Rhetorical Language in the Yemen Protests

Today the BBC ran a story on the President of Yemen, Ali Abdullah Saleh, and his recent orders regarding the protests, which have bee happening throughout Yemen. Saleh has ordered his police forces to protect all of the protestors, who have been getting killed recently during the protests. So far, the number of protestors who have been killed is up to 15 individuals.  Saleh was quoted saying, “The government... will continue to protect the rights of its citizens to assemble peacefully and their right to freedom of expression." My question is why would he want to protect the rights of people who are trying to overthrow his government, which he has retained power of since the late 1970’s?

I believe that Saleh is trying to use his language to inspire a new feeling in the protestors. At first, their protests were being met by violence by pro-government protestors and government security forces, but this new turn of events seems to cry a different message. I believe that Saleh is trying to gain back the trust of the people, a people that are plagued by a high unemployment rate and an extremely corrupt government. Saleh’s words seem very calm and considerate towards the people of Yemen, but can he really be sincere? He may be trying to gain the trust of the global community, whom has been watching his country’s government fall apart for the last several weeks. Nine of the members of the high government circle have stepped down since the recent deaths of protestors. Saleh has tried to meet the anti-government protestors’ wishes by vowing to step down from power in 2013, a whole 2 years away, but the people of Yemen don’t think that is soon enough. Saleh is in a very rough spot and is now trying to gain the trust of the people so that his government doesn’t fold around him. In some cases, concession to the crowd might be a good idea, but I believe in this case, Saleh has implemented this technique way too late in the game and has now made himself look weak in front of his people. A good leader uses his language to inspire and promote a sense of confidence in his group, or in this case, country. Saleh, through his language, has not come across as a strong leader, rather one who is indecisive and in a panic mode as the people of Yemen will soon enough reform the government.


The BBC. "Yemen's president orders forces to protect protesters." February 24, 2011. February 24, 2011.

<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12564248>