Over recent weeks we have witnessed violent demonstration in Tunisia which led to the demise of Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali has stepped down after 23 years in power as protests over economic issues snowballed into rallies against him.
Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi has taken over as interim president, and a state of emergency has been declared.
Mr Ben Ali left Tunisia with his family, and has since arrived in Saudi Arabia, officials said.
Earlier, French media said President Nicolas Sarkozy had rejected a request for his plane to land in France.
Dozens of people have died in recent weeks as unrest has swept the country and security forces have cracked down on demonstrations over unemployment, food price rises and corruption.
This movement of mass disruption, pent up frustration against regimes long considered corrupt, inept and democratically non-representative have swept from the Tunisian capital Tunis to Egypt and its capital Cairo. President Hosni Mubarak’s grip on government is looking shaky. While these movement lift the veil of hypocrisy and all its inherent faults,.. one should be careul what one wishes for!
My argument is this: what do they plan to replace these regimes with, how are the life’s of the people going to improve over time, with so much uncertainty? What do these movement mean for life in the West? And for the countries in which they are taking place. In the first instance these regions who’s mainstay of economics is Tourism, can wave goodbye to their tourist industry for the foreseeable future as it will need a lot of trust building for the foreign traveller to return. Unemployment in the region at the moment stand at an all time high. This is the reason why most of the demonstrators are on the street in the first place. But tell me, how can destroying your most prominent source of revenue be the way forward? Don’t get me wrong, I do understand the need for change. Here in the West we must encourage these demonstrators to aim for a gradual movement, for inclusive and democratic change.
Whilst most celebrate the brave steps being taken by the people in the middle- East, heaven help us all if these movement for rapid economic and welfare balance sweeps into Saudi Arabia and Syria. We would witness in the West an unbelievable increase in the price of fuel, possibility of the democratic movement being hijacked by self –serving individuals or extremist who use the beautiful religion of Islam to make the situation worse. We should be careful what we wish for!
On a positive note, the events which unfolded in Tunisia has led to a more cohesive and understanding way of dealing with the movement for democratic change in Egypt. However, these are fraught times and although the armed forces have refused to fire on Egyptians,.. there is a need to maintain law and order or the ugly monster which lurks within usually well- meaning humans will out and looting may turn into general chaos. We all understand the CHAOS theory.
When change doesn’t come as quickly as desired, this leads to scenes of ugliness and lawlessness and eventually to anarchy where only the misguided are led by the should-know-betters! This is a time for men of God ( Islamic clerics ) to work with men of foresight to ensure a smooth transition. Egypt and indeed the region in which Tunisia and all the other countries sit is a continent full of historical beauty that’s had more than it’s fair share of pain. The West needs to be proactive and help these people to find a lifestyle/work balance. What they aspire to in wanting to be like the countries of the West Is not as free as it seems. Islam plays a big part in the life’s of the people of these region and mimicking or wanting the supposed freedom of the West could only lead to social ills, drug problems, western decadence, waste and footballers being paid £160,000 a week, whilst nurses average £20,000 a year. Yes, we haven’t worked it out in the west either. ( Priority! ) Yes the grass always seems greener on the other side but you still have to mow it!
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