is not new and it is something that regional forces have been aware of. Resolutions by the United Nations have proven unsuccessful, as they have in past conflicts in other countries. Saudi Arabia has waited most patiently seeing as the uncertainty in Yemen in terms of Al Houthi rhetoric has been happening for over a year. September emphasised Saudi Arabia’s patience on the civil conflict when tensions grew, yet they kept their faith in UN efforts to come to a resolution peacefully. I don’t believe that GCC members are willing to sit back and hope for a successful UN resolution and, in the meantime, watch as Yemen deteriorates further, watching as pockets of extremism grow – as they do in governmentally unstable nations, as external forces gain more influence, as civilians suffer and regional power shifts.
From Ms Lili Maria
Dubai
Boots on the ground
Nobody knows how long this conflict will last. Actually, the circle of uncertainty and destruction is enlarging day-by-day in the region. The Saudi-led coalition against Al Houthi rebels will succeed in its initial stage, thanks to the presence of sophisticated weapons. But, with the involvement of other militant groups with divergent views, together they will turn certain pockets of Yemen into a battle ground.
In the case of Iran openly supporting the rebels in Yemen, the situation will have serious consequences.
From Mr Girish R. Edathitta
Dubai
Regional peace
The GCC countries, especially Saudi Arabia, must find some way to bring rebels to the table for negotiations. Airstrikes must remain tactical. Ground invasion will be counter productive for regional peace.
On diplomatic fronts, the GCC countries should initiate their efforts to spread the message across the world that the Yemeni conflict has been created to achieve political ends only and it has nothing to do with sectarianism. If this war is fought on the basis of sectarianism, then it could have a spill-over effect, which will not be an ideal situation for regional peace.
From Mr Khurram Shahzad
UAE
Protecting regional security
The main reason why Yemen is such a difficult case to deal with is because most of its problems have substantial regional impacts. Regional players should support Yemen to overcome its concerns and de-escalate tensions.
In terms of resources, Yemen could become a problem for neighbouring countries. Yemen is already running out of water and oil, but if the country goes on life support, then the pressures on GCC countries might become too large to accommodate, considering their increasing demands of power and energy requirements.
Moreover, Yemen’s population is growing and more than half of the population is under 24, according to the CIA World Factbook. In the next 20 years, the country’s population will increase drastically.
Additionally, a failing Yemen would require half of the 23 million-population to seek asylum.
From Mr Saadat Ullah Khan
UAE
Creating conflict
Iran’s belligerent attempts in creating chaos in the region are very evident in the current crisis we are witnessing in Yemen. By supporting Al Houthi rebels to overthrow the government led by President Hadi, Iran is sending a wrong message to peace lovers around the world: “We do exist to create havoc.” Gulf countries led by Saudi Arabia have been patient to the core despite the provocation by Yemeni rebels. These rebels were invariably creating conflict at the border they share with Saudi Arabia.
From Mr Rejees Choolayil
UAE
Pre-emptive action was necessary!
I think that the move towards resolving Yemen’s conflict was highly necessary and inevitable, to put things in the proper perspective. Otherwise, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries’ security would be compromised by a terrorist group who will not stop at Yemen’s borders. Adding that to the ongoing conflict with Daesh on the northern side, this ensures that military force is highly necessary to end this terror tide.
This is one of the cases that you need to fight for your freedom. Saudi Arabia knows that a country can’t be sitting and watching terrorist groups coming towards their borders declaring war and showing all this darkness and hate. You have to confront them and beat them. That’s why I believe Saudi Arabia built and led this large and maybe unprecedented coalition to end the Al Houthi occupation in Yemen.
From Mr Samer
UAE
Full name withheld by request
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