Diaries of an online activist

The Arab spring turned my life upside down and the revolutions in Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, Libya, Syria and Bahrain "ate my time". It all started as I was following news of the Tunisian's uprising which turned into a revolution and spread to the rest of the Arab world and with it my Arabism, patriotism and zeal grew and got me hooked to the TV and laptop for endless hours. My days suddenly turned into nights and I wouldn't realize it till the first rays of sun crept on me announcing the arrival of a new day.

I was overtaken by the Egyptian revolution and my "activism" started initially on Facebook. I am an online activist, sadly not a field freedom fighter because I am away. I spent endless hours glued to the screens, monitoring the news, typing, expressing my views, engaging in heated discussions and even debating with very close friends, all on the net of course. Since I was confined to the house, that was my only source of social interaction. Thank God the Egyptian revolution lasted only 18 days until Mubarak finally stepped down on Feb11th. Everyone was ecstatic and we all thought it was over, WE WON, or at least that is what we thought then. 
Then the Yemen revolution started catching pace and was filling the news along with the Libyan one. I then shifted from the Egyptian revolution which I felt I had given it it's due. We already toppled the President besides there were so many other hundreds of thousands covering it and I started focusing on the rest of the Arab revolutions, but mainly Yemen's and hence I moved from Facebook to twitter, which I felt was more dynamic and powerful.
Twitter transfered me to many places at once. I felt I was in Tahrir in Cairo, in Benghazi in Libya, in Change square is Sanaa, in Hama in Syria and in Manama in Bahrain. Just by following a certain time line I listened to the chants, I heard the explosions and I felt the pain of wounded.   
I was actually apprehensive at first and worried when Yemen's revolution started. Yemen had the highest gun per capita ratio after the US and I thought it will turn into a blood bath from day one, but was pleasantly surprised and so was the rest of the world. However, I never imagined the revolution would drag this long. Nor for the suffering to be this hard. I pray for a peaceful resolve soon, although I doubt it will be peaceful nor soon. It breaks my heart to see all the massacres in Syria, the fighting in Libya and the silent suffering in Bahrain and not being able to do anything about them besides tweeting.
I should mention that before all this started I was a wife and a mother of four (one of which is in heaven). I still am all that, thank God, but before the Arab spring started that was my main job. I suddenly became a full time online activist, an addicted twitter and a new blogger on the block, not to my husband and kids content though. 
I salute all online activist and stand in awe for the many people who suffered and struggled, advocating for change in their country, the ones who paid the price with their lives, blood, sweat and tears. May God bless all freedom fighters in the Arab spring and beyond and have mercy on those who lost their lives for all of us to live a better life. Peace

Diaries of an Online Activist

The Arab spring and the revolutions in Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, Libya, Syria and Bahrain turned me from a spectator into an activist. As I was following news of the Tunisian's uprising which turned into a revolution and spread to the rest of the Arab world, my Arabism, patriotism and zeal grew which got me hooked to the TV and laptop for endless hours, following events,  engaging in debates and expressing my views. My days suddenly turned into nights and I wouldn't realize it till the first rays of sun crept on me announcing the arrival of a new day.


I became an online activist, initially overtaken by the Egyptian revolution when I started my activism on Facebook. As the revolution in Yemen started to evolve and was filling the news along with the Libyan one, I shifted from the Egyptian revolution, since Mubarak was ousted and besides there were so many other hundreds of thousands covering it, and I started focusing instead on the rest of the Arab revolutions, but mainly Yemen's and hence I shifted from Facebook to twitter, which I felt was more dynamic and powerful.


Twitter transfered me to many places at once. I felt I was in Tahrir in Cairo, in Benghazi in Libya, in Change square is Sanaa, in Hama in Syria and in Manama in Bahrain. Just by following a certain timeline I heard the chants and the explosions and I felt the pain of the wounded and the loss of the martyrs.


I was actually apprehensive at first and worried when Yemen's revolution started. Yemen has the highest gun per capita ratio after the US and I thought it will turn into a blood bath from day one, but was pleasantly surprised, and so was the rest of the world. It turned into the most peaceful revolution of the Arab Spring due to the protesters commitment to peace, despite the regimes violence and killings. I never imagined the revolution would drag this long, nor for the suffering to be this severe. I pray for a peaceful resolve soon, although I doubt it will be a peaceful one, nor soon. 


I was taught to stand for what is right and fight for what I believe in and was fortunate enough to travel the world and have a good education. I hope all the people in Yemen will soon enjoy this right. Therefore I used all my knowledge and skills to speak out and advocate for the freedom and democracy of my country, and so did many other Yemeni activists in Yemen and abroad. We joined our efforts and collaborated to support Yemen and the revolution and together we will persevere, despite anyone or anything. 


Before the Arab Spring started I was a wife and a mother of four (one is in heaven) and that was my main job. I suddenly became a full time online activist, an addicted twitter and a blogger besides all my other duties. I can't wait for all this chaos and violence to end, for everyone to enjoy safety and stability, to move on and start rebuilding. We all want and need peace and stability in our lives and soon.

I salute all online activists and stand in awe for the freedom fighters who suffered and struggled, advocating for change in their country, I pray for the ones who were in the front lines and paid the price with their lives, blood, sweat and tears. May God bless all the revolutionaries in the Arab spring and beyond and have mercy on those who sacrificed their lives for all of us to live a better life. We will win and we owe it to them to make our countries better.

Peace

Support Yemen's Revolution

"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends".  

Martin Luther King

Yemen's revolution has been the longest in the Arab spring and the most peaceful so far. It started on the eve of Mubarak's historical stepping down on February 11th and has been ongoing ever since. The prolonged political crisis in Yemen caused a humanitarian and economic crisis, costing Yemen billions of dollars monthly and resulting in displaced refugees enduring all kinds of hardships. Yemen's youth have been staging marches and camping in sit-in tents across the squares in most Yemeni cities and despite being subject to expired tear gas, live bullets, killings and arrests they have resiliently stood firm demanding a regime change. Electricity, gas, water and food shortages were imposed by the regime on the entire population as a mean to pressure Yemenis and intimidate them, yet they kept marching peacefully demanding their rights.
Yemen's revolution was not given the appropriate coverage which was given to other Arab spring revolutions, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Syria. The obvious media blackout to what is occurring in Yemen is a direct reflection of the lack of support of Western and regional forces to the revolution. As the youth called this weekend for a peaceful escalation and revolutionary steadfast, the regime blocked entrances to major cities, deployed troops in main streets and cut the power and gas supply.
Kindly join in a social media solidarity campaign and support Yemen's Revolution at this critical stage by dedicating most of your Facebook status to support Yemen's revolution and your tweets this week September 4th -11th to the hashtag #SupportYemen.

Thank you 

Links:
Yemen's Youth: The best Hope for Democracy
Amazing determination of the Yemeni people

Dreams of Yemen

"A dreamer is one who can find his way by moonlight and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world"  Oscar Wilde

I dream of a Yemen where everyone has a roof on top of their head
I dream of a Yemen where everyone has a meal on their table
I dream of a Yemen where poverty is addressed and managed

I dream of a Yemen where electricity and water are a norm not a privilege
I dream of a Yemen where health and education are a basic right
I dream of a Yemen where infrastructure is actually built not just planned

I dream of a Yemen where a woman in labour can see her newborn *
I dream of a Yemen where an infant * can survive and grow into a healthy child
I dream of a Yemen where a child can safely go to school, instead of work or be wed

I dream of a Yemen where freedom, justice, and equality are a reality
I dream of Yemen where rights are respected, granted and opinions freely expressed
I dream of a Yemen where we can choose who represents and leads us

I dream of a Yemen where there is no North or South
I dream of a Yemen where injustices and grievances are rectified
I dream of a Yemen we all, equally strive to repair and rebuild together

I dream of a Yemen where positions are earned due to merit not family name, gender, tribe or region
I dream of a Yemen with a civil state that adheres to human rights and gender equality
I dream of a Yemen where a woman's role is not confined to her household or family

I dream of a Yemen where Qat chewing is an old shunned habit
I dream of a Yemen where water is efficiently used to irrigate crops
I dream of a Yemen where fields and valleys are filled with coffee and grapes

I dream of a Yemen with no association to al Qaeda and terrorism
I dream of a Yemen as a tourist destination for heritage and hospitality
I dream of a Yemen as a haven for tourists to admire and enjoy

I dream of a Yemen who's resources are reinstated, enhanced and generated
I dream of a Yemen who's lands and ports are respected and safeguarded
I dream of a Yemen where neighboring countries leave us alone, if not wanting our well-being

I dream of a Yemen where foreign companies are not exploiting us
I dream of a Yemen where western and regional forces can't choose our leaders, nor shape our future
I dream of a Yemen where dominant political figures empower our youth to lead

I dream of a Yemen where change yearned for, is attained and dignity restored
I dream of a Yemen where precious martyrs lives are not lost in vain
I dream of a Yemen where no further blood is shed nor homes destroyed

I dream of Yemen where the revolution albeit the longest will be the most peaceful
I dream of a Yemen who's revolution succeeds and is taught in history books
I dream of a Yemen which we struggled for, become what we want and more

I dream of a Yemen that is respected and esteemed by the world
I dream of a Yemen that can once again be called Arabia Felix
I dream of a Yemen that we can all return to and proudly say is our homeland

"Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe"- Gail Devers

Peace

Links used:
UNICEF statistics
Child Labour in Yemen

Yemen Transitional Council...Finally!

After six long months of stagnation and suffering, Yemen's Revolution finally made a long awaited move and sparked a lot of hope to Yemenis. Tawakol Karman, Yemen's leading female activist headed a youth coalition which formed a transitional council consisting of 17 members of former government officials and society leaders to run the country. The shadow government aimed to create a unified protest reflecting a varied political spectrum of leaders in Yemen and in exile. Tawakol Karman in a press conference in Change Square in Sanaa called the International community to respect the decisions of the youth revolution and to recognize the institutions of the revolution and to end all forms of cooperation with the remnants of Saleh's regime because they do not represent the country. Karman also added that the council will appoint a technocratic government and 501 member shadow parliament to draft a new constitution.

The names of the Transitional Council members are as follows:

Haidar Abu Bakr al-Attas, 

Huriyya Mashhur 

Jamal Muhammad al-Mutarrab 

Sa’ad al-Din bin Talib

Sadiq Ali Sarhan

Sakhr Ahmad al-Wajiha

Abdullah Hasan al-Nakhibi

Abdullah Salam al-Hakimi

Ali Nasser Muhammad

Ali Hussain ‘Ashal

Aydarus al-Naqib

Mohsen Muhammad bin Farid

Muhammad Salim Ba Sindwah 

Muhammad Said al-Sa’adi

Muhammad Abdul Malik al-Mutawakil

Muhammad Ali Abu Luhoum

Yahya Mansur Abu Asba’i

حيدر أبو بكر العطاس
حورية مشهور
جمال محمد المترب
سعد الدين بن طالب
…صادق علي سرحان
صخر أحمد الوجيه
عبد الله حسن الناخبي
عبد الله سلام الحكيمي
علي ناصر محمد
علي حسين عشال
عيدروس النقيب
محسن محمد بن فريد
محمد سالم باسندوة
محمد سعيد السعدي
محمد عبد الملك المتوكل
محمد علي أبو لحوم
يحيى منصور أبو اصبع

Whether the council will be approved by all factions, have legitimacy across Yemen and be recognized among the international community remains to be seen. Many will deabate about it, nevertheless it is certainly a move in the right direction and a promising one indeed, especially since it is headed by a woman which is synonym with the change needed in Yemen. 
The news of the transitional Council are amidst news of Saleh's return to Yemen. Saleh was appointed as president in July 17, 1978 and planned to return to Yemen on his 33rd anniversary. News of his return are as usual always conflicting and nothing is confirmed until it is reported by Saudi Alarabiya News Channel.
It has been half a year since Yemen's revolution started, calling for an end to Saleh's 33 year rule. Could the transitional council formation be the turning point? Or will it be just a list of names on paper? The coming days will be decisive in Yemen's revolution and history.

Yemen...Pity My Nation

Yemen's revolution continues to be the longest of the Arab Spring Revolutions. It started on the eve of Mubarak's stepping down on February 11th and so far is into it's sixth month and counting. In order to understand what made Yemen's revolution drag this long, one has to examine the players. Besides the regime headed by the President Ali Abdullah Saleh and his relatives, comprising of his son Ahmed: Head of the elite Republican Guards, and nephews Amar: Deputy Director for National Security, Yahya: Head of Central Security Forces and elite Counterterrorism Unit, and Tarik: Head of the Presidential Guards. There are also the local players, the opposition which are made of the Joint Meeting Parties (JMP) a coalition of Islamist, Socialist and tribal elements. Then there is the Ahmar family consisting of 10 brothers, who's father Abdullah Hussein Alahmar was one of the founders of the Islah Party, an Islamist party of the JMP. Sadeq is the elder son who succeeded his father as leader of the Hashid tribe confideration, Hamid a powerful businessman, controls Saba Phone one of the two main mobile networks in Yemen and was considered a possible successor to Saleh; Himyar, who was deputy speaker of parliament, and Hussein who is the leader of Hashid tribe. Whoever has been following Yemen's revolution is familiar with the wars that have raged between Saleh and Alahmars in Hasaba in the capital Sanaa, causing hundreds of deaths and injuries from both sides.
There is also General Ali Muhsin al-Ahmar, head of Yemen's 1st Armored Division and the commander of the Northwest Military District whom defected following the March 18th Massacre in Sanaa. He is not related to the al-Ahmars.
Last but not least are the backbone of the revolution, the Youth, who are a civil movement comprising of diverse age, economic, social, and educational backgrounds as well as geographical, tribal, religious and political affiliations. They are the people in the  sit-ins, filling squares across Yemen, marching the streets daily and in millions on Fridays "chanting for freedom, justice, order and a civil government, with a clear message aimed at peace, stability and basic human rights."

There are also two prime players who are "outsiders". Saudi Arabia and the United States of America, our next door neighbor, and the world greatest power and advocate of human rights. This of course adds to the complexity of an already complicated familial, tribal and political complicated scene. So unlike other revolutions, not only is Yemen's revolution fighting against the local "hijackers" but also against these two unwanted yet dominant foreign players. Both the US and Saudi Arabia have different interests in Yemen which they both want to safeguard by jointly keeping the status quo, even if that means the demise of the revolution and the Yemeni people in the process.
Saudia Arabia is clearly against democracy in Yemen or any other Arab country for that matter. It has long considered Yemen as it's backyard and doesn't want the revolution nor "God forbid" democracy crashing into it's front door. "Keep Yemen weak" is what King Faisal is quoted to have said to his sons on his death bed. And they have done a good job at that, keeping many Yemeni government officials, tribal leaders on their payroll and funding internal conflicts.
Then comes the US's role in Yemen, which has primarily been to fight terrorism and al- Qaeda and defend the US from any possible threats, with a policy of "the end justifies the means". Al Qaeda and security isn't seemingly all the US is after in Yemen, it has a bigger and more ambitious aim. Certainly Yemen is poor and doesn't have much oil yet it has a very strategic location rendering it important to the US. It has Bab el Mandab where 3.3 million barrels of oil a day flow through this narrow strait to Europe, the US and Asia. It is worth highlighting that controlling this waterway, which is one of the most important seven water chockpoints, is vital in the US trade war with China.

As the prolonged Revolution in Yemen turned into a political crisis and resulted into power outage, water, fuel, economic and humanitarian crises, the Yemeni youth and people at large are the ones paying the most with their lives, blood and their suffering from the impotence of the JMP, Alahmars and Ali Muhsin who joined the revolution without bringing about the needed change; Saudia Arabia's attempt to subvert Yemen's revolution through the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) initiative and the US orchestrating behind the scenes, not finding a suitable successor for Saleh, forcing the deal down Yemen's throats and launching "robotic assassins" a.k.a drones on Yemen's territory.

Some describe Saleh's assassination attempt and treatment in KSA as a trip from hell and back. Well the GCC deal seems to have survived as well. Saleh appeared at ease and fully recovered yesterday receiving John Bernann US Counter Terrorism Chief, who urged him to accept the power deal. And as the White House statement points, the economic assistance to Yemen is contingent upon the GCC proposal being signed and implemented. It is the Yemeni people who are living in hellish conditions and who will continue to die and suffer should Saleh remain a day further in power.

I wish too see my country democratic, developed, united and above all independent. Yemen has paid a hefty price through it's peaceful protests calling for change and aspiring for democracy, yet the future remains uncertain. Beside the photo above, these two photos represent my conflicting feelings about Yemen's future. The first is of a little girl with the words "erhal" i.e leave on her forehead and a pondering look if Saleh ever will, and the second is of another girl with Yemen's flag on her cheek and the word "alnasr" i.e "victory" on her forehead and a hopeful look in her eyes of a promising future ahead...

For further readings:
Yemen's Uncertain Political Future
Yemen continues to inspire against great odds
Yemen's protests hijacked
Humanitarian crisis in Yemen
Yemen's Economy Teeters on Collapse

Trouble Down South: For Saudia Arabia Yemen's Implosion is a Nightmare

The Morality of Drone Strikes

The Yemen Hidden Agenda: Behind the Al-Qaeda Scenarios, A Strategic Oil Transit Chokepoint.

The Importance of Bab Al-Mandab

Ralph Shaffer: Don't Take us to war in Yemen

FBI in Yemen, US Counter Terrorism = GTMO + Drones + CIA + FBI ≠ Non Violent Protests = Oil + More Terrorism

Yemen's Six Months Revolution

Six months of Yemenis' lives have passed by, and although Yemen's president has been gone to Saudi for treatment for a whole month now, yet the regime remains unchanged. Yes there have been some gains as Hamza Shargabi, an activist in Sanaa's Change Square and member of the Coordinating Council for the Youth Revolution of Change (CCYRC) had pointed out to my frustrated tweet "what are the political gains so far?" by  replying "we destroyed the regime, we recreated national identity, gave hope to the nation..but we haven't been able to place a new regime". Yes I do agree that the protest sit-ins in the squares of Yemen has forged a sense of unity and feelings of solidarity which brought Yemenis together as never before, dismantling clan, tribal, regional and even to some extent gender barriers and it sure did rise hopes. But I am not so sure about "destroying the regime". Although nobody is sure if "President" Saleh is dead or alive especially since he hasn't made a public appearance for over a month, reinforcing rumours of his death, yet the regime is very much alive and kicking or rather "killing".  Besides Saleh's son taking over the presidential palace, there are daily reports of the Republican Guards (a special force headed by Saleh's son, Ahmed) shelling and bombarding the beautiful city of Taiz, missile attacking Abyan fighting so called al "Qaeda" militants and the continuos shelling of the villages of Arhab with scores of deaths, injuries and refugees as a result. 

Although not much fighting is happening in Sanaa lately beside the fights for fuel,  Sanaa has had it's share of fighting for weeks, during the Hasba war between Saleh and Sheikh al Ahmar. 

Saleh's nephew, Yehya, head of the Central Security Forces dismisses the revolution all together in a New York Times interview, he says "the problem is that the rest of the world believes this is a youth revolution. How many are there in the squares? Do they represent the majority? In a democracy, does a minority rule the majority?" He adds "They should have some self respect and go home. It's been five months now and it's boring." To him I say "obviously you have been oblivious to the streets boiling with hundreds of thousands of protesters demanding the remains of your regime, your relatives and your ouster and the formation of a transitional council. You are either ignorant to count them or blind to see them, or both. I hope these two videos of refugees will entertain you!"

The prolonged political crisis in Yemen caused a humanitarian and ecomomic crisis, costing Yemen billions of dollars monthly, resulting in thousands of displaced refugees, and enduring domestic gas, fuel, water crisises, power outages and food shortages. The regime doesn't want to discuss a transitional council until the "President" is back, hoping that they would in the meantime subdue the revolution. Yet nobody knows if and when Saleh will be back amidst the conflicting reports. However somehow an "unidentified Yemeni official" and a "Western diplomat" which Reuters keeps quoting seem to be abreast with his health and what he wants for Yemen.
Yemen's protests are hijacked as Jeb Boone (a freelance reporter who has been in Yemen too long!) pointed in his latest Global Post article. The opposition seems to be divided between the independent youth who want a total change of government, trial for Saleh and his relatives, and others (mainly Joint Meeting Parties, led by Islah) who would settle for the change dictated by the GCC initiative which is endorsed by primarily Saudia Arabia, the rest of the Gulf States and the US. The independent youth are finding their own way now fighting back any internal and external interference, making their movement stronger and bigger, hoping to overturn the JMP dominance, and are adamant about leading the revolution to victory.
Although Yemen is a poor nation where most Yemenis live under 2 US$ a day and around 42% of the population live under the poverty line with an illiteracy rate of more than 40% and have been enduring immense hardship lately yet they are rich with resilience, perseverance and I have to add a lot of patience. This what has made Yemen's revolution survive six long months. I am confident and hopeful that it will reach it's aim and realize the dream of a new Yemen as long as it has these determined and hopeful youth. But until that day I will keep praying and hoping it comes soon.

One of my favorite Yemeni revolutionary songs

  

خواطر في الثوره اليمنيه

لا أدري ماذا اكتب و من أين أبدأ؟  تختلط لدي مشاعر الحزن و الأسى لما يدور في اليمن مع أفكاري و خواطري التي اريد تدوينها... سابدأ من نقطة البدايه لأحداث اليمن و التي تحولت إلى ثوره.  بدأ الصراع في اليمن يتجلى مع إقتراب الإنتخابات البرلمانيه التي كانت مقرره ان تجرى في ابريل 2011 و لكن توالي الاحداث في الوطن العربي عقب ثورة بوعزيزي ضد الظلم الذي اشعل الثوره في تونس ومن ثم اندلاعها في مصر لتهز عروش الطغاه و تستأصل رموز الفساد هي ما غيرت وجه العالم العربي الذي كان صامتا على الظلم و الفساد لقرون طويله لتهب رياح التغيير وتنبعث روح الثوره الى سائر الدول العربيه ليبيا ,اليمن, البحرين ثم سوريا.

 نعم لقد بدأت الثوره اليمنيه منذ ثلاثة اشهر ، اي عقب الثوره التونسيه و إنطلاق الثوره في مصر . بدات في اليمن اولا كأحتجاجات في 3 فبراير 2011 وفي  جمعة 11 فبراير التي اسقط  فيها حسني مبارك زعيم الأمه العربيه في حدث اذهل العالم ، خرج شباب  تعز و صنعاء و عدن  يطالبون بالتغيير و يدينون الفساد ويتطلعون للحريه و الديمقراطيه و النهوظ باليمن و بناءه في كافة المجالات ليواكب القرن الواحد والعشرين.

الثوره اليمنيه لم تسلك المسار الثوري في يوم و ليله فقد بدأت بإعتصامات و مظاهرات عشوائيه باعداد بسيطه في ارجاء البلاد تطالب بإسقاط النظام و رحيل الرئيس علي عبدالله صالح .المظاهرات في اليمن ليست بالشيء الجديد على الشعب اليمني بل كانت  بمثابة عاده تعود عليها. حاول النظام يائسا ان ينقذ نفسه بتقديم العديد من المبادرات والتي لم تقبل ، ليس  فقط لأنها لا تلبي مطالب الشعب، بل لأنها كانت ردة فعل  لتهدأت الاوضاع و لم توجد حلولاً جذرية وحقيقية  .ثم كانت نقطة التحول الحقيقيه التي ادت الى خروج الملايين الى الشوارع و استقالت الكثير من الحزب الحاكم هي سقوط اوائل الشهداء في عدن بتاريخ  16 فبراير 2011  و الضربات المتتالية في إب فالحديدة و عدن ، ثم ضربة صنعاء الدامية  في 18 مارس 2011  و التي اودت بحياة مايزيد عن خمسين شهيدا و إصابة مئات الجرحى  فكانت هذه هي نقطة الفيصل و اللا رجوع بين الشعب و النظام , فتحولت الهتافات التي كانت تطالب بالتغيير ثم  بإسقاط النظام  و الرحيل الي هتافات تطالب بالمحاكمه. 

حتى يلين الصعب - اجمل اغاني الثورة مع اجمل مشاهد الثورة

النظام الحالي المتمثل في الرئيس علي عبد الله صالح أفشل أي فرصة لأن نثق به ، أو نصبر عليه  ليستمر يوما يحكم اليمن ، فقد فشل في إدارته لليمن عبر ثلاثه و ثلاثون سنه بالنهوض به سياسيا و اقتصاديا و إجتماعيا و صحيا و تعليميا...الخ  بل كان  يسخراليمن لصالح عائلته  و المقربين منه ، و أوصل البلاد إلى ادنى مستوى في كافة  و المجالات والإحصائات و أدار اليمن بقبضه من حديد  وببث الخوف والفتنة والتملك الشخصي لثروات البلاد وسلب المعونات الخارجيه. طالما انتتظر الشعب طويلا ان يسمع قراره بحقن الدماء و ما أسماه "بالخروج المشرف" و التنحي كزين العابدين بن علي أو حسني مبارك و لكن هيهات ... أثر أن يكون كالقذافي يقذف و يسفك دماء شعب اليمن الحر الأبي.

كل جمعه تشهد اليمن إحتشادات في ميادين التغيير و التحرير وفي أنحاء اليمن و شو ارعها و من أهمها الحشود التي تسبق صلاة الجمعه في شارع الستين حيث يندد خطيب الجمعه بالرئيس و النظام و بالقمع و القتل و يستغيث بالمجتمع الدولي المتفرج صامتا. و يتجمع ايضا  بعض المؤيدين لصالح الذي دفعت لهم الأموال وصرفت من خزائن الدوله و صفت لتمويلهم و جلبهم.  و يهل علي عبد الله صالح كل جمعه ببدله و كرافته جديده و لكن بنفس  نبرة التهديد و الوعيد و التهويل و التحذير من مخاطر الإرهاب و القاعده التي يستخدمها الرئيس صالح كفزاعه للغرب و خطر ألإنقسامات التي أثبتت الثوره عدم صحتها فلم يلتحم الشعب اليمني او يذوق معنى الوحده الحقيقيه الا في هذه الأيام و الأكاذيب, فتاره يطعن في شرف نساء شعبه و يدين الإختلاط بصفه "شرعيه"و هو ابعد ما يكون عن الدين و تاره بإختلاق القصص مره عن عجوز "شيبه" يدعي انه تم دهسه من قبل شباب الثوره ليظهر العجوز لاحقا بقدرة قادر بخير و معافى و ينفي كل ذلك. و مره اخرى بقصة الشاعر الذي قطع لسانه ايضا مدعيا مسئو لية المعارضه في ذلك.

ثم تاتي المبادره الخليجيه ايضا كمحاوله لحل ما تسميها "بالأزمه" اليمنيه و ليس "بالثوره" لما لدول الخليج من تحسس من هذه الكلمه.  ظلت المبادره تتغير و تعدل لترضي النظام و ليس الشعب و ظل علي عبدالله صالح يشترط و يتردد و يرفض و يختلق الحجج و يماطل لكي لا يمضيها  ليرى العالم ماكان الشعب اليمني يعاني منه طيلة سنوات حكمه من مراوغه و ملاوعه  في حين ان الشعب اساسا يرفض هذه المبادره جمله و تفصيلا لما سبق و ذكرت. 

الشعب اليمني معروف عنه بانه شعب مسلح و يمتلك كافة انواع الاسلحه ابتداءا من الجنبيه التقليديه التي يرتديها عامة اليمنيون (و التي لا تصنف كسلاح  بل كزي رسمي لندرة استخدامها لذلك السبب)  إلى السلاح الناري التي تقدر حسب المصادر الصحفيه الى خمسين مليون قطعه, كالمسدسات و رشاشات الكلاشنكوف وقاذفات الأربيجي,  لكنه أثر ان تكون ثورته بيضاء سلميه.  فبرغم كل القمع و العنف و القتل وجرائم الإختطاف و الضرب بالأعصي و الحجاره وتعرضه للرش بالمياه الملوثه و الإختناق بالغازات (التي يبدو أنها ليست مسيله  للدموع  لما راينا مما تسببه من تشنجات عصبيه) الى أنه و حتى هذه اللحظه التي أكتب فيها لم تطلق رصاصه و احده من جانبه  برغم ان النظام حاول استفزاز الشعب مرارا ليجره الى ساحات الحرب الذي كان هو نفسه يحذر منها . اللا أن الشعب اليمني الحكيم و الصبور قرر الصمود و الصمود طويلا. فها هي الثوره  تدخل شهرها الرابع و لا زال الشعب اليمني يحمل غصن الزيتون. و يركز خطواته في التصعيد السلمي و الإضرابات العامه و العصيان المدني بدلا من إشهار السلاح. فصدق رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و سلم) حين و صف أهل اليمن فقال" الإيمان يمان و الحكمه يمانيه". فقد اثبتت هذه الثوره حكمة اليمنيين ولدت فيهم  الكثير من الطاقات الفكريه و الإبداعات االفنيه وكما نمت فيهم الحس السياسي و اهمية التخطيط والتنسيق والمشاركه الإجتماعيه للمرأه و ضعت قضية الجنوب في اولويات أجندة أعمال ما بعد الثوره فكان من أهم ما تمخض عن هذه الثوره انها وحدت الشعب اليمني من شماله إلى جنوبه بدماء شهدائه الغاليه فرحمة الله عليهم جميعا.
 سيدون التاريخ ثورة اليمن السلميه التي ابهرت العالم و أعجب الجميع بصمود شبابها الواعد الذي سيبني يمن جديد.
ما تشهده اليمن في الأيام الأخيره هي نقطة تحول في المسيره السلميه فلينصرك الله ايتها الثوره و لينصر اليمن ليعود كما كان و عرف باليمن السعيد.

واترككم مع هذه الابيات لشاعراليمن الكبير الملقب بأبوالأحرار الشهيد/محمد محمود الزبيري 

سجل مكانك في التاريخ يا قلم

هنا القلوب الأبيات التي اتحدت  ...  هنا الأحباء هنا القربى هنا الرحم
 هنا العروبة في ابطالها وثبت  ...  هنا الاءباء هنا العلياء هنا الشيم
 هنا الكواكب كانت في مقابرها  ...  واليوم تشرق للدنيا وتبتسم
 هنا البراكين هبت من مضا جعها  ...  تطغى وتكتسح الطاغي وتلتهم

لسنا من ايقوظوها من مراقدها  ...  الظلم ايقظها والسخط والأ لم
شعب تفلت من اغلال قاهره  ...  حرا فا جفل عنه الظلم والظلم
نبا عن السجن ثم ارتد يهدمه  ...  كيلا يكبل فيه بعده قدم
ان القيود التي كانت على قدمي  ...  صارت سها مها من السجان تنتظم
ان الأنين الذي كنا نردده  ...  سرا صيحه تصغى لها الأمم
والحق يبدا في اهات مكتئب  ...  وينتهي بزئير ملؤه النقم

A Thank You Note

This has certainly been the spring of Arab uprisings and a very long awaited awakening. What started with a protest for a daily life survival right by one man triggered and transcended to a regional outcry for political, economic, social reforms and above all human rights. Being an Arab, I proudly monitored the pioneering Tunisian Revolution, being Egyptian I felt the struggle and emotions of the inspiring Egyptian Revolution and being Yemeni by birth and origin, I am living the suffering of the Peaceful Yemeni Revolution. Besides monitoring and tweeting major headlines happening in Libya, Syria, Bahrain, Jordan and Palestine which is always in my heart.

I am not going to go through the reasons for these uprisings, I am sure we all know them, although some differ on the reasons behind them. Some think they are due to genuine reasons while others think they are due to a "conspiracy theory" and that is the shaping of the so called "New Middle East". I personally thank God it happened what ever the reason behind it, although I agree more with the first school of thought.

A thank you is in order. I want to thank first and foremost all the martyrs who died for these revolutions starting with Mohamed Bouazizi down to the last soul that has just parted us. These heroes sacrificed their lives for our freedom and democracy and to them we will always be in indebted, and we owe it to them to make these revolutions succeed. My deepest sympathy and prayers goes to all their families and friends. I also thank all the protesters who went out to the streets and participated in the sit-ins, marches and demonstrations and suffered gun shot injuries, beatings, inhaled gas, and even went through the fatigue of the process. Another note of gratitude goes to all the activists on the ground and on the net wether at home or abroad who have rallied for their countries. All your work, time and effort is certainly noticed and much appreciated by your country and country men and women.

These revolutions, through Facebook and twitter have certainly brought us closer, and we have certainly felt the solidarity and humanity overflowing. Twitter by far is a fascinating forum for sharing our ideas, hopes and aspirations. I have been impressed by inspiring minds of people whom I have never met but whom I consider now as friends. And as a new found friend and activist said in her tweet: "i love the #solidarity found on twitter. it affirms that #humanity is still alive. #oneworld". Another activist and very prominent journalist pointed that through these revolutions we have learned more about each others culture, geography, history and especially the struggles. I pray that all our Arab revolutions will be successful and realize most, if not all  their aims and that those still struggling will see the light soon and that it will all be worthwhile in the end.

Last but not least I want to thank my family for their support and understanding during my long hours glued in front of the TV and on the laptop.  
I am sure these revolutions had a toll on many household besides mine :( 


Peace.