Ever since the news of Arab world started shaking with mass uprising raging against several Arab governments its echos began to be felt across our neighbouring State of China. Soon after the Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions a few citizens in China displayed allegiance to the fights for democracy in the Arab world two weeks ago. Sensing the mood of the people, the Chinese government then and there forced them to disperse and it won in its attempts to bring the situation under control without any untoward incidents. That apart the citizens maintained a close watch at the developments in the Arab world but they tried their level best to keep quiet. But the restlessness among them grew up simultaneously the big brother the Chinese govt too started watching the situation closely. Chinese citizens going through the internet got updated information of the rage of fire spreading across the Arab world, first Tunisia, then Egypt, third Libya, the Gulf nations like Bahrain, Kuwait, UAE, West-Asian nation of Iran, Algiers and Yemen.
The Libyan outrage threatening the very existence of a megalomaniac like Muammar Gaddafi and his efforts to brutally suppress the rebellion of the citizens who are bent upon ending his rule forthwith, still continuing with full vigour, the man is staring at a certain defeat at the hands of people whom he reigned and reigning for more than four decades. His predicament and predilections being watched across the world including Chinese citizens, the sand under his feet being gradually swept away, East Libya already within the grip of protesters, Benqazi too and slowly but resolutely closing in on Tripoli in the face of the ruthless gunning down of them by his powerful militia all reaching China where a semi-dictatorial govt is in power. True, a powerful dictator like Gaddafi is absent still a powerful collective leadership is very much enconsced there and a strong army - Peoples’ Liberation Army always at their service. It is widely known that human rights record of China is pathetic, even Liu-Xia-Bao, the Nobel Prize winner is languishing in a Chinese prison who is imprisoned for a period of eleven years. Each sign of resistance, the Chinese govt can’t digest and it is always on the watch out for such signals and take necessary measures to ward off them.
One thing is crystal clear and that is nothing other than the majority of Chinese citizens want to taste freedom which they value like food and clothes.
The other day fleets of water-sprayer vehicles roamed through the main street of Beijing, hundreds of policemen and security guards deployed with the rumours gaining ground of protests about to burst out but there was no visible signs of citizens gathering to launch protests.
The internet restrictions are already put in place, kind of censorship and an interesting news coming out is the very word ‘jasmine’ anywhere seen in the internet is deleted. ‘Jasmine’ always brings to Chinese govt’s memory the Tunisian revolution which is widely known as Jasmine Revolution. It is worth recalling that the first spark of Arab world flaring up started in Tunisia.
Yes, as Chinese Premier Wen-Jia-Bao while addressing an internet community in his diplomatic style mentioned about the fruits of reforms being equally distributed among the people.
But as a news report from China suggests China won’t under any circumstances tolerate dissent of any kind.
Chinese govt, it is taken for granted that, won’t allow any kind of uprisal to flare-up and it is determined to nip it in the bud itself. But how long it can prolong such a situation, how long it can hold on to restricting human freedom, something worth watching.
Its theory of economic freedom is okay but freedom of speech and expression far from okay is some kind of wonder if they are not willing to mellow their position one day they too will have to face up to citizens reprisals since democracy is an invaluable thing which everyone cherishes.
As columnist Bhaskar Ghosh in ‘Frontline’ noted Democracy for India is actually a blessing in disguise. The situation prevalent in Tunisia and Egypt such as poverty, corruption, unemployment, malnourishment et al are very much prevalent in India and the situation is ripe for a revolution but for the existence of democracy.
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