Last year in Thailand there was an uprising where the Red Shirts tried to oust their leader. The government quickly turned on the population and tried to control the media. This led to thousands of protesters storming media outlets to ensure they stayed on the air. This protest got very little media attention until Hiro Muramoto , a journalist, was killed while covering the story. Shortly after this the Government admitted to using live rounds on the protesters, and things soon got much worse. Generals started to defect as they refused to fire on unarmed citizens. The Government tried to shut down all internet and broadcast media.
Once the Government shuts down media outlets, this should trigger an emergency session of the UN to assemble a Peace Keeping Force.
The Gaddafi regime in Libya is following a similar path. According to Italian sources, there could be as many as 1,000 protesters killed in Libya in the last few days. Libya secret service is now actively jamming satellite broadcasts, in particular Al Jazeera. Internet access has been virtually turned off, and the only way many people can use the internet is by using IP Proxies. Radio stations have been taken over by protesters and are now broadcasting anti-Gaddafi messages.
Gaddafi’s regime has ordered it’s air force to fire on protesters. This has lead to several heroes defecting and landing their fighter jets in Malta without firing a shot. Other aircraft have landed in areas of Libya that are no longer controlled by Gaddafi, as they too refused to fire on the unarmed protesters. At least one fighter pilot opted to eject from his aircraft rather than killing innocents.
Libyan officials have been on Al Jazeera pleading for the world’s Doctors to send medical supplies. Hospitals are crowded and basic medical supplies have run out, or are running out. Canada’s response has been disappointing as usual.
China is one of the very few countries to send medical aid and supplies so far.
The Red Cross has already started aid and has over 50 volunteers in Benghazi, they are also preparing for hundreds of thousands s of refugees.
These uprisings are a result of decades of non-accountability of those in charge. If a government is not held accountable for its actions, their abuses will grow, either through high taxation or other forms of oppression. This will lead to a boiling point where the frustration and anger of the citizens starts to spread like a virus until their voices are heard and those in power are finally held accountable.
The people should always be able to criticize and ask questions of those that govern us, without fear of retaliation. If this is taken away, we lose what tiny bit of freedom we think we have.
R.I.P. Hiro Muramoto (1966 – April 10, 2010)