Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Aug 30, 2011 Letters
Dear Editor,
Events in Libya are now at the centre of global attention. It has been nearly six months since attempts by the rebel force aided and abetted by Western powers have been trying to bring down the Gaddafi regime but with limited success.
It appeared that the rebels have finally succeeded in entering Tripoli which could be considered the ultimate test of the opposition’s resolve to see the back of the Gaddafi regime.
At the time of this article, rebel forces have entered the compound of Gaddafi but he was no where to be seen even though audiotapes of him were still being broadcasted, a reminder of Osama bin Laden who taunted the United States with his video messages until he was finally captured and killed a few months ago.
Unlike Tunisia and Egypt where there had been regime changes as a result of popular uprisings, the situation in Libya turned out to be much more protracted and costly in terms of destruction to lives and property.
This was due in part to the fact that there were no organized opposition forces to direct and coordinate the protest actions which was largely done by a group of like minded individuals with one common purpose, namely to see the back of the Gaddafi regime at any or all costs.
Gaddafi has been in power for over four decades following a military coup in 1969 which ranked him among the longest serving dictators in the Arab world.
He benefitted from the oil resources of the country which let him strengthen his grip on power and has been able to keep any opposition to his rule in check through a combination of force and tribal loyalty as well as from those who benefitted from his
largesse. His long rule was not without controversy, especially with the United States with whom he shared a patchy and often stormy relationship.
He played his political cards quite well and succeeded at one time in courting the friendship of the George Bush administration after he renounced his country’s weapons of mass destruction within days after the capture of Saddam Hussein with whom he once shared a common dislike of the United States and the west.
After years of diplomatic isolation US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced the restoration of full diplomatic relations with Libya “in recognition of Libya’s continued commitment to its renunciation of terrorism and the excellent cooperation Libya has provided to the United States and other members of the international community in response to common global threats faced by the civilized world since September 11, 2001.”
One decade later, the political and diplomatic landscape made an about turn. In the wake of what is described as the “Arab Spring” a movement against Gaddafi began to take shape across the country but more so in the eastern regions of the country where the strength and influence of the regime was not as pronounced.
Gaddafi responded by deploying his military and other paramilitary forces to attack the protesters.
However, he underestimated the strength of the opposition against him and suffered a humiliating defeat on the eastern front of Benghazi which eventually spread to the western towns until it finally spread to Gaddafi’s stronghold of Tripoli, which was also the seat of government.
As mentioned earlier, at the time of this writing rebels were in control of most of Tripoli but there were reports of sporadic fighting by forces loyal to Gaddafi even though his whereabouts remained unknown.
Meanwhile, a Transitional Council recognized by the United States and other western powers have announced an amnesty for anyone within Gaddafi’s ‘inner circle’ who captures or kills him and a USD$1.7M reward was also offered.
Head of the National Transitional Council Mustapha Abdel Jalil also announced that elections will be held within eight months in order to have an elected and representative government as opposed to the current assembly of disparate individuals whose only claim to fame is their ability to put Gaddafi and his cohorts in the dustbin of political history.
The fall of Gaddafi represents yet another stark reminder of what can happen when the masses rise up from their slumber and decide to take action to change a system of governance that was not only undemocratic but also repressive in so far as the majority is concerned.
One of the important lessons from the so-called ‘Arab Awakening’ is that the young generation is unprepared to accept a doctrine of rule based on cultural and religious dogmas and is becoming increasingly excited by universalistic values of democracy and freedom which for the most part have been denied them for decades.
Syria is also on the verge of a regime change despite frantic efforts by the Assad regime to cling on to power through the use of brute force and ignorance.
Yemen is also in a state of ferment and from all indications the days of the current regime is numbered. It is only a question of time before the regime there collapses under its own weight.
The lesson from these recent episodes in our contemporary politics is that no people can be held in abeyance for any protracted period and that the desire for freedom and democracy transcends the boundaries of race and culture.
Any individual or group that seeks to suppress such freedom is bound at some point in their political life to face the full wrath of the people in ways that they never could have imagined even in their wildest of dreams.
Hydar Ally
Please share this to every Guyanese including your house cats.
Apr 19, 2024
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