London is Burning, Anyone out There?

A disgruntled man sets himself ablaze in Tunisia and the whole country erupts into a frenzy which ultimately dethrones an African despot-Ben Ali.

Shortly thereafter the Saharan heat is felt across Egypt. Tahrir Square captures world attention as Egyptians pour out in hosts into the streets. In a matter of days another African strong man tumbles from body and soul and finds himself in a cage en route Police Academy to answer to charges.

Libya picks the cue and the Maghreb is now on fire. This proves to be an acid test as the King of the North and de facto financier of the African Union spells doom upon protesters as he opens fire and condemns them as cockroaches. The UN intervenes courtesy of NATO. Rain, rain and rain as NATO deploys its military might to oust this man seen by many as friend and foe in equal measure. As we go to press, the Libya Affair has turned into Obama’s war as Iraq and Afghanistan was Bush’s.

A Divided Vote

Meanwhile, across the Mid East, the desire for regime change gathers momentum as Syria, Jordan and Bahrain enter the fray. The resistance proves tough as the Arab iron fist rulers stamp their authority. Many lose lives as the UN Security Council is divided on how to word its condemnation particularly of the Syrian president Assad. Russia and China, they of ‘non-interference’ policy keep their cool and US’s ally in the East-Saudi Arabia fires the first salvo in the region condemning Assad of unacceptable crimes. The Security Council is torn apart.

For long, and perhaps traditionally, protests, looting and all acts ‘short of civility’ blended with heavy handedness from government has been a preserve of the third world. The developed world must always stand up to condemn this. It is very important indeed that a genuine friend points out your fault.

Enter London

Perhaps it was unfathomable that such riots reserved for LDCs could find way in Capitals of the developed world. Yes, sometimes choose who and how to condemn. This is the third day running as England battles with the reality of a citizenry running amok in the streets of Tottenham, London Birmingham, Liverpool, Nottingham and Bristol. Looting and destruction of property are the major highlight of these riots. Though the rioters are not calling for regime change as is the case in most Middle East and North African cases, it is evident that these protests share a lot in common.

An Angry and a Hungry Lot

The citizenry in the Middle East and Africa for example rose up after many years of repression and denial of many basic rights. The London case is not much different in the sense that the citizenry here have also suffered a sense of inequality but suppressed through hospitality and well orchestrated public relations schemes to portray these countries as no problem regions of world. Interestingly, the protesters in London seem to have changed course from a protest into a looting spree each one helping his or herself with a find. This is clearly indicative of not only an angry people but a more hungry lot than seen before in Europe.

London is burning. Who will fetch the engine, pour on water and offer a hand of help? Who will stand up to condemn what is happening in this once universal empire?

None perhaps is indispensable.