Fight for something

As the people of Syria continue to suffer under the brutal repression of Assad, this poem is dedicated to those across the Arab world who have stood up and potentially face death for freedom.

Fight for something

This past year I’ve people fight for something,
not for fame,
not for earthly riches,
nor plasma screens,
notes of printed green.
I’ve seen them fight and die for something more,
To face dictator after dictator,
Amongst the shells of Homs, to the streets of Tripoli,
To stand up for their dignity.
I’ve seen these people bravely rise,
Bravely make the sacrifice,
To stand against the fist of tyranny,
To stand and face death for liberty.

Liberated Libya

Last night came the pictures of rebels celebrating in the streets of Tripoli after they finally advanced into the city. The morning brought news that Saif Gadaffi was captured and the rebels controlled most of the capital. Now that Gadaffi’s regime is crumbling before our eyes, I hope we have learned the lessons of Iraq and we have a plan post gadaffi for creating a stable nation that is fair and democratic after decades of dictatorial rule.

Celebration (liberation)

Celebration,
On the streets jubilation,
The hour of liberation now at hand. Libya has awoken,
The tyrants iron grip broken.
On the streets celebration,
The light of hope burning at last,
Hope for a bright future,
Yet have we learned lessons from the past?
Will we aid their resurrection rather than just watch in jubilation?
A new libya is rising, from the ashes a phoenix rising.
Bring your bricks and mortar for tomorrow we rebuild,
for now we join the celebration!

Libya- MP’s back the UN resolution

Last night, after a long debate in the Commons, Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour of the UN resolution in Libya. The PM stated that the military action by coalition forces in Libya may have helped to prevent a “bloody massacre” in Benghazi, adding that the intervention was “necessary, legal and right”, telling MPs that inaction would have resulted in the “slaughter of civilians”.

Ed Miliband gave an empassioned speech supporting the measures, stating that “It is a just cause, with a feasible mission and it has international support.” He compared leaving Libyans to their fate with failure to intervene in the Spanish Civil War, saying: “As we saw the defenceless people of Libya attacked by their own government, it would equally revolt the conscience of the world to know we could have done something to help them, yet chose not to.”

But he added that ”We should be clear in this House about the degree of difficulty of what we are attempting: to secure a coalition from beyond western powers to support intervention in another North African state. And we cannot afford mission creep, therefore – including in our public pronouncements.” This is an important indicator that many in Britain and the Arab League are somewhat skeptical about action as it is and that a possible occupation of land forces would risk endangering support for the action.

Yesterday on his facebook page, David Miliband has stated his support for the resolution stating that “It seems to me clear rather than complicated that supporting the UN SCR is the right thing to do.   The Prime Minister spoke in general terms, Ed very clearly about the ‘responsibility to protect’, in advancing the case that it would be a dereliction of duty to turn our backs.”

However he adds that there is a dnager of stalemate, “but it is far less dangerous than slaughter.  Those of us supporting the resolution should not run away from the prospect that Gaddafi may endure in significant parts of his country.  We may not like it…  But it is better that he is hemmed in than given a free rein.”

I agree with this sentiment that we should not just stand by and allow Gaddaffi to massacre the rebels. What Ed, what both Davids have emphasised is the need to act to avoid bloodshed. The case in point was the ceasefires that Gaddaffi has proposed yet to break them shortly after. If we do nothing, we send a message that such behaviour is a) acceptable and b) normal, both of which are not the case. However we must stick to the mandate as the last thing we want is more boots on the ground for the 3rd time in 10 years. This would evaporate the support so carefully gained for this resolution.

I salute you,

You who will not stand by while the blood flows into the sand,

You who will protect the helpless from the tyrants hand.

I salute you,

Whilst cautious to pick up the sword, you will not stand by,

You, with heavy heart , will protect them with sword in the sky.

I salute you, my honourable friends

Whose consciousnce will not leave them on the side of the road,

In the desert left to die.

Libya- no fly zone guardian angels

Last night, a UN resolution was passed allowing for a no fly-zone in Libya. Today, I and other members of labour recieved an eloquent email from Douglas Alexander which sums up Labour’s policy and how it mirrors Cameron’s resolve to protect civilian lives:

I wanted to write to you at the earliest opportunity to let you know Labour’s position as Ed Miliband set out in the House of Commons this morning.

Any decision to commit British armed forces is a grave and serious one and must be based on a clear and compelling case.

In this instance it is based on the clear evidence of Colonel Gaddafi brutalising his own people in response to their demand for democratic change.

It is action backed in the region, most importantly in the clear resolution of the Arab League. And it is backed now by a legal mandate from the United Nations.

The resolution aims to prevent the slaughter of the people of Benghazi. 

It authorises force to protect the civilian population in Libya and establish a no-fly zone, while at the same time making clear there is no mandate and no appetite for a “foreign occupation force of any form on any part of Libyan territory”.

Of course the responsibility for this crisis rests squarely with the Gaddafi Regime, but by this Resolution the United Nations has now placed a responsibility on its members to act to protect the Libyan people.

Next week, the House of Commons will vote on the deployment of British military force as our contribution to this international effort.

Labour will support that decision by the Government. No one – not Ed Miliband, Jim Murphy, Labour’s Shadow Defence Secretary, myself as Shadow Foreign Secretary, or the Shadow Cabinet – takes this decision lightly.  

We have been ready to criticise the Government when they have been slow off the mark evacuating British nationals from Libya and I have asked tough questions of the Foreign Secretary about the unsuccessful mission to contact opposition forces in Benghazi.

But on the question of military action, Labour has been clear from the outset that all options should be on the table, given the record of the Gaddafi regime.

And today, Ed Miliband said in a debate in the House of Commons “it would be quite wrong given what is happening in Libya for us to stand by and do nothing”.

Already, today the Gaddafi regime have suggested they will implement an immediate ceasefire, but this regime must be judged on its deeds and not simply its words.

Tomorrow in Paris leaders from Europe and across the Arab world will discuss the way ahead in light of the Security Council Resolution.

The situation remains fluid. I will endeavour to provide more information to Labour members who I know will have deep concerns not only for the people of Libya, but for our own armed forces personnel and the future of the wider region.  If you would like to read the UN Security Council Resolution, it is available here. 

As Ed said in the Commons, in the days ahead, as befits the Official Opposition, we will support this mission to protect civilian lives, while asking the questions of the Government that the British public would expect us to, and making clear our support for the Armed Forces in the difficult days ahead.

Yours sincerely,

 

Douglas Alexander MP

 

As you all know, for a while I have supported a no-fly zone to stop the attacks on the protestors in Libya and as such though in my opinion a bit late, I support this as a way forward. No one in their right mind wishes for war, and as Douglas says “Any decision to commit British armed forces is a grave and serious one and must be based on a clear and compelling case.” However we have a clear aim and international obligation to protect those who desire and deserve freedom from tyranny!

 

With heavy heart again we engage ourselves,

To ride the the rescue,

In the skies over Cyrenaica we shall watch over them

Like guardian angels for those oppressed,

Those who want freedom from the tyrants fist,

We shall watch over them.

Though we didnt want to raise the sword,

For freedoms sake we shall watch over them.

Alas freedom is never free,

My brothers and sisters of Benghazi you who have suffered to be free,

Hang on we shall watch over thee!

Bahrain crackdown- will we speak out?

Today the UK foreign office is advicing Britons to leave Bahrain, orgainising charter flights to Dubai to help the evacuation, as things get ugly in Bahrain. As we know, the Sunni rulers invited Saudi troops in to ‘keep order’ and security forces with tanks have moved in on anti-government protesters, in the Gulf state’s capital Manama. At least three civilians were reportedly killed after police fired on mainly Shia protesters.

Foreign Secretary William Hague has spoken to his Bahraini counterpart to express “serious concern” at the situation on the ground. And he is right to be concerned as this variant on the Arab Spring has taken on a sectarian dimension between Sunni and Shi’a. Yet is concern all they can muster? Lets get this down to its most basic facts, THIS IS A FOREIGN OCCUPATION, and this is also a violent crackdown on protestors of the majority Shi’a who for years have been discriminated against with a Sunni majority elite. Alarm bells surely should be ringing here.

To me and to others on twitter, this seems similar to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, which the West propmtly condemned and aided the mudjahadeen. Surely strong words should be said in order to address this seemingly foreign and sectarian crackdown on those who wish to voice their desire for freedom and democracy. Will we dither about this like we are still dithering about no fly zones in Libya, seemingly abandoning protestors to their fate?

Will you speak out,

While the bullets fly,

While the blood flows in the streets,

While foreign tanks advance mercilessly on,

Crushing hope, crushing the right to speak?

Will you speak out,

For those who for a right to speak, they face the shell,

For those who for liberty’s sake the face the bullet?

From the oppressed of the Gulf would you really turn away?

Will you speak out

Where are you when the blood flows?

While the opposition protestors in Libya are seeming to flee eastwards back towards Benghazi in the wake of Gaddafi’s counter-attack and the West and the UN still seem dithering over no-fly zones, another setback to the Arab spring has transpired today.

Without the same qualms about intervention that the West has about Libya, troops from the Gulf States including Saudi Arabia have crossed into Bahrain in order to ‘guard key facilities at the request of the King,’ as the protests in bahrain simmer on. The Shi’a led opposition that that in their view, they consider this deployment “an overt occupation of the kingdom of Bahrain and a conspiracy against the unarmed people of Bahrain.” Shades of gaddafi using foreign mercenaries to quell descent don’t you think?

I personally find this development an outrage and debates should be held as to what intervention should be planned here if the blood starts to flow. Make no mistake, these troops are here to protect the monarchy no matter what. Just food for thought here, if one foreign power militarily intervenes to repress democratic protest in another nation, thus theoretically we are within our rights to aid those wanting democratic fair rights and to confront those who seek to use force to stop this. Just a thought, we may have missed our chance on Libya, we shouldnt stand by if the blood also flows in the sands of Bahrain.

Where were you when the walls run red,

When across the sands, across the streets blood is shed?

In circles you debate, you wait,

You avoid the question, again you wait.

On the coasts of Cyrenaica the tide is turned,

Those wanting liberty you abandon to their fate.

We need to stop, not watch the Gulf turning red,

Lest our children ask “where were you when the blood was shed?”

Libya- the slaughter continues…

Tonight the protests in Libya have take on an ugly intensity, with reports that military aircraft are shooting and bombing protestors in the capital Tripoli, and BBC sources stating that “‘Libyan military source confirms orders were issued for the aerial bombardment of Benghazi within two hours.” http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12307698

These come as the protests continue and reports that Gaddaffi has fled Libya, and other reports circulating at time of writing are that the pilots of the 2 Libyan Air planes that arrived earlier in Malta were ordered to bomb Benghazi, but refused and whilst on Malta, they were supplying info on Gadaffi plans.

The condemnation on the twitterverse has been universal, however we don’t yet have a strong statement from Obama the like of what was issue during Egypts protests. Surely this violent turn of events warrants strong condemnation, and even Ibrahim Dabbashi, Libya’s deputy ambassador to the United Nations, has told reporters that Libyan leader has declared war on the Libyan people and is committing genocide. I just hope something can be done to stop this before more blood is spilled. Here is my poem of solidarity with the Libyans and hopefully more ‘people who can’ will speak out for them!

On this divided planet we are one,

When the bullets fly we bleed as one,

When our brothers are murdered, maimed,

 Our tears fall as one, we grieve as one,

 For justice we speek out we speak out,

We cry for freedom as one,

In rainy Manchester,

On the sunbaked streets of Tripoli, we are one!