ARAB SPRING TURNS TO ARAB SUMMER

Arab spring had its genesis in Tunisia, the North African Country in the year 2010. The widely acclaimed ‘jasmine revolution’ by which name the revolution is widely known across the world brought cheers to not only the Tunisians but the entire democracy loving nations across the world. Jasmine revolution which was a revolt against the autocratic government under the leadership of Zine-Al-Abidine-Ben Ali which lasted for a few months was made possible by the moral support extended by democratic nations across the world and the wide-spread publicity through social networking sites but the ultimate credit goes to the determination and courage shown by majority of Tunisians themselves.

As a result of the revolution the then autocratic Tunisian President Zine-Al-Abidin-Ben Ali’s, government was overthrown and a new dispensation had taken over. Soon as promised by the new dispensation a general election was declared and contrary to the expectations of many, the Islamic Alliance snatched power. Yet the hopes of majority remained high and they dreamt of new dawn and their discontents and disillusionments over the large-scale unemployment, widespread poverty, massive corruption, sky- rocketing prices of essential food items etc etc would be resolved soon. Their hopes and dreams were short-lived as the Islamist government in power was lukewarm in their approach towards burning problems staring at the masses.  With the ire and anger brewing again among the masses another rebellion was about to break out. In the meanwhile, the Tunisian Communist Party leader Shokri Belaid was assassinated supposedly by the allies of Islamist Government. The assassinated Communist leader was in the forefront of the jasmine revolution and was widely loved and respected by the Tunisians. The Islamist govt of Tunisia must have seen him as a potential threat to its irresponsible governance and that reason alone must have been the reason behind his assassination. Now that as a consequence of the Communist leader’s assassination it is reported that the Tunisian cities are once again on the war path. 

The Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia served as a catalyst in other autocratic nations like Egypt, Libya, Yemen and even the gulf countries where autocracy prevail.

If in Tunisia it was almost a bloody revolution in Egypt where Hosni Mubarak was ruling like a dictator since more than three decades with an iron-fist suppressing all the movements against his government and was leading an ostentatious life along with his family. Drawing inspiration from Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia about which the Egyptians learnt thru media and social networking sites, the majority of Egyptians seething with anger and raging fury against the large-scale poverty, widespread unemployment, women enslavement, alarming corruption and bribery and suppression of freedom movements decided to gird up their loins and fight against the authoritarian President who had by their time amassed billions  of dollars and deposited in foreign Banks till they scent victory. It was a fight against decades, long dictatorship of an arrogant ruler and their one and only goal was establishing a democratic govt which could take care of their needs favorably.

At the Tahrir Square, lakhs of Egyptians gathered and shouted slogans against Mubarak govt and demanded his immediate abdication of power. An arrogant Mubarak defied their demands and took the decision to suppress the rebellion with the help of his police and military. The more the suppression which turned a bloody rebellion with hundreds and hundreds of rebels gunned down by the authoritarian forces, the more determined were they to fight against the govt till Mubarak was ousted from power. At last the rebellion which lasted for months with thousands and thousands fell to the bullets, grenades and even bombs. At last the dictator had to flee from the scene and but was caught and incarcerated. The man was until recently facing trial for the misdeeds and it is foregone conclusion that Hosni Mubarak is doomed forever.

Celebrations by the Egyptians went on for days and it took a long time for the dust of euphoria to settle down.

A temporary government was installed in the saddle to pave the way for a free and fair general election in order to form a democratic Egypt.

Accordingly, a general election was held under the supervision of the govt led by the army and with the connivance of army controlled govt, Muslim Brotherhood under Mohammed Morsi came to power.

Thought the army was supportive of Mohammed Morsi govt, his first step was clip the wings of the army.

From the very outset Mohammed Morsi, the incumbent President displayed dictatorial tendencies which was/is not to the liking of the Egyptian citizens. If Morsi , to follow in the footsteps of Hosni Mubarak his fate also will not be different. 

In Egypt too the Arab Spring has turned to Arab Summer.

Libya where the strong leader Muammar Qaddafi was for ruling since four decades along with his family members were ruling the roost with an iron-hand too fell a prey to the Jasmine Revolution. The frustrated and indignant Libyans who drew inspiration from Jasmine revolution rose in revolt against the dictatorial govt of the Muammar Qaddafi which the so-called Libyan strong man took lightly. He was that much confident that with the loyal military by his side, the revolt of the rebels would fizzle out in the end. His over confidence and complacency led to his ouster in the end.

Military with all its might armed with sophisticated weapons gunned down the civilians in thousands yet they didn’t lose hope but with more optimism were determined to oust Qaddafi at any cost. While thousands and thousands were cold-bloodedly massacred, UN passed a resolution authorizing NATO forces to intervene in Libya to put an end to the large-scale massacre of civilians. With NATO forces emerging on the scene the rebels with much more confidence, courage and determination faced enemy forces and NATO forces too played their roles and joined the rebels in fighting against the Libyan forces.

The emergence of NATO forces and their active participation shook the throne of Muammar Qaddafi violently and his loyal Ministers and military leaders deserted him one by one and sought asylum abroad. Qaddafi’s fall was imminent, his wives fled to Niger and two sons murdered and one of his sons while fleeing for life was nabbed by the rebels.

Qaddafi ran for life and tried to hide at several places and at last fished out from a tunnel by the rebels dragged him down the streets, tortured and at last gunned down.

Libyans too celebrated the fall of the infamous dictator for days and the euphoria lasted for weeks.

A new dispensation occupied power but it couldn’t fulfil the hopes and dreams of Libyans as terrorist forces had sneaked into Libya in large numbers who rampaged the nation leading the country into anarchy. US Ambassador Christopher Stevens and his two or three sub-ordinates had to face the wrath of the militants and consequently Mr.Evans and his sub-ordinates had to fall prey to their wicked attacks which literally shocked the Americans. Libya is a nation with more than three hundred ethnic communities among them there were dissensions and they came about in the open later and played havoc across the country.

Arab Spring had to clear the way for an Arab Summer in Libya too.

In Yemen too the fragrance of jasmine reached and Yemenese too came out into the open and rebelled against the dictator Ali-Abdullah Saleh. The rebellion lasted for months and at last Saleh had to abdicate the power clearing way for a new govt. Nothing new has come out from Yemen so far. Whether Arab Spring would turn to Arab Summer there too? No idea.

Syria, since 2 years is in the throes of a bloody revolution with Bashar Al Assad govt on the one side and rebels, on the other side. Even at this time of writing this a bloody revolution is going on with more than 80,000 people already dead.