Saleh rebuts exit plans as GPC members ‘jump ship’

» SANAA — After days of delay President Ali Abdulah Saleh officially rejected a proposal that he step down this year and reiterated that he would remain in power until his term ends in 2013.

“The peaceful and smooth transition of power is not carried out through chaos but through the will of the people expressed through elections,” said a statement from the presidential office on Saturday.

« On Wednesday, leading members of Yemens political opposition, the JMP, presented Saleh with a five-point plan that would allow the president to leave power by the end of this year, after tens of thousands of anti-Saleh protesters demanded the president leave immediately on Tuesday.

The plan also stated that Yemenis should be allowed to protest peace

fully without fear of violence, that a committee should be formed to investigate attacks against protesters, and that the families of all protesters killed or injured should be compensated by the State. Finally, all political parties in Yemen would discuss the best means to transfer power democratically.

Early Thursday morning, officials close to the president said there had been an “initial acceptance” of the plan, but later clarified that the proposal was only “favourably received.”

» According to Saba news agency, a source in the presidential office said that the plan was « vague and confusing.

» The presidents rebuttal coincided with the resignation of several officials, social leaders, businessmen and parliamentarians from the General People Congress (GPC) in protest at the recent violence against peaceful protesters and continued governmental corruption.

« “My resignation came after years of dealing with a party that doesnt care about the advice and demands of its members,” said Abdul Aziz Jubari, a prominent parliamentarian who quit the ruling party last week.

» According to Jubari, the ruling-party bloc has paid little attention to the demands of the southern movement and the northern rebellion in Saada and a large number ruling party MPs are considering resignation.

“I think that many members will resign from the party because they joined it for personal interests in the first place,” he said.

« Jubari said that recently-resigned politicians will establish a » national salvation bloc to re-activate the role of the parliament.

Jumping Ship?

According to independent parliamentarian Ahmed Saif Hashed, the resignations of GPC members is too little too late.

« “Where were they [GPC members] last year when the Yemeni forces attacked people in Saada and cracked down on protesters in the south? These were far stronger justifications for resignation,” Hashed told the Yemen Times.

Hashed said some members of the ruling part are “jumping ship”now that the future of the GPC seems uncertain.

» “Some of these guys are just opportunists. They joined the party for financial reasons, that « s why theyve resorted to resignation so quickly,” he said.

» Journalist and political analyst, Jamal Anam on the other hand praised those who had resigned, describing them as « honest MPs.

Speaking to the Yemen Times, Anam said that the resignations were an indicator of the failures of the GPC and the steadfastness of the President.

» “The presidents stubbornness is damaging him and his party; he has lost many of his allies and most of the tribes have defected to the side of the anti-government protesters,” he said.

« “These members were ashamed by the governments recent repression of protesters. Their continuation in the party was causing them embarrassment with their families and friends,” he said.