Jeff Byrne

    “THOSE who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves.” — Abraham Lincoln.

    Turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa has dominated the news in recent weeks as a growing number of nations felt the effects of their people’s anger over decades of suppression and deprivation.

    Disenchantment sprouted in Tunisia where people power ousted Zine al Abedine Ben Ali. Next was Egypt where President Mubarak was forced to relinquish power. Revolts grew, spreading to Bahrain, Yemen, Jordan, Kuwait, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia and Libya.

    While most of the protesters claimed their action was peaceful, those in power were not prepared to roll over and violence and death followed.

    But none was so violent as the ruthless regime-of-one in Libya, Colonal Muammar al-Gaddafi, who has responded with shocking brutality leaving at least 1,000 people dead, with some estimates putting the death toll at more than 2,000.

    Gaddafi, at the age of 27, seized power from King Idris 1 in September 1969 when the king was seeking medical treatment in Turkey.

    He was allegedly responsible for actively supporting terrorists throughout the world and became a pariah isolated by Western countries.

    Anyone who heard his rants over the past week would have been chilled by his near hysterical response that he would fight “to the last drop of blood.” He sounded unhinged.

    Yesterday’s U.N. Security Council’s unanimous decision to impose sanctions on arms for Libya, Gaddafi and his family assets, set a precedent. Because it was unanimous and for the speed at which it was taken. And, because Russia and China both supported the resolution. These countries have in the past been loath to impose sanctions on any nation. This has been a triumph for sanity.

    What happens now in Libya remains to be seen.

    But what is happening in the region should not be seen as the spring of democracy in these countries, as some Western leaders believe. What is interesting is that these revolts have begun internally and, apparently without any Western influence. But, tribalism has long been at the core of power in these regimes as history shows and it is not likely to change.

    That Mubarak has gone from Egypt is no guarantee of democracy. The generals are now holding the reins of power — and the government will be of their choosing. We can only hope that with the toppling of brutal regimes, their replacements will be acceptable to their people, regardless of whether they are acceptable to the West.

    In Palestine, Hamas was democratically elected by the people of Gaza. That so-called champion of democracy, the United States, and Israel, refused to recognize Hamas which they regarded as a “terrorist organization.” Hamas members would see themselves as freedom fighters.

    With Egypt and Hamas opening talks on “reconciliation” at the weekend, perhaps Palestinians can hope for a brighter future.

    What these countries must be allowed is the freedom to develop their own forms of democracy if that is the wish of the people. The West has far too long meddled in the affairs of others drawing lines on maps that have divided nations.

    We should wish for these countries only what they wish for themselves.

    (The author is a Shenzhen Daily senior copy editor and writer.)