Libya's lesson for Malaysia
Josh HongPublished: Aug 26, 2011 4:08 AM | Updated: Aug 26, 2011 4:12 AM
Let’s face it, as Muammar Gadaffi’s regime comes to an end, the innocent blood that was shed for a ‘new’ Libya must leave us pondering if democracy can truly be imposed in the form of war. Without sounding apologetic for the eccentric and idiosyncratic rule of the infamous colonel, I seriously doubt there is going to be a bed of roses for the Libyan people from now on.
Let’s face it, as Muammar Gadaffi’s regime comes to an end, the innocent blood that was shed for a ‘new’ Libya must leave us pondering if democracy can truly be imposed in the form of war. Without sounding apologetic for the eccentric and idiosyncratic rule of the infamous colonel, I seriously doubt there is going to be a bed of roses for the Libyan people from now on.
While the opposition forces may be hailing the imminent defeat of the tyrant, it is not to be denied that they could not have been gloating over their victory without the 20,000 air sorties and arms supplies of France, Britain and the United States.
International media tend to call it a civil war, but it is an internal conflict with clear evidence of foreign intervention. The right-wing Daily Telegraph, citing Whitehall sources, now reports that British intelligence officers have been helping the rebels plan their coordinated attack on Tripoli for weeks.
And for the third time in a decade, Nato - led by the US - has toppled another Muslim government by force. How will it play into the hands of those who are quick to exploit the Islamic plight for extreme purposes? Only time will tell.
Yes, the daily airstrikes were launched in March this year in the name of saving lives. How ironic that more than 10,000 civilians who could have lived on are now dead. I cannot help thinking back to the Iraq War in 2003, in the aftermath of which hundreds of thousands of Iraqis lost their lives, not to mention millions who remain displaced from home.
As the Libyan war progressed, western journalists and Nato authorities expressed concerns over a massacre of civilians in Benghazi and sexual assault against Libyan women perpetuated by Gadaffi’s forces in May. I once watched a CNN correspondent reporting with an embellished voice on these allegations, which Amnesty International failed to verify. It did sound like the WMD fiasco all over again.
Nato still searching for a new role?
Last week, I wrote of the resilience of the Cold War mentality. Four months from now, the world will be commemorating the twentieth anniversary of the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Isn’t it strange that the North Atlantic alliance is still searching for a new role?
The Cold War was as much an ideological competition as an intense struggle for political dominance and control of the world’s resources. There were moments of peace and detente, only to lead to the next sabre-rattling incident.
The peace process in the Middle East is among the most tortuous, and the world leaders should have seized every opportunity to sue for negotiation. But Gaddafi’s opponents and the West - with their eyes set on oil interests - have chosen obduration over settlement.
Democracy means accommodative arrangements and rational compromise must be given due consideration when necessary, which makes national reconciliation possible.
Despite that large segments of the Afghan and Iraqi populaces were resentful of the Taliban and Saddam Hussein, their removal by the western powers has not been rewarded with lasting peace and solutions for these two Muslim nations. I sincerely hope Libya will turn out to be an exception, but am feeling pessimistic due to the intricate tribal structure in Libyan society.
As the western powers set about dividing the spoils of war, an over-cautious China now stands to lose. The transitional government is not likely to isolate the emerging power by virtue of the latter’s sheer size, but Beijing will not be counted among the closet allies to a post-Gaddafi Libya.
China has miscalculated on Sudan, and cannot afford to have its integrity questioned by another important third world government. To arrest the slip in popularity, the Chinese leadership may have to consider ditching its sacrosanct non-interference principle.
But I am not here to dismiss that Gaddafi is reaping what he has sowed. His failure to root out abject poverty and to narrow the vast income gap has given rise to a distorted country: rich in oil reserves yet poor in human development. The absolute rule that he once jealously guarded allowed no mechanism to mitigate social tension, with even the semblance of dissent nipped in the bud.
It is against these symptoms of authoritarianism that Malaysia must guard. I am not suggesting the Umno government could be overthrown in a similar fashion. Far from it. Still, Najib Abdul Razak’s inability to put the people’s well-being ahead of partisan and personal gains may one day be met with electoral wrath.
Unlike Mahathir Mohamad, who opined recently that the split of the Malay/Muslim community in Malaysia could result in foreign intervention, I would rather think it is corrupt practices and blatant abuse of power by Umno leaders that could eventually consign them to history - and along with them Mahathir’s notorious legacies.
JOSH HONG studied politics at London Metropolitan University and the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. A keen watcher of domestic and international politics, he longs for a day when Malaysians will learn and master the art of self-mockery, and enjoy life to the full in spite of politicians.
While the opposition forces may be hailing the imminent defeat of the tyrant, it is not to be denied that they could not have been gloating over their victory without the 20,000 air sorties and arms supplies of France, Britain and the United States.International media tend to call it a civil war, but it is an internal conflict with clear evidence of foreign intervention. The right-wing Daily Telegraph, citing Whitehall sources, now reports that British intelligence officers have been helping the rebels plan their coordinated attack on Tripoli for weeks.
And for the third time in a decade, Nato - led by the US - has toppled another Muslim government by force. How will it play into the hands of those who are quick to exploit the Islamic plight for extreme purposes? Only time will tell.
Yes, the daily airstrikes were launched in March this year in the name of saving lives. How ironic that more than 10,000 civilians who could have lived on are now dead. I cannot help thinking back to the Iraq War in 2003, in the aftermath of which hundreds of thousands of Iraqis lost their lives, not to mention millions who remain displaced from home.As the Libyan war progressed, western journalists and Nato authorities expressed concerns over a massacre of civilians in Benghazi and sexual assault against Libyan women perpetuated by Gadaffi’s forces in May. I once watched a CNN correspondent reporting with an embellished voice on these allegations, which Amnesty International failed to verify. It did sound like the WMD fiasco all over again.
Nato still searching for a new role?
Last week, I wrote of the resilience of the Cold War mentality. Four months from now, the world will be commemorating the twentieth anniversary of the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Isn’t it strange that the North Atlantic alliance is still searching for a new role?
The Cold War was as much an ideological competition as an intense struggle for political dominance and control of the world’s resources. There were moments of peace and detente, only to lead to the next sabre-rattling incident.
The peace process in the Middle East is among the most tortuous, and the world leaders should have seized every opportunity to sue for negotiation. But Gaddafi’s opponents and the West - with their eyes set on oil interests - have chosen obduration over settlement. Democracy means accommodative arrangements and rational compromise must be given due consideration when necessary, which makes national reconciliation possible.
Despite that large segments of the Afghan and Iraqi populaces were resentful of the Taliban and Saddam Hussein, their removal by the western powers has not been rewarded with lasting peace and solutions for these two Muslim nations. I sincerely hope Libya will turn out to be an exception, but am feeling pessimistic due to the intricate tribal structure in Libyan society.
As the western powers set about dividing the spoils of war, an over-cautious China now stands to lose. The transitional government is not likely to isolate the emerging power by virtue of the latter’s sheer size, but Beijing will not be counted among the closet allies to a post-Gaddafi Libya.
China has miscalculated on Sudan, and cannot afford to have its integrity questioned by another important third world government. To arrest the slip in popularity, the Chinese leadership may have to consider ditching its sacrosanct non-interference principle.
But I am not here to dismiss that Gaddafi is reaping what he has sowed. His failure to root out abject poverty and to narrow the vast income gap has given rise to a distorted country: rich in oil reserves yet poor in human development. The absolute rule that he once jealously guarded allowed no mechanism to mitigate social tension, with even the semblance of dissent nipped in the bud.
It is against these symptoms of authoritarianism that Malaysia must guard. I am not suggesting the Umno government could be overthrown in a similar fashion. Far from it. Still, Najib Abdul Razak’s inability to put the people’s well-being ahead of partisan and personal gains may one day be met with electoral wrath.
Unlike Mahathir Mohamad, who opined recently that the split of the Malay/Muslim community in Malaysia could result in foreign intervention, I would rather think it is corrupt practices and blatant abuse of power by Umno leaders that could eventually consign them to history - and along with them Mahathir’s notorious legacies.
JOSH HONG studied politics at London Metropolitan University and the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. A keen watcher of domestic and international politics, he longs for a day when Malaysians will learn and master the art of self-mockery, and enjoy life to the full in spite of politicians.
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