While the world’s eyes are glued on Thailand‘s dramatic coup and Hungary’s lying Prime Minister, I shall also be thinking of the 9 million voters in
Yemen today at their first seriously contested presidential election.
To set the scene, more than 90,000 police and troops will be on duty and voters must hand over their traditional daggers and firearms with security guards before entering polling stations.
At least seven people have so far died in clashes between supporters of rival candidates in this country where small arms are freely available and gun ownership is the norm.
President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who in June reversed his earlier decision to step down after 28 years in power, wants another seven-year term.
His name challenger is Faisal bin Shamlan, who has criticised Government corruption and performance, the increase of poverty and unemployment. He is not without accusations either, he has been embroiled in election-eve allegations that his bodyguard was a senior Al Qaeda militant planning attacks against US interests.
Yet his party promises a “reign of good and prosperity, of freedom and democracy, of love and harmony, of competence and honest administration.â€?
All this makes our domestic issues quite tame in comparison.
But my heart does go out to the country’s brave, free-thinking women who are denied the chance of standing as candidates, restrained by the rigid traditions of their men.
Compared to 18,760 men vying for political posts, there are only 137 women running in Yemen’s local elections. Almost half are being fielded by political parties and the rest are running as independents. I hope voters appreciate their strength, courage and commitment towards improving their lives.
Women’s groups have criticised political parties for not fielding more women, with some staging a protest march to Yemen’s presidential palace a month ago, demanding a 15 percent quota for women in local elections.
Huriyah Mashhoor of the Women’s National Committee, said:
“Men in Yemen want women as voters only, rather than strong challengers.�
With patience, persistence and determination, I’m sure there will be more successful women candidates at future elections, maybe even a woman President one day. Disappointingly, inspirational Surmayah Ali Raja (pic), who planned to fight to improve the legal and constitutional rights of women, is not a candidate this time round according to this, but I do hope she does not give up, that she will one day be a strong political and influential voice.
Update: 22 September, the President retains his seat there were no major problems, though some under-age voting.
Thnk you for such an informative post. How brave the women are, as you say.
Isn’t there an organisation that could go to these countries and somehow improve the democratic process?
That was a really interesting post, Ellee about a little-known activity in the world. Good luck to those women.
It seems most of the world “wants” what they have. By this I mean, they do not want democracy. (Am I correct in suggesting this?) Are we “right” to enforce our democratic system on others? I am not suggesting that other parts of the world are correct at all. On the contrary. The oppression of women is repulsive, and it seems the world is being hijacked by lunatics..
What do we do? Fight? Sit back & do nothing?
we in the west will “consume ” ourselves to death, and those in the east will “oppress” each other to death…( just a thought)
Nice post Elle, you are right that in so many parts of the world including west, women are not given equal share in power and administration. Even in India. the largest democracy in the world, there was bill pending in the parliament for the last 3 yrs to reserve 33% of the parliament seats to women. obviously there is lack of consensus among the political parties, even thou they all vouch for women power and participation.
Simon, The difficulty is imposing our democratic values on countries with different cultures, just look at Iraq. I would love to have been there as an election observer, making sure everyone could vote freely without pressure, though I wouldn’t like to have taken charge of their guns and knives.
Raj, Although it is disappointing to have a restriction imposed on the number of women MPs, it is quite a high figure. In Westmister, there are only 19.5% of women MPs and only 25.9% in the European Parliament.
I agree Ellee