Chapter
8:
Case
studies
in
Wadi
Siham
The
TDA
was
the
sole
organization
to
take
some
initiative
to
try
to
solve
the
conflict
by
proposing
technical
alternatives
to
prevent
possible
damages
to
person
81’s
farm.
The
landlord
boycotted
all
initiatives.
TDA
could
not
get
any
help
to
force
person
81
to
co-‐operate,
although
it
sometimes
requests
the
help
of
“Mashaikhs”,
local
wise
men.
Since
the
district
government
also
bears
a
role
in
settling
disputes
surrounding
water,
four
years
ago,
affected
farmers
and
the
TDA
submitted
a
formal
complaint
to
the
district
director
to
resolve
the
situation
and
force
person
81
to
co-‐operate.
“But
so
far
no
response”,
said
Ameen
Saleh
from
the
TDA.
According
to
key
interviewees,
person
81
has
connections
with
influential
people
in
the
Government
or
security
who
back
him
up.
The
transitional
period
since
2011
contributed
to
the
continuation
of
this
situation
as
the
Government’s
influence
has
grown
even
weaker.
Affected
landowners
also
asked
their
neighbours
to
intervene
on
their
side,
but
they
lack
the
required
social
power
to
face
person
81
and
were
afraid
of
retaliations.
According
to
the
WSIP
manager,
powerful
landowners
have
a
great
influence
on
water
allocations
and
by
cutting
off
floodwater
from
smallholders;
they
aim
at
pressuring
them
to
sell
their
land
at
a
cheap
price.
Appealing
to
the
court
also
did
not
appear
to
be
a
fruitful
option
for
the
local
farmers,
as
they
pointed
out
that
the
court
does
not
have
a
“very
good
reputation”
in
the
area.
“We
only
know
the
authority
(TDA).
They
have
to
resolve
this”,
said
Hassan
Sagheer,
a
farmer
affected
by
the
canal
blockage.
According
to
another
local
farmer,
the
problem
with
person
81
will
only
be
solved
if
a
critical
mass
of
people
of
the
area
gathered
and
stand
against
him
and
if
this
was
not
possible,
he
(the
interviewee)
and
his
people
could
leverage
support
from
his
tribe,
t