In his first appearance, President Saleh's son calls for reinforcing democracy, freedom and toleration principles

Member of the Board of Trustees of Strategic and Political Studies Center Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh – President Saleh's son – stressed that official institutions, civil society organizations and parties should work on reinforcing democracy, freedom, toleration principles in Arab societies.

Launching the 7^th meeting for the Arab Society for Political Sciences, Saleh indicated the democratic practices in Arab societies are new and all people in opposition and authority have to shoulder responsibility and benefit from democracy in a way that help push the development wheel and achieve sustainable development together with serving the nation.

Addressing the attendants, Saleh noted the responsibility should be shouldered by the elite who help in the decision-making process through providing scientific and objective consultancies that bring about best results.

He further emphasized that Arab politicians and thinkers should work on providing a message that goes in line with the regional and international circumstances, and new world reality, hinting that democracy, freedom and innovation principles should be deep-seated in order to create strong generations proud of their Arab belonging and identity.  

This speech is the first by Colonel Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh, commander of Special Forces and Republican Guards, and the chairman of Al-Saleh Social Foundation for Development, and comes after many political opponents inside and outside the country raised a number of issues relating directly to him including rule inheritance fought by opposition through what is called 'coalition for supporting army and security institution against individual guardianship'. 

Further, some political forces went beyond this limit to attack the charitable foundation he heads including Hussain Abdullah Al-Ahmer, a Member of Parliament, businessman and son of one of the political ruling elite's poles.

"We hear of a project called Al-Saleh for limiting unemployment or for residence and this contradicts the law and constitution as these programs have turned to be a continuous electoral publicity while using the public money," said Al-Ahmer.

As for retirees' issue, Sheikh Hamid Al-Ahmer in an interview with an opposition paper demanded Saleh to appoint a capable retired officer or a military personality from Lahj or Shabwa to become a commander for the Republican Guard or Central Security in order to prove that security and army are both a national institution and not a special militia.

Hamid Al-Ahmer, an MP affiliated with Islah Partry, further indicated that sidelining is practiced by Sanhan tribe, President Saleh's tribe.  

Speaking of President Saleh's son Ahmed, Hamid demanded him to give up the military involvement and to embark in the political work to prove his eligibility in case he [Ahmed] is trying to reach power.  

Political observers see that Ahmed is not seeking power and assure the opposition's fears are baseless as he always likes to remain away from lights and to avoid interference in different issues. 

Meanwhile, several politicians and opponents believe he enjoys a political insight and he is supporter of modernization side inside the ruling elite, endeavoring to create order and law and to combat corruption inside the military institution together with abolishing the dubious deals in the country. He also follows tendencies that go counter to the interests of some parties inside the ruling elite.

Politician and MP Yasser Al-Awadhi hints the current political conflict is centered on two projects: one traditional and other modern. He adds that supporters of both trends exist in both the ruling elite and opposition.

Observers stress the current situation is not a conflict between the ruling party and opposition, or between the traditional and modern forces; rather it is a conflict over power and wealth.  

Politician and head of Yemen Sons League Party Abdulrahman Al-Jifri stresses that any sedition within the ruling elite would plunge Yemen into a dark tunnel, hinting that President Saleh should restrict the authorities of corrupt officials among his companions though it is a bit difficult and built over decades.  

Al-Jifri maintains that reforms have become a pressing need and some people see these reforms would affect his interests and thus they try to halt them. 

Meanwhile, observers believe the tendencies and policies of Ahmed, who holds an M.A. degree in political sciences from a European University, would lead the country into the right path, firm security and stability and limit the corruption especially in the military institution which use up a great deal of state resources. 

Using the same resources, Ahmed managed to rebuild and develop the Republican Guard and this is evidence that things were randomly run there before his involvement. It is also evidence of his excellent management.

Again observers maintain the Republican Guard managed to quell protest events that took place following the increase in the prices of oil derivatives and it is an institution for the country and a key factor in its security and stability.   

They also assure he is against the tendency of referring military affiliates to pension and stress the Republican Guard has the least percentage of pensioners.