Gaddfi must step down and pave way for reforms
By Abbey K. Semuwemba
28th March 2011:- I disagree with people who argue that the international community should let the Libyans deal with Muammar Gaddafi in their own time and their own way. We should not support any despot who shoots protesters in the streets if we want to change the face of the world for the better.
The ‘big boys’ should also desist from sending military aid to such leaders who crack down on demonstrators. On the other hand, the ‘small boys’ should be encouraged to spend more on development projects instead of military hardware. After all, whatever they buy can easily be destroyed by the ‘big boys’ in less than 4 days as we have seen in Libya.
The best outcome however would be if the Libyans themselves could get rid of Gaddafi without excessive bloodshed. But we must bear in mind that tyrants often make it difficult for outsiders to build a clear picture of what is happening inside their countries.
Let us also bear in mind that there is more at stake here than just Libya. If Gaddafi’s brutal method of crushing the Libyan revolt succeeds, it might give other despots in Africa and Arab world the wrong idea.
In the 1980s, Libya also used to send mercenaries to kill its opponents abroad. Lots of lives were lost in the PANAM flight 103 that exploded over Scotland. Colonel Gaddafi has never been punished in any way for those murders.
There is a paradoxical argument that the Americans and the British are in Libya because of oil. It may be true! But I think there is a humanitarian side to this story too. The people of Libya need the ‘big boys’ to help them become free. Everybody wants to feel free in their home countries.
Gaddafi may have done a lot of good things [economically] for Libyans but he also chained them politically. There is no political freedom in Libya and I think this is the reason they are fighting him. I equate this situation to that of a woman who is married to a billionaire but is not free in her house. Such a woman tends to be miserable and can easily cheat on her husband with a poor man.
I was worried when the international community delayed to come out with an agreement on no-fly zone. It seemed as though the EU leadership had regressed into The League of Nations all over again: Ineffectual, bumbling, mumbling, endless discussions about definitions and little or no action on anything at all; more like our African Union (AU) today.
Libya was burning. People were crying out for help. But the AU did nothing. They have only come out to criticise the actions of the ‘big boys’ through press statements because that is what they are good at. That said, I agree that the ‘big boys’ should stop their double standards when it comes to solving conflicts in Africa and the Middle East.
For instance, Yasser Arafat once alleged that King Hussein [RIP] of Jordan had killed approximately 20,000 Palestinians during the “Black September” massacre of 1970. On that occasion, the Western “liberals” said nothing in condemnation. In September 2009, President Museveni’s soldiers killed 33 demonstrators [during the Kayunga riots] but nothing was done by the ‘big boys’.
As a Muslim, I can only excuse the Americans for their non-interference in Saudi Arabia because it has the two holiest cities; one of which non-Muslims are not even allowed to enter. But I don’t feel the same about Libya despite what Gaddafi has done for Muslims in Africa. Again as a Muslim, I don’t want Gaddafi to die like Saddam Hussein. He should step down gently and set Libyans free. Forty two years is a long time without political freedom.
The most important thing now is to prevent the West from intervening in future conflicts with lame excuses like they did in Iraq when what they really wanted was Iraq’s oil. At least this time they went through the proper UN channels before they intervened in Libya; and that was remarkable.
The question we should ask ourselves now is: What will happen when the bombings finally stop and Gaddafi is still, or isn’t in power anymore? END. Please log into www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories and anytime mid-week for our news updates.
