I was walkin' down the street
In the town where I was born
I was movin' to a beat
That I'd never felt before
I have been unable to find a comprehensive timeline of the events going on in Libya. Instead I will summarize a few articles that discuss the major events of the Libyan Revolution. Protests began on February 17,2011, named the Day of Anger by groups who used social networking sites to organize.
Gaddafi Hits With Deadly Force
Gaddafi wasted no time in responding violently to the protests. Just four days in and the death toll is upwards of 300. Gaddafi's forces are firing straight on crowds of protesters with no hesitation. The protests are located mainly in the eastern cities of Benghazi, Baida, Ajdabiya, Zawiya and Derna. They will eventually spread to the capital, Tripoli. Already Libyans are frustrated with the lack of international intervention or support because of the rising number of deaths. "Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said Saturday he will not "bother" Gaddafi over the violent incidents."
So I opened up my eyes
And I took a look around
I saw it written 'cross the sky
Gaddafi blames unrest on al-Qaeda
This article just proves the craziness of the Libya leader. In a speech on February 24, 2011, Gaddafi proclaimed that Al-Qaeda had drugged his people and then incited them to revolt. The young people were supposedly given hallucinogenic drugs in their NesCafe(a popular brand of instant coffee in North Africa) and that is why they are protesting, revolting, and calling for a revolution. Gaddafi also claims that he is more of a symbolic leader and that there is representation for all his people. However, if this were true, than he would have much less of a problem stepping down and would not have had the ability to order the military to shoot on its own people.
The Revolution starts now
yeah, the revolution starts now
As Gaddafi wages war against a popular uprising, Libyan exiles explain how terror has long been a tool of the regime.
This is a video that details the events of the revolution and gives insight to the regime's general practices through the eyes of exiles living abroad. The first video shows a clip of one of Gaddafi's speeches in which he states "I have my gun and I will fight until the last drop of blood" and "We will march in the millions to cleanse Libya inch by inch, house by house, street by street, person by person."
Witnesses of Gaddafi's regime who have been in exile since the 1970s talk about instances of protest in which students were shot, killed and hung in front of their friends and family. They have been waiting in exile for Gaddafi to be removed from power so that they can one day return to Libya and live without fear. Even in exile they are not safe. Gaddafi has hitmen sent all around the world to stop his dissidents.
There are five different people in exile and each give their accounts. Each one also has a small biography listed below the main video.This video gives a very good depiction and the general idea of the Libyans in exile can be understood. This video is a good 30 minutes long, but well worth it.
The revolution starts now
When you rise above your fear
Obama: Its time for Libya's Gaddafi to Go
On February 27, 2011, President Obama and Germany's Chancellor, Angela Merkel had a telephone meeting about the situation in Libya. Up until this speech, the US response to the revolution was very non committal. There were legitimate reasons for this hesitancy however. US citizens who were in Libya for whatever reason, needed to be gotten out safely before the US took a definitive stance on the issue. Those citizens could have been put in great danger in the US had immediately supported the rebel groups. This speech calls on Gaddafi to stop massacring his people and to step down. Obama states that the Libyan people have spoken and that their wishes should be respected. No government has the right to rule without the approval of its citizens.
And tear the walls around you down
The revolution starts here
Libya: The Propaganda War
This video discusses the idea of proaganda. The situation in Libya has been greatly effected by media from both sides of the conflict. Each side has its own propaganda that it is promoting and truth can sometimes be difficult to find. The video also talks about how specific words are very important in a conflict like this, for example choosing to call this a civil war is much different than calling it an uprising or a revolution. Very good video, you only need to watch the first 10 minutes.
Where you work and where you play
Where you lay your money down
What you do and what you say
The revolution starts now
Yeah the revolution starts now
UN Authorizes No Fly Zone Over Libya
After what some may say was too long of a hesitation, the UN has authorized the military enforcement of a "No-Fly Zone" over Libya so that Gaddafi's forces will be severely limited in attacking the people. The United States and France were to lead the military efforts temporarily until another international organization like NATO is able to take control. Gaddafi's land forces are also allowed to be interrupted militarily if there is a threat to the Libyan people. The goal, however, is not to kill Gaddafi or force him to give up power through military means. Economic sanctions and social pressure are the means that individual countries can use to convince Gaddafi to step down.
Obama Strongly Defends US Military Action in Lbya
President Obama has come under fire for his decision to send troops to Libya in support of the UN's decision on a "No-Fly Zone". Many in the US are wondering why the US is involved in another Middle East conflict and are reluctant to support this cause. Obama has made it clear that this is not a forced regime change like that in Iraq. The US troops are there for the purposes of the UN's initiative and for nothing else. "Some nations may be able to turn a blind eye to atrocities in other countries. The United States of America is different. And as president, I refused to wait for the images of slaughter and mass graves before taking action."
Yeah the revolution starts now
In your own backyard
In your own home town
so what are you doin' standin' around?
Just follow your heart
The revolution starts now
Mapping Libya's Uprising
If you would like to keep up with the Libya conflict, here is a very helpful map. It charts all the cities and territories in Libya that are in the news and marks who is in control of what.
Showing posts with label Revolution. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Revolution. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Everybody Look What's Going Down Part 1/4
There's something happening here,
What it is ain't exactly clear
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
Revolution(noun)- 2b. a fundamental change in a political organization; especially the overthrow or renunciation of one government or ruler and the substitution of another government or ruler.
Protest(noun)- 2. The act of objecting or a gesture of disapproval especially: a usually organized public demonstration of disapproval.
Timeline of Tunisia's Jasmine Revolution:
December 17, 2010- Mohammed Bouazazi douses himself in paint thinner and then sets himself on fire in front of a local municipal office in Sidi Bouzid in protest of police brutality, a lack of human rights, job loss, and overall poverty. This sparked more protests all around the country.
December 20, 2010- A 10 million dollar employment program is offered to Sidi Bouzid in a failed attempt to appease the protesters.
December 22, 2010- Houcine Fahli electrocutes himself in protest of unemployment
December 24, 2010- Hundreds of protesters are gathering in cities all around Tunisia, security forces stage an overnight crack down, two more people have died for the cause.
December 27, 2010- 1,000 Tunisian gather in protest in Tunis, the capital.
December 28th,2010- Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the country's president of 23 years, condemns the protests and states that they are the acts of extremists. In the mean time, many prominent members of society, such as lawyers and government ministers, are siding with the protesters and subsequently losing their jobs and some are also arrested.
December 31,2010- more have joined the protests because of the wrongly imprisoned lawyers, authorities respond with increasing violence
January 2,2011- a cyberactivist group sides with the protesters and temporarily jams the government's internet services and websites.
January 3,2011- a group of 250 students protest in Thala, the police use tear gas to break up the protest. The protesters then respond by setting fire to local government buildings.
January 5, 2011- Mohammed Bouazazi dies from his self-inflicted burns.
January 6,2011- 95% of lawyers in Tunisia go on strike in order to end police brutality against peaceful protesters.
January 7-12, 2011- Journalists, bloggers, and activists are arrested. Protests are broken up using tear gas and water cannons. When these fail, the authorities resort to violence, including the use of snipers on protesters in two major cities. These actions lead the people to move from the mindset of peaceful protesting to revolution.
January 13,2011- the death toll is at 66. The president gives a televised address to the people announcing concessions and his plans to not run for reelection in 2014.
January 14,2011- The president declares a state of emergency because protests have not stopped. He makes promises about legislation to calm down the protesters, but it is too little too late. Gatherings of more than 3 people are now banned and the police have approval to respond with arms if emergency orders are violated. In accordance with state of emergency rules, the prime minister, Mohammed Ghannouchi, takes temporary control of the government. In the meantime, Ben Ali- the president flees to Saudi Arabia
Jan 15-17,2011- the absence of an official leader leads to massive rioting, looting and chaos. The military is asked to step in to restore order. "Ghannouchi also announces widespread reforms, promising press freedom, the lifting of a ban on human rights groups operating in Tunisia, and the release of political prisoners." And an interim government is appointed, but many of the members of the interim government are leftovers from Ben Ali's regime so the people are not pleased.
January 23,2011- hundreds of people flock to the capital to protest the interim government and to defy the State of Emergency curfews and gathering rules
January 24-27,2011- Continued protests result in violent attacks by riot police, the resignation of the foreign minister, and the removal of Ben Ali supporters from the interim government.
February 27,2011- After a month of continued protests, Ghannouchi also resigned.
Al Jazeera English
"The revolution, as Tunisians call it, also has created a power vacuum, and Tunisia faces enormous challenges in rebuilding its political system. The country’s caretaker government has been confronted with nearly daily protests by a variety of groups, the police force has been badly weakened by mass desertions and the firing of top officials, and provincial government offices remain dysfunctional. The judicial system is hobbled by its links to the ousted regime." NY Times
Tunisia's interim government is still trying to build order and prevent the country from falling into anarchy while preparing for mid-term elections.
I think its time we stop, children, whats that sound?
What it is ain't exactly clear
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
Revolution(noun)- 2b. a fundamental change in a political organization; especially the overthrow or renunciation of one government or ruler and the substitution of another government or ruler.
Protest(noun)- 2. The act of objecting or a gesture of disapproval especially: a usually organized public demonstration of disapproval.
There's a man with a gun over there,
Telling me I got to beware
Timeline of Tunisia's Jasmine Revolution:
December 17, 2010- Mohammed Bouazazi douses himself in paint thinner and then sets himself on fire in front of a local municipal office in Sidi Bouzid in protest of police brutality, a lack of human rights, job loss, and overall poverty. This sparked more protests all around the country.
December 20, 2010- A 10 million dollar employment program is offered to Sidi Bouzid in a failed attempt to appease the protesters.
December 22, 2010- Houcine Fahli electrocutes himself in protest of unemployment
December 24, 2010- Hundreds of protesters are gathering in cities all around Tunisia, security forces stage an overnight crack down, two more people have died for the cause.
December 27, 2010- 1,000 Tunisian gather in protest in Tunis, the capital.
December 28th,2010- Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the country's president of 23 years, condemns the protests and states that they are the acts of extremists. In the mean time, many prominent members of society, such as lawyers and government ministers, are siding with the protesters and subsequently losing their jobs and some are also arrested.
December 31,2010- more have joined the protests because of the wrongly imprisoned lawyers, authorities respond with increasing violence
January 2,2011- a cyberactivist group sides with the protesters and temporarily jams the government's internet services and websites.
January 3,2011- a group of 250 students protest in Thala, the police use tear gas to break up the protest. The protesters then respond by setting fire to local government buildings.
January 5, 2011- Mohammed Bouazazi dies from his self-inflicted burns.
January 6,2011- 95% of lawyers in Tunisia go on strike in order to end police brutality against peaceful protesters.
January 7-12, 2011- Journalists, bloggers, and activists are arrested. Protests are broken up using tear gas and water cannons. When these fail, the authorities resort to violence, including the use of snipers on protesters in two major cities. These actions lead the people to move from the mindset of peaceful protesting to revolution.
January 13,2011- the death toll is at 66. The president gives a televised address to the people announcing concessions and his plans to not run for reelection in 2014.
January 14,2011- The president declares a state of emergency because protests have not stopped. He makes promises about legislation to calm down the protesters, but it is too little too late. Gatherings of more than 3 people are now banned and the police have approval to respond with arms if emergency orders are violated. In accordance with state of emergency rules, the prime minister, Mohammed Ghannouchi, takes temporary control of the government. In the meantime, Ben Ali- the president flees to Saudi Arabia
Jan 15-17,2011- the absence of an official leader leads to massive rioting, looting and chaos. The military is asked to step in to restore order. "Ghannouchi also announces widespread reforms, promising press freedom, the lifting of a ban on human rights groups operating in Tunisia, and the release of political prisoners." And an interim government is appointed, but many of the members of the interim government are leftovers from Ben Ali's regime so the people are not pleased.
January 23,2011- hundreds of people flock to the capital to protest the interim government and to defy the State of Emergency curfews and gathering rules
January 24-27,2011- Continued protests result in violent attacks by riot police, the resignation of the foreign minister, and the removal of Ben Ali supporters from the interim government.
February 27,2011- After a month of continued protests, Ghannouchi also resigned.
Al Jazeera English
"The revolution, as Tunisians call it, also has created a power vacuum, and Tunisia faces enormous challenges in rebuilding its political system. The country’s caretaker government has been confronted with nearly daily protests by a variety of groups, the police force has been badly weakened by mass desertions and the firing of top officials, and provincial government offices remain dysfunctional. The judicial system is hobbled by its links to the ousted regime." NY Times
Tunisia's interim government is still trying to build order and prevent the country from falling into anarchy while preparing for mid-term elections.
I think its time we stop, children, whats that sound?
Everybody look what's going down
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Drinking the Nescafe
If you are my friend on facebook, you will see that I have a slight addiction to news articles from Al Jazeera English, yahoo news, and other sources. I read a lot of articles and I post the ones that I feel the need to spread. I have mentioned earlier that I will be doing a post about the revolutionary trend in the Middle East right now. Before I do this post though, I would like to get your thoughts and questions about the matter. I could easily write my opinion about the whole thing, but this is supposed to be mainly about the facts. So I'm putting the questions to you, what do you want to know? What would you like explained? Send it in an email, or leave a comment. I will then do my best to talk to local Moroccans, find related news articles, and then also offer my own opinion. Hopefully, at the end, I will have one comprehensive post that helps with understanding the situation in the Middle East and specifically in Morocco.
:)
:)
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