South Yemen former President, Ali Salem al-Baidh, who has lived in self-imposed exile in Lebanon since 1994 failed secession attempt, has called on Gulf countries to mediate a political solution to Yemen’s most contentious issue: the Southern dossier.
Al-Baidh who often has been accused to sow discord rather than encourage dialogue and compromise, has from the get go of the NDC (National Dialogue Conference) called for secession, adamant that South Yemen should be restored to its former glory rather than remain an inherent part of the Republic.
Al-Baidh actually told reporters he believed South Yemenis did not share the same culture or ethnic identity as their fellow northerners, a reality he claimed had led to much division and misunderstanding; that and the fact the former regime allegedly pillage southerners’ resources, acting more the colonial power than the benevolent uniting force.
With al-Harak representatives (Southern Secessionist Movement) more entrenched than ever in their refusal to commit to any political compromise with Sana’a, former President al-Baidh has called on the GCC to sponsor a popular referendum under the auspice of the United Nations
Speaking to Sky News Arabia in a televised interview on Sunday evening, al-Baidh noted that “Yemen’s unity had ended the day Sana’a chose to send its tanks against southerners.”
He added that Sana’a colonial attitude toward South Yemen and its political and social discriminatory policies had generated too greater rancour for South Yemenis to ever get over.
“The majority of South Yemenis favour secession from Sana’a,” he told Sky News Arabia.