28 January 2011 By Osman Mirghani The rapid stream of news in the Arab world today
not only confuses people, but also causes them great
frustration. Even Tunisia, whose spontaneous uprising
was an inspiration to the Arab masses from the Ocean
to the Gulf, now seems to fluctuate between falling
into a security vacuum and chaos, and returning to the
old regime once more, but with a new façade. The
Tunisian masses are dissatisfied with the results of
the change they demanded, a demand which they paid for
with blood. They see attempts to abort their uprising,
and circumvent their demands. The government reshuffle
has been limited to replacing a few symbols of the
past era, whilst the same old regime continues to
dominate the transitional period. This is a phase
which is supposed to prepare the country for new
elections, to elevate it to a level of true pluralism,
freedom of expression, and freedom of association. In the Arab domain, some interpreted the Tunisian
uprising as a movement focussing on improved living
standards. Some believed that the main demand was for
economic concessions, such as aborting the decision to
increase the price of basic commodities. This was
thought to satisfy the angry masses, and return them
to their deep slumber. However, a correct
interpretation of the current situation, and the mood
on the streets of a number of Arab countries, would
show that people do not only seek to alleviate the
economic burdens they shoulder, but rather they seek
better political conditions, wider political
participation, and genuine freedoms. The numerous
political suicides committed by young protestors in
several Arab countries, inspired by the young Tunisian
man named Mohamed Bouazizi, perhaps reflect a state of
desperation and despair, as a result of deteriorating
conditions, a prevailing sense of frustration, and the
lack of change on the horizon. If there are no real
breakthroughs, the Tunisian case, despite the
uncertainty of its results so far, will be repeated in
other countries. Some nations suffer from a state of
congestion far greater than that experienced by the
Tunisians, prior to their outburst. The Arab citizen today no longer relies on the
official press or official spokesmen, in order to be
informed. There has been a credibility crisis
regarding such sources, which dates back to Ahmed
Saeed and Muhammad Saeed al-Sahhaf. The internet and
social networks have become sources where people
acquire information and exchange news. It is worth
noting that in this arena, rumours are sometimes
incorporated into the news, by those seeking
disturbance rather than change, or destruction rather
than reform. Frustrated by the state of affairs, the Arab
citizen is filled with suppressed rage at the
deplorable situation, and also at failing to make his
voice heard. He feels defeated by the state of
weakness and submission that has caused the Arabs to
feel powerless and humiliated, in view of the
prevailing state of fragmentation, rivalry and
tension. There is a lack of Arab consensus, a lack of
confidence, as well as a notable, rising sectarian
tone. Official statements can no longer convince people
that the situation has improved, whereas bad news is
always competing to be at the forefront of our media.
Anyone who follows a news bulletin on our screens will
find a daily account of the number of victims of Iraqi
bombings, a country ravaged by sectarian strife, or
the death toll resulting from militia wars in Somalia,
which have been a constant sight for nearly 20 years.
There is also news about the Arabia Felix [Latin term
for modern Yemen, lit. ‘Happy Arabia'] region, which
unfortunately is no longer ‘happy'. Internal wars have
broken out, and al-Qaeda has managed to infiltrate its
body, having fled from the Tora Bora caves [in
Afghanistan] in search of a new sanctuary where it can
spread destruction, in the region and across the
world. On the other hand, Sudan has shown the Arabs
what can happen when a government fails to establish
the principle of citizenship, and translate this into
a reality on the ground. While the heart [Khartoum]
drowns in a maze of politics, the other organs of the
body feel marginalized and abused, which prompts them
to bear arms, and seek secession. Sudan failed to achieve peaceful coexistence, and
thus paid a heavy price, namely its unity. It may
continue to pay even more if the situation does not
change. Yet Lebanon is another example of how
politicians fail to understand the need for tolerance
and peaceful coexistence between ethnic or religious
components, to maintain the unity of a country, and
end the bloodshed of its people. Today the Lebanese
seem to behave like the Bourbon Kings of France -
"they neither forget anything nor learn anything".
They are repeating the same mistakes that caused their
small country to bleed, driving it towards civil war
and a series of failed truces and constant quarrels,
which are often followed by armed clashes. Lebanese
politicians could not fortify their country and so
they sought assistance from abroad, thus opening the
door for years of foreign interference. The country
became subject to external considerations and
quarrels, making Lebanon a mere piece on the Middle
East's complex chessboard. Lebanon proved impossible
for all mediators, and frustrated all those who cared
for it. Today it is heading towards a new phase that
could prompt an unprecedented conflict. Palestine is in a continuous loop of frustration
and fragmentation, between Gaza and Ramallah. There is
no hope for the stalled negotiations, as detailed in
the recent damaging leaks. While the helpless
Palestinian citizen suffers, numerous reconciliation
efforts take place, and leaderships dispute over a
state that is yet to be born. This is a glimpse of the Arab vision that may help
us understand why Bouazizi's suicide has been an
inspiration to some young Arabs. We must listen to the
voice of the masses and find a way out of this
situation, before frustration wreaks havoc on
everything. Comments 💬 التعليقات |