Well it seems that the protests that started in Tunisia and Egypt and spread like wildfire through the region are now being met with overt violence. Libya is the most outrageous so far, Qadaffi killing thousands of his own countrymen because they are done with him. Just this past week though, Yemen and Bahrain have resorted to violence as a means to quell the protests and demonstrations. Many other countries in the region have increasingly restive populations, unhappy with their leaders, and ready for a change. How far will the violence spread before it ends? Hopefully soon, but looking at the history in that region, as long as the protests go on, there will be a heavy violent hand ready to instill "order".
Qadaffi, with the warning of the U.N. and both European and U.S. backing that military action will be taken if he does not stop, has ordered a cease-fire in words only. His actions, as reports have filtered out of the country, are suspect however. There are still reports of heavy artillery fire and killing still going on. How does one deal peacefully with a tyrant who is hell bent on staying in power even if it means completely wiping out any citizen of Libya who opposes him? I mentioned before that the most effective way to effect reform is through peaceful protests and demonstrations. However, how can it work when all the peaceful protesters are killed or driven into hiding for fear of being killed? I still advocate for peaceful reform, but maybe the "rebels" need a little assistance in ousting their corrupt leader. Am I advocating that the U.S. get involved in yet another foreign war? No, and thus far they have said that they will only offer support with any military action and that no ground troops will enter the country. The Arab nations have unified and asked for help in getting rid of Qadaffi, but if they see it as such a desperate situation, why can't they step up to the plate and take action? Granted, most of them are dealing with their own protests and drives for reform, but what better way to show the people in their own countries that they will not stand for killing innocent civilians than by getting rid of Qadaffi. The reason is that most of them will resort to violence of one sort or another in their own countries if it comes down to it.
As evidence, lets shift to Bahrain where luckily far fewer protesters were killed. Regardless of how many were killed, the government there still resorted to violent measures to break up the protests to try and regain what is according to them a sense of order. Martial law was declared making it illegal to hold protests and since then, the government has kept a tight lid on gatherings. As an added blow to the demonstrators, they just recently knocked down the central pearl monument which stood as a gathering place for the protests and stood as a sign of reform for the protesters. The government claimed it demolished the monument because it served as a bad memory of insurrection. It is obvious that the government sees things from one point of view only, theirs. It is only with the backing of 2000 Saudi troops that they actually put down the protests. The violence doesn't end in Bahrain where the former status quo seems to have been enforced for now by the leaders.
Lets jump to Yemen now where the most recent violence has errupted. As with the other countries mentioned, Yemen is also in the midst of demonstrations and protests against their government and leader. The government has disavowed any involvement with the recent violence that left dozens killed. They claimed they would investigate the situation and make amends. Is the government to be believed? Possibly. But the good news coming from Yemen is that the violence did little to quell the protests. Tens of thousands still stood their ground, in the past weeks actually forming a unified coalition to replace their ruler. It seems as if Yemen might still effect change in their leadership. However, it could be a drawn out process due to the heavy influence of tribal families in that country. Violence escalates quickly when a family member of a particular tribe is killed and seeing how most of the people in the country are armed, it could raise the prospects of a bloody civil war. My only hope is that the protesters stay strong in their resolution to effect change through peaceful means.
So where do we go from here. Violence can never be truly effective at eliminating problems or keeping order in a country. All that the violence does is suppress protests and demonstrations, it does nothing to solve the underlying problems or the resentments that citizens may harbor. These problems and resentments simply get shoved under the rug temporarily, the violence adding fuel to the already burning desire for change. If problems are consistently ignored, they will most likely become larger problems in the future, leading to an increase in bloodshed and death. Governments can no longer simply pay lip service to idea of change and democratic ideals. They must realize that through this interconnected world, one where Facebook and the Internet play a large role in bringing to light their grievances, they must become more transparent, open to discussion, and able to change their views of the way things are or should be. Most of these countries have ruling families who have been in power for decades and until recently were able to keep their hold on power. The down side to all this is that most of population in these countries lives in poverty. There is a small percentage who actually have the money and lavish it on themselves. Only through open change and democratic ideals can these countries become truly vibrant and productive. Autocratic rule, tyrants, and ruling elite do nothing for the economic prosperity of a country. In order to truly take a step into the 21st century, these leaders must step down and afford their populations the opportunity for more freedom and economic security. If this does not happen, the problems will remain and these countries will remain poverty stricken and stagnant. It is hard for us to affect much change, but voice your support for these protesters. They can now hear your voice through the internet. Let them know they have the support of others and are not in this battle alone. But most of all, if you live in a country where you have the freedom to protest, be grateful knowing that a good percentage of the world does not enjoy the freedoms that you do.
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