Libyan Revolution - Rebels and the Qaddafi Supporters - Essay Example

?Sur Libyan Revolution In MLA Style Full Sur 2 Introduction Qaddafi’s 4-deacade regime has been tested by rebellious groups and has tried to oust the long-term tyrant leader. The rebels try to topple the current regime and establish a new one of their own. This continuous fight against the current leader of Libya is what this paper talks about. It touches on the underlying issues that have come into surface, both the rebels’ and Qaddafi’s platoon. It discusses the points that have pushed the citizens of Libya to an upheaval, as well as their opponents’ – the Qaddafi regime, to wanting to stay in power. Through the end of the paper, the reasons of the tyrant leader behind the desire to stay in power are tackled and the implications the regime has brought to Libya and the possible dreadful effects if the current tyrant leader will remain. Qaddafi’s Failure Libya’s leader for more than four decades, Muammar Qaddafi, has failed to protect its people. Under the emergent international law, it is the duty of a nation’s leader to protect its people at all costs. As a leader, it is a responsibility to serve the country and the people in it without self-vested interests. Unfortunately, Qaddafi failed in all these. (http://www.csmonitor.com/World/terrorism-security/2011/0223/Libya-corruption-cult-of-personality-drive-Qaddafi-s-grip-on-power-WikiLeaks-cable) Before entering Benghazi, Qaddafi vowed that he will show no mercy to those people who express negative thoughts about the tyrant regime. Reports show a number of unmerciful executions, indiscriminate shootings and rapes. He called the military action to put an end to these revolts. The actions of this regime are unbecoming for Surname 3 someone who is supposed to protect its people. A huge picture of injustice is vividly present in the soil of Libya. As a result, a massive uprising has started. He ignited the fire that’s burning in the hearts of his people to unite themselves and hold such upheaval against his tyranny. The world has witnessed tremendous change in the minds of a Muslim world. The rejection of Al-Qaeda’s preaching and the act of embracing the ideals of freedom that republic countries highly cherish are visible now in the actions of the Libyan citizens. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/libyan-forces-fire-on-mourners-at-funeral-again-as-death-toll-rises-to-more-than-200/story-e6freuy9-1226009324524 Corruption in Libya is also widespread. According to the Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index in 2009, Libya ranked a130th of 180 countries. (United Nations, 2010) The Qaddafi government’s integrity has been undermined by favouritism that is based on connections – family and personal. The Qaddafi clan is exercising a near-full control of the major government decisions. See table below Surname 4 The wealth that the Qaddafi clan has accumulated through the assistance of international corporations in the years of the leader’s regime helped ensure his control of Libya. The tens of billions of dollars is said to be the source of payment to his soldiers, mercenaries and allies that help him to stay in power or at least delay his removal form his position. (Unknown, 2011, p 65) This clearly shows how corrupt the Qaddafi government is and one the many grounds for his removal. The Qaddafi government has exploited not only the business sector that is willing to do business with him but also the willing governments. Banks in Libya have gathered profitable fees by helping Iran launder massive sums of wealth in violation of the international sanction sin Tehran. Staying in Power Shutting down communications, refusal of foreign press and killing protesters are some of the ways of the dictator, Qaddafi, in order to sustain power over Libya. Just like any other dictator, Qaddafi would like to stay in power. Hundreds of supporters have offered themselves to be his human shield in case of bombings inside the Qaddafi compound. Supporters say that they are one with the leader and if someone tries to shoot their leader, they should be shot first. The uprising has been an on going armed conflict between the protesters and the Qaddafi regime. The protesters have been calling to have the dictator of 42 years ousted. The series of protests have made the government struggle in taking back its control of the country, except for Tripoli. The government have resorted to recruiting domestic and foreign mercenaries in order to replenish the government’s forces to sustain the regime. As the reinforcements have arrived, Qaddafi’s forces rallied Surname 5 eastwards to regain its control over a number of cities – Brega, Ra’s Lanuf and Bin Jawad in March. Although the government announced a cease-fire on March 18, they continued bombing Misurata and have started attacking Benghazi. This tactic has been used by the Qaddafi regime in order to take control of those cities, again. (Unknown, 2011, p 78) Map of Libya The actions of the Qaddafi government are evidently due to their thirst for power. Delving deeper into the character of the Libyan leader, Qaddafi attained his position over a revolution, which he led in 1969 that ousted King Idris. He has been powerful since 1969 and this has evolved and developed over the years of his regime in the land. He has maintained and gained allies and has maintained his power over the Surname 6 decades. How is this possible? He has been able to manoeuvre all the factors a manipulative dictator has to have in order to stay in power for a long period of time. He was able to abolish a monarchy and turned it into a republic, which motto were freedom, socialism and unity. Digging into history, his republic regime, in lieu to the previous monarchy is a complete irony. Libya never experienced a real republic. All these years, Libya has been a monarchical republic; having one leader in 42 years. Whatever happened to his regime’s motto “free, socialism and unity? The principles of his regimes have been evidently forgotten based on the recent events. You do not resume power over someone if you already lost it. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-10/qaddafi-s-end-depends-on-one-power- stepping-up-annette-heuser.html The uprising that has happened in Libya only shows that the dictator already lost his power over his people. This divide that caused the revolts in the different cities of Libya depicts a regime that has lost control of his people. Unity is not evident in his regime today, except for the unity of his protesters to stand and profess their grievances against his suffocating, humiliating, tyrant leadership. Conclusion Looking into the uprising happening in Libya, it is evident that the citizens are divided into two – the rebels and the Qaddafi supporters. This civilian clash is an interesting fact in the intervention of the United Nations (UN). This Security Council Resolution is considered to be UN’s Chapter VII resolution that states taking action on anything that threatens international peace and security and to take military or non-military force to “restore international peace and security.” As stated in the Surname 7 charter, it pertains to “international security” and not “domestic security”. It has been an argument whether the intervention of the UN is right or wrong. The UN Security Council has authorized the use of air attacks and a no-fly zone over Libya to defend its civilians from the forces loyal to Qaddafi. The members of the UN evidently have modified their thinking to include the use of force in situations involving “threats to security” in general, rather than interpreting it as attacking across boarders. Clearly, the Qaddafi regime has violated human rights, and has committed mass killings in the recent uprising of Libyan civilians. These acts of violence have definitely violated the responsibilities of a national leader in protecting its citizens. The Qaddafi government has failed in protecting its people and only tried to regain control over the country by terrorizing its own people. With these, sanctions to the people involved in the Qaddafi regime should be implemented. Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 44 of the Convention: Third and Fourth Periodic Reports of States Parties Due in 2005 : Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. Geneva: United Nations, 2010. Print. Unknown, . Libya. Lonely Planet Publications, 2011. Print. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/libyan-forces-fire-on-mourners-at-funeral- again-as-death-toll-rises-to-more-than-200/story-e6freuy9-1226009324524 http://www.csmonitor.com/World/terrorism-security/2011/0223/Libya-corruption- cult-of-personality-drive-Qaddafi-s-grip-on-power-WikiLeaks-cable http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-10/qaddafi-s-end-depends-on-one-power- stepping-up-annette-heuser.html Read More