Libya on the Edge



2011 Libyan Revolution Poster



For the past two weeks I have been following the Libyan events. Like with Tunisia and Egypt and the other countries of Northern Africa and the Middle East, the revolution in Libya is much more violent as the days go by. The last time I heard from the news there were more than a dozen people killed by Moammar Ghadafi's army and upon writing this blog there has been reportedly hundreds more killed. The Libyan people are tired of his socialist style government - the people need change, enough is enough and they like to get rid of dictatorship.

Like any other dictator Ghadafi has been in power for a very long time. That is 41 years of rule. He ruled this Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab country with terror and fear. Ghadafi staged a coup d'etat in 1969 overthrowing King Idris and putting Crown Prince Hassan under house arrest. He abolished the monarchy and proclaimed the new Libyan Arab Republic. Unfortunately his reign is synonymous with terrorism and corruption. His government is not only involved in local terrorism but also in international terrorism, one of which his name was involved with is the Lockerbie bombing of PanAm flight 103 wherein 270 people were killed.

At this point we are hoping that democracy will prevail. It will be a long and difficult struggle to depose a ruler who rooted himself and his legion for 41 years but I believe with people power things might just be possible to topple this dictatorship. Us in the free world wish the Libyan people find the freedom they are searching for. Good luck Libya and may your people find the true, honest and clean leadership soon.

Photo: 2011 Libyan Revolution Poster
Photographer: Yusuf Muhammad
Photo Link:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/scape14897/

1986 Philippine People's Power Revolution

Millions of people at EDSA Highway calling for Marcos to step down

The resignation of Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak is victory to the Egyptian people, I truly believe that the Egyptian revolution showed us democracy at work. It did force the end of the 30 year authoritarian rule.

This event in Egypt reminded me of the same revolution that happened in the Philippines 25 years ago. I was there when it happened and it was an event that shook Philippine politics (for awhile) and made Filipinos proud. This event as most people know is the People's Power Revolution which ended 21 years of the Marcos regime. The administration of President Marcos (together with his wife Imelda Marcos) was marred with corruption, nepotism, despotism and human rights violation. The regime saw the development of infrastructure and construction of great highways throughout the Philippines but amidst all of this the lavish lifestyle and corruption of the political elite was getting too much whilst the country's poverty and economy is sinking. This aggravated the Filipinos and most especially the assasination of the late Senator Benigno Aquino nailed its toll on the Marcos administration. Aquino was considered by the Filipinos to be the best politician to replace Marcos. The people's revolution was also set in motion when the president's Defense Secretary Juan Enrile and General Fidel Ramos started a coup d'etat to overthrow the Marcos government.

It was a great revolution. It lasted from Feb. 22-25, 1986 and is still considered to be one of the most peaceful and bloodless revolution. The military, the Catholic church, and the Filipino people, rich or poor were all united in their objective - to end the 21 years of Marcos dictatorship. In the end Marcos and his family fled and left the country through the help of the United States. The country hailed their new president, in fact the Philippine's first female president and her name is Corazon Aquino...and the rest is history.

Tunisian Revolution 2010-2011



Tunisians demanding the ouster of President Ben Ali

 The revolution of the Tunisian people is also one of the major events that happened end of 2010 and ended when its president, President Ben Ali who ruled the country for 24 years was finally ousted mid January 2011. It was good news that the revolution ended just over a month. Again as it is with all types of government whose presidents had ruled for more than 15-20 plus years, the people of these countries will come to a point when they will protest "enough is enough." They will demand for a new president and a new administration. Unfortunately most presidents who rule a country for a long period of time are usually intoxicated by their power and eventually that is when corruption within their administration starts.

In Tunisia the people's demonstration is about government corruption, the lavish lifestyle and illicit business deals of the presidency including the president's wife and family, unemployment, food inflation, freedom of speech and poor living conditions. The incident that greatly instigated the revolution was the self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi (dousing himself with flammable liquid and setting himself on fire). He did this because a policewoman who confiscated his unlicensed vegetable cart fined him a day's wage. The policewoman also slapped and spit on his face and insulted his deceased father. Humiliated he went to the provincial headquarters in Sidi Bouzid to complain only to find out he was to be ignored by local officials. After an hour Mohamed Bouazizi came back to the provincial headquarters and set himself on fire. This incident outraged the Tunisian people (even more) who in the first place are really unhappy with their government. The coming days and weeks to come saw an intense Tunisian Revolution. The revolution demanding the ouster of its president, a change of administration and a better Tunisia. Sadly some people committed suicide to protest against the government, violent clashes between the Tunisian military and civilians occurred, looting and some civil unrest amongst the Tunisians. Finally on Jan. 14th, President Ben Ali fled the country to Malta. Presently, the government of Tunisia is slowly rebuilding their government. We must all hope for a better future for Tunisia and its people.

Once again it shows us that presidents are public servants of their country. Any ruling party should be fair and should only stay in power for the duration mandated by their constitution. Yes I know...i know it is wishful thinking but that is what we can hope for, unfortunately not all governments and ruling parties are the same.

Photo Credit: Tunisian Protest
Photographer: Khaled Abdelmoumen
Photo Link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rais58/

Egyptian Revolution 2011 - In Progress



Egyptian men praying for a peaceful revolution

It has been two months since I last posted, it is not always easy to post and blog but I figured that people, though they may not be regular followers of this blogsite are checking it every now and then and I owe it to them or to you the readers (especially to some journalists from India who encouraged me to keep blogging)to keep this blog active for as long as I have the means to write.

Anyway the latest issue that I am following is the Egyptian revolution of 2011. I am not a political type of person (in fact, in my opinion politics is one of the boring subjects ever) but I am closely following the development of events presently happening in Egypt. Personally, I like the idea that the Egyptian people are standing up and are voicing their dislike to the authoritarian-type government that has been ruling the country for thirty-years, aside from the very long regime reports of corruption and nepotism are also allegedly happening.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has been in power this long and in fairness to him he has done great things for his country and has played a big role in Arab-Israeli peace relations but sometimes there comes a time when all good things should come to an end and I think this is it...the people are tired of his government and they need change. A change for a better Egypt for the 21st century. Perhaps a new leader will be better than Mubarak, (besides Mubarak has done enough for the country so he should now move on and give others parties a chance), what angers the people is that Mubarak is reportedly grooming his son to be the next president and this is not right at all. If the allegations are true then this is nepotism or maybe he would just like to make a dynasty just like the Egyptian pharaos of long ago. Other complaints about his administration is the economy of the country, corruption and jailing of his political opponents.

Sign says: No negotiations, No talks, until Mubarak Leaves!

Hopefully, Mubarak will concede to the wishes of the people and set up a fair-and-square election. I hope this mess ends up peacefully without any bloodshed or civil war amongst the people and most of all I hope no element of radical Islamic ideals will be able to penetrate and influence the good ideals of the Egyptian people. In the meantime let us pray and wait.

Photo Credits: Egyptian Men Praying for Peaceful Revolution and No Negotiations
Photographer: Iman Mosaad
Photo Link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/imosaad/