Dear Editor,
The end of decades of repressive autocratic rule in Egypt and Tunisia has sent shockwaves in the Middle East region and is encouraging uprisings in other nations which are badly in need of regime change. No one would have imagined such change in Egypt and Tunisia or the ongoing protests in other Arab countries to end dictatorial rule. Significantly, the challenge to these dictatorships was brought about by the action of mostly youths who used their social networking in modern telecommunication and a strong feeling to gain freedom to organize against terrible regimes. The recent rebellions show that if people in former dictatorships, such as Guyana, Suriname, and parts of Latin America, had effective communication networks, dictatorships would not have lasted as long as they did. It took a relentless struggle of almost 25 years, across many countries where Guyanese were settled, to end the dictatorship in Guyana whereas it took the Egyptian rebels three weeks and the Tunisians two weeks to run their dictators out of town.
I hope the people rebelling in other countries in the Middle East succeed in their goal because there is no role for dictators in this age. The entire globe is democratizing. The Arab/Islamic countries are some of the last hold outs refusing to give their people the right to choose a government. People should not be denied fundamental freedoms including the right to elect a government of their choice as happened in Guyana during the 28 years of the dictatorship. Such rule stifles people’s frame of mind to be creative and innovative and holds down development as demonstrated in Guyana during the repressive era.
As several analysts have pointed out, what triggered change in the Middle East was, in a large measure, due to the effect of the social media — like facebook, twitter, regular emails and cell calls. These networks brought the youths together consolidating their actions against repressive regimes. Unfortunately, when we fought the Guyanese dictatorship, we did not have social support and in our time communication was limited – no computers or cell phones, just plain hard core grass roots ground organizing.
It was mostly youngsters who fought the Middle East dictatorships as in the struggle to liberate Guyana. The youngsters in the Middle East, similar to those who fought to free Guyana, are courageous and must be applauded and their behaviour emulated. The young people were driven by the desire to be liberated from autocratic rule.
The ideas they share show what people can do against the worst regimes if they are organized and can communicate quickly with one another. What we are witnessing across the Arab world are astonishing forms of peoples’ revolutions that are becoming increasingly popular as they should.
Unfortunately, the dictators in several Arab countries are clamping down against freedom protesters. These demonstrators need our support. The US and the West should give them encouragement the way they did in Egypt. Had the US assisted us in Guyana early instead of embracing the dictatorship as they have done in the Middle East, we would have rid Guyana of our dictatorship during its infancy stage instead of 28 years later. Gains have been made in Egypt and Tunisia because of international support.
This support is needed more now than ever to save the oppressed people of the Arab world. Every effort should be made to free the people from their autocratic rulers instead of keeping them down as is widespread across the region. The youths have spoken. Give them democracy now!
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
