People's Power:Who's Next ?

Hantu Laut

It started most unexpectedly in Tunisia that dethroned Ben Ali's 24- year rule , spilled over to Egypt that forced out Hosni Mubarak's 30 year totalitarian regime.Spread like wildfire to Yemen, Bahrain and Libya which have not flared up completely but are likely to end up in the same fashion.

The waves of people power that first engulfed Tunisia seemed contagious to spread even more.

Libya, the most unexpected, is on the verge of collapse that will see the longest serving Arab despot exiled or dead.A leader with a penchant for Bedouin tents, heavily armed female bodyguards and blond Ukrainian nurses had mind-caged his people for over 40 years under rule of fear.

US President Ronald Reagan called him a "mad dog" and bombed Libya in 1986 in retaliation of the West Berlin disco bombing by Libyan agents that killed 2 American servicemen and a woman and wounding 200 others.Subsequent event, the tragic bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland that killed 270 people linked to Libyan agents. The US accused Gaddafi of sponsoring terrorism and got the UN Security Council to pass trade and economic sanctions on Libya.Sanction was lifted in 2003.

Libya, is now a war zone of civil unrest that have turned bloody with Gaddafi using the might of his military to crack down fiercely on demonstrators against his 42-year despotic rule.Over 500 civilians have been killed by the army and forces friendly to him.

In pure desperation to hang on to power Gaddafi even deployed fighter jets and helicopters to strafe protesters and civilian population.Two of his pilots refused to obey the order defected to Malta with the jet fighters and the pilots seeking political asylum.Obviously, he wanted to inflict maximum collateral damage to scare the population.

The current trouble in Libya seemed imminent that Gaddafi days are numbered.He has resorted to excessive violence and bloodshed to stay in power.He vowed to fight to the end and die as a martyr.A tyrant or despot is more befitting of him.Killing your own people to preserve yourself does not make one a martyr.

He appears to be losing support of his army.Of the 45,000 strong regular army only about 5000 are still loyal to him.It was reported that he has ordered oil sabotage by blowing up pipelines to the Mediterranean.He may be copying Saddam's scorch earth policy when the Iraqi army exited Kuwait.

The story is the same wherever you go in the Arab world, despotic rule and leaders taking liberty of the nations wealth and couldn't care two hoots about the people and nation.

A new awakening is hitting the Arab world where tyrants, despots and dictators ruled with impunity, disenfranchising the people, looting the country's wealth without any remorse and sense of shame. In the name of the religion they have suppressed the people, stole the nation's wealth and ravaged the country.

Spontaneous uprising to centuries of suppression in the world of despotism and primeval feudalism. Brutal leader who ruled by fear and violence and run the country as their own business empire, enriching themselves and their families.From Morocco spanning the Arab countries of Northern Africa to the Middle East the story is the same.Brutal and greedy leaders who overstayed their welcome.

Bahrain, is ruled by the Sunni Al Khalifa royal family. A shimmering hatred against the ruler by the majority Shia population has now boiled over. Saudi Arabia, ruled by the Al Saud royal family, the most repressive regime, rife for political change, is sitting nervously not knowing when it will be their turn.

We have seen it in the Philippines, we have seen it in Indonesia, we have seen it in the Arab world.

People's power! Who's next?

Also read:
How Qaddafi Lost Libya