SANA'A: Yemeni activist abroad @NoonArabia started off a campaign entitled #No2GCCdeal on Twitter and Facebook using the power of the internet to mobilize wide public support. Although she instigated the move, Noon was merely putting into play what the majority of Yemenis were already thinking. In a matter of minutes, her online plea was picked up by Yemenis within and without Yemen; a movement was born. By lending her voice to protesters in Yemen, Noon has tapped into the very heart of this revolution, because more than of regime,Yemenis need Justice. For 3 long decades, this poorest country of the Arabic peninsula has lived in darkness, enduring corruption and injustice on a daily-basis, accustomed to a lawless system where only the rich and powerful were allowed to prevail, trampling over the poor with utter disregard and contempt. For 11 months, Yemenis have endured yet another tragedy as their fellow countrymen fell one after the other gunned down for their dared say: “No more! No more will I bow to the unworthy [Saleh], no more will I bow my head in shame for I am Yemen and I am legion.” (Quote taken from Twitter) And as the political class is becoming more and more every day the only entity which foreign officials are willing to talk to in regards to a power-transfer deal, Yemenis have decided to stand for their right and voice their opinion. As Noon so eloquently put it in her blog Notes by Noon “the GCC deal has only stalled the revolution and cost Yemen an economic and humanitarian crisis. Yemenis are suffering from shortages in electricity, cooking gas, fuel and water. More than 800 protesters have been killed since January and around 2500 have been wounded. According to government sources, 1480 have been killed. We demand a swift and firm UN resolution that stops the bloodshed in Yemen by freezing Saleh's assets and referring him to the International Criminal Court.” Yemen is finally coming out of its shell, finding the strength to speak up, it would be a good idea for people to start paying attention. Yemen is not the political class, Yemen is the people. The people say NO to immunity. BM
