LESSONS FROM LIBYA

If someone were to tell me that we NEED NOT learn from the ongoing tumultuous events in Libya, or for that matter from the other troubled North African Muslim states, then my advice to them, particularly to our leaders today, is to rethink before it is too late. I take a serious view at the turn of events in these North African Muslim states, which is fast cascading into the neighboring Arab kingdom of the Gulf region, and Malaysia is no exception.

It has been almost 12 days now and it is obvious that the events in Libya are unlike that of Egypt or Tunisia, though many agrees that the causes for the people’s uprising is somewhat similar. French Human Rights officials estimate that a total of 2000 people have died since the start of the uprising, and many more will die if the uprising goes unabated.

On hindsight, Mubarak’s decision to quit was orderly, although initially he declined to accept his peoples demand for his removal. I think what prompted Mubarak to relent and to hand over powers to his newly appointed deputy was because he saw his powers slipping away due to the refusal of the military to support him in his cause. The same can also be said of Tunisia, but unlike Mubarak who had vowed to remain in Egypt and to die in his country of birth; the Tunisian President decided to defect from his country fearing dearly for his life and that of his family.

As at today, Muammar Ghaddafi who has been Libyan President for 42 years is still clinging precariously to the reins of power, although the military command (namely the regular army) is clearly divided now between those loyal to Ghaddafi, and those supporting the popular uprising. A number of cities are now firmly in the hands of the people, and a renowned Muslim cleric Sheikh Yusof Al Qaradawi had announced a ‘fatwa’ that Ghaddafi has to be assassinated.

The resignation of the Minister of Interior, Libyan Chief Prosecutor, senior military commanders including the defection of two fighter aircrafts to neighbouring Malta is a cause of major concern for Ghaddafi. At the international scene, several Libyan Ambassadors serving overseas has resigned in protest against Ghaddafi’s inhumane treatment in dealing with the protestors. Most western nations i.e. the EU, NATO, and including the US are considering punitive actions against Libya that includes sanctions, imposing a no fly zone over Libya, cancelling all forms of assistance, travel ban and freezing all accounts and assets belonging to Ghaddafi and including that of his family. There is also a call to quickly deploy UN Intervention Forces to stablise the security in Libya from escalating into a civil war.

Members of the International Human Rights Council have called for Libya to be suspended as a council member, and to investigate Ghaddafi and others for crimes against humanity.

While there is now some semblance of security and order in Egypt, the same cannot be said of Libya whose future is uncertain for as long as Ghaddafi remains in power. A defiant Ghaddafi has now accused Osama and the Al Qaeda for inciting the Libyan people to revolt by distributing drugs to the youth causing them to fight among them.

Now, having witnessed the events in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, what then are the lessons that we can learn from the people’s popular uprising in those countries. There are several, and I wish to list them (though not in any order of importance) as follows:

1. The military remains the most decisive organization that will determine the fate of a country that is at the verge of a civil war caused by a people’s popular uprising.

2. The military must remain free of any political influences, and it must recognize that it exist to defend the people’s rights first against the extreme abuses of its political masters. To remain subservient to the political masters despite knowing their abuses is a crime.

3. Politicians must understand that power lies in the hands of the people. In other words, power in the hands of politicians is discretionary, and can be taken away if the people so wishes; through the ballot box or at worse, by force.

4. To repeatedly ignore the voice of the people and to impose measures to quell dissenting voices is a sure recipe for disaster.

5. Political power should not assume absolute power over people’s power. Neither can political power be assumed to exceed military power. There has to be an understanding in the limitation and balance of power held by politicians, the military and the people. To be overawed by power is another recipe for disaster.

6. Abuse of power, corruption, repressive laws, poverty, escalating costs of living, ignorance and not heeding to the people’s wishes and demands, political rhetoric and curtailment of the freedom of speech and expression; these are some of the causes that can incite a people’s uprising.

Despite all that is happening in the troubled North African Muslim countries, there are still some among our leaders today who believes that Malaysians are unlike Egyptians, Tunisians or Libyans; hence nothing of the sort that is happening in the those countries is likely to occur in our country. This is absolute nonsense.

I say that the causes of a people’s popular uprising does exist in our society today, though many may disagree and claim that such causes are within manageable limits. There are some who claims that a people’s popular uprising is not a Malaysian culture. It is such thought that worries me and we must not be swayed by such complacency. The sooner we come to our senses, the better it will be for the future of this country.


CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

MUBARAK FINALLY RESIGNS

Jubilation reigns over Egypt. Hosni Mubarak, the modern day Pharaoh resigns. Vice President Omar Sulaiman announced a peaceful transition of power to the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces for the interim period. The military has remained non partisan throughout the turbulent 18 days of people’s protest. Who will lead the Supreme Council? Will it be Vice President Omar Sulaiman who was himself a former military General, or the incumbent Commander-in-Chief of the Egyptian Armed Forces Field Marshall Mohamed Hussein Tantawi?

Egyptian opposition figure Mohamed ElBaradei is reported to have said that “What I have been proposing is a transitional period of one year. We will have a provisional constitution. We’ll have a transitional government, hopefully a presidential council including a person from the army and a couple of civilians”

US President Barack Obama upon Mubarak’s resignation said “The people of Egypt have spoken. Their voices have been heard, and Egypt will never be the same. By stepping down, President Mubarak responded to the Egyptian people’s hunger for change”

Leaders across the Arab world have been watching closely the developments in Egypt since it began 18 days ago. Egypt, and like some other Arab nations are known to be repressive and its people mired in poverty. Custodial killings by their highly repressive police force and other state apparatus, are a well known fact. Corruption among those in power and the elite are blatant, while the people are left to share the crumbs.

The symptoms of the people’s disgust and eventual revolt is everywhere in the Arab world, and Malaysia is no exception. We must learn to recognize and acknowledge that the causes that had made the Tunisian and Egyptian people to reject their governments, is inherent within us.

Isn’t there corruption among our leaders, government officials and the elites? Isn’t there a custodial killing by our police force that continues unabated till this very day, and the victims’ families deprived of justice? Isn’t there poverty among our urban and village folks and the failed promises upon promises that poverty eradication will be given top priority; yet poverty persist till this very day? Do we not have repressive laws?

Someone has said that Tunisia and Egypt are not like Malaysians. We are not prone to violence and rebellion, but try and make the people hungry? The result will be that they will be angry and anger knows no limits.

I still believe that we should take lesson or two from the Tunisian and Egyptian people’s ‘revolution’ that had thrown out their repressive head of states. A people’s revolt or revolution may not happen in our generation and may be not in our children’s generation; but it may happen during our grandchildren’s generation.

Like it or not, it will eventually happen if the evils of corruption is not totally eradicated, economic hardship and poverty is rampant and promises hollow, rising costs unabated, repressive state apparatus and finally an authoritarian rule.

Let’s all pray and hope that we will not be infected by the experiences of Tunisia and Egypt.


CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

TUNISIA – LESSONS TO BE LEARNT

Let Malaysians be warn that what happened to the Tunisian President Zine El-Adidine Ben Ali, could happen to any other country, when the leader of the state is overcome by greed and cares little for his subjects, and the wife is too immerse in leading an opulent lifestyle that is likened to Philippine’s Imelda Marcos. We have seen far too many similar incidents in the past, and some leaders today still have not learnt that being powerful (even with military backing) and excessive wealth, they can be toppled like a deck of cards, by the very people that had voted them in.

What led to President Ben Ali being ousted is his sheer ignorance of the fact that his fate lies with the people. Even the mightiest military power that is protecting him cannot diffuse the people’s anger that resembles a raging burning forest, where everything along its path is smoldered to the grounds.

Closer to home, we witnessed the downfall of the all powerful Philippines dictator Ferdinand Marcos, and his sad demise while in exile in a foreign land. We also saw the powerful Shah Riza Pahlavi of Iran who despite having the mightiest military force in the region and with US backing, was forced to go into exile by a people’s revolution led by just a Mullah, where Shah later died a stateless person.

Now, will we ever see a likening of people’s power in this country today? Are we not being enlightened with stories of abuse by those in power i.e. by irresponsible politicians and government officials alike? Gathering thousands as a show of solidarity over some issues in this country is not too difficult. Demonstrations held in the past have been mild though, when compared to those held in Thailand or even Indonesia. Violent protest on the scale of what was seen in Thailand recently has not taken place in this country. And our leaders ought not to be too complacent about it.

I read so much about the abuses of the Sarawak Chief Minister and his crave for personal wealth. If the reports are true, he needs to rethink and take quick remedial actions to placate the people of Sarawak. The same can also be said of Sabah’s Chief Minister who is said to have amassed a lot of wealth. They ought to realize sooner that power is not forever theirs. It will be relieved off them at some point in time, and what former Selangor Menteri Besar Khir Toyo is going through now, is an example to ponder. Clearly, Khir Toyo has lost virtually everything i.e. pride, respect, honor and his integrity is being severely questioned. Now, only the court can save him his lost pride, respect and honor.

Today, Malaysians are faced with rising costs that do not seem to level off. It gets steeper by the day. My wife tells me that with RM100 will get her nothing at the market. Every bit of item is pricy, and I just wonder how my kampong folks are keeping up with their meager income. They too have a family to feed, and I do not think they could afford a RM100 in a single market outing.

I do not wish to dwell on the many faceted issues affecting ordinary Malaysians today. It is enough for me to just touch on one simple ‘bread and butter’ issue as I have alluded above, for I believe that people’s anger will peak when their stomach is empty. We may not see a revolution happening in this country, but we will certainly see a riotous people out to demand that they and their families be fed.


CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION