Abdul Baset Al-Qaedi: The crisis is inflicting the country from its north to south together with an economic crisis, while the opposing Joint Meeting Parties (JMP) passively acts. Are you waiting for the regime’s collapse to be the alternative?
Mohammed Al-Sa’adi: I think you need to reconsider your vision. What is lost in people’s judgment is the objectivity. As a responsible person in JMP, let me tell you that we do bear the national concern. This is evidenced by the national vision proposed by JMP in which the situation of Yemen at different levels is diagnosed and solutions are put forward.
AQ: Some say that JMP is pushing towards complicating the situation in order to be the alternative?
MS: The ruling party is weak. Solutions provided in the past are no more effective. We have selected the best ways through which the peaceful transfer of power can be made including elections. We are trying to follow electoral channels and mechanisms which lead to a peaceful transfer of power.
AQ: But you boycotted the last elections?
MS: We did not boycott. Rather, we demanded leveling the political field and repairing the electoral channels. The goal behind postponing elections lies on leveling the political field, in a way that could lead to a peaceful transfer of power and prevent the reproduction of the current authority.
AQ: Is the authority still alluring to the extent that makes JMP run after it?
MS: There are large and minor blights. If ascending to power would help stop the deterioration, then this will be a big gain. We are trying to reduce the damages and not to make profits.
AQ: As parties, why have not you reached any conciliation so far?
MS: The authority seeks a dialogue whose ends are decided beforehand by it.
AQ: But the authority says that you want a dialogue for which you condition the ends?
MS: Any calls for dialogue would remain useless unless the logic is sought. The authority possesses implementation mechanism and resources which the opposition does not possess. We seek a certain way and the ruling party wants it in another way. Once a tension between both parties exists, the process will remain with no beginning.
AQ: Why do not both sides provide concessions?
MS: The opposition sees that it has provided a lot of concessions during the past rounds of dialogues and finds it difficult to provide any more concessions. There is even no good will which could put the dialogue in the right course. The authority seeks profits out of the dialogue. The opposition has no more concessions to offer.
AQ: Speaking about good wills, Al-Eryani stated that JMP has no good will?
MS: With our appreciation to Dr. Al-Eryani who is trying to bring both sides tighter in a way that serves the national interest, such a judgment should not be passed by him. The opposition seeks the dialogue because it has no other option. The authority – which has other options – should consider dialogue to be the sole option.
AQ: Are not you concerned by the situation in the country?
MS: This is not only a concern for the political forces, but for citizens too. It is at the top of our interests and we are upset by the authority’s unchanging initiatives which act as if everything is natural.
AQ: In return, what roles do you play to contributing to keep security?
MS: The opposition’s resources are limited and it keeps on raising people’s awareness and it tries best to spread the principles of social peace and works to instill such concepts on them. We use the available media outlets – though limited – for raising awareness.
AQ: But your position of the Southern crisis and Sa’ada war, according to the authority, is not clear?
MS: The authority used to accuse people of wearing black glasses, but this is their case now. Right from the very beginning, the opposition stated clearly their position and stressed that the military option cannot be the solution as it makes things get more complicated, especially when we speak about Yemeni lands, Yemen people being killed in one place. During the first phases of war, there were no clear labels for war. The wars were launched suddenly and halted unexpectedly. The recent slogans mention that Houthis seek to have an independent state and the regime considers them to be rebels.
AQ: How do you interpret the American statement calling both sides to exercise self-control in Sa’ada?
MS: The American interest is a transformation in itself especially when what happens in Sa’ada should have attracted the attention right from the first war. We must carefully read the American interest especially when both sides are demanded to exercise self-control. We have over 100,000 IDP’s and locals have lost during these wars billions in losses of their houses, farms, etc.
AQ: Has the war started to take an international course?
MS: During the first war, there were accusations against foreign countries for involvement in Sa’ada war. At least two countries were accused and this is recorded in the official media. As to internationalizing the issue, the matter is open as to the first war. The mediation efforts of Qatar were a sign that the issue has been internationalized.
AQ: You were accused by Al-Jumhuriah newspapers of being ostriches?
MS: Official media are, with regret, administered by people suffering a word diarrhea. They just say the words without even understanding their meanings.
AQ: The national dialogue vision include federalism, is this contentment of JMP, particularly Islah Party?
MS: The vision will be administered over different rounds of dialogue sessions and political and social forces will be involved. Thus, the issue of federalism and other issues set in the vision are put for discussion and they are not solutions. Anything Yemenis come up with will be a product of the national dialogues and it will be bending to all participants.
AQ: Is Islah for federalism?
MS: Islah is for solutions. Our problems are not in texts but rather in thieves who loot wealth and people’s effort and struggling history. We have nice legislations, but they are not enforced.
AQ: We always move from an unapplied text to another, why does JMP’s initiative seek to enforce the current laws?
MS: It is without doubt that the current political system needs to be changed and changing the political system requires changing the legal and constitutional legislations. When we speak about the parliamentary or presidential systems or re-dividing the regions and local governance with full authorities and federalism, these things need the current political system to be changed.
AQ: Let’s assume that you – JMP- become the ruler; do you have assurances signals for the regional and international parties?
MS: JMP is built of different schools and backgrounds and this could be the most powerful message we can send to others. This variety is evidence that Yemen needs joint work. Future steps – based on transparency – would be appeasing for people. The future necessitates the cooperation of all political forces as well as involving nonpartisan sides like businessmen, dignitaries and sheikhs. The vision is named “the National Salvation” vision.
AQ: Yemen’s relations with Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Libya are chilly and tense with Ira