The Arabian Spring: Global Implications Part 3

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 Squidoo.com

Then, a China man asked a question on how about the relationship of law and democracy? Then Mr. Chaliand elaborated that to speak bluntly about China, the state capitalism has achieved remarkable growth, and it is achieved through democracy. 

We had also listened about China from a Chinese lady which is a friend of Miss Garudamejaiya who was introduced to me by Azren. We went for Queensbay last Thursday to celebrate Azren's graduation on the behalf of Miss Garudamejaiya. Thanks to Miss Garuda and Azren. Both of you are wonderful people that I have ever known. You people introduced me to many things and apart of it, indirectly being mentors too. I learned a lot about women thoughts from you people though all of my siblings including mum are women except me.

Say if democrat won in Tiananmen, they would perhaps not be well off with what is now happening in Chinese economic development. That kind of democracy is famous among NGOs but this is totally governmental. Yeltsin was a good leader and the US had set base at home in Russia until Mr. Putin said that, enough! Don't let the country being a hunting place for the US. And there is some mention about Prestroika and Glasnaut. Who's the most unsatisfied? Caucasians, the Balkh and other minorities. Democracy describes through Russian issue. And there will always be a shift of the world. This is related to the possibility of world power declination for example Russia, the US, and others. A relative decline for a certain power does not mean collapse, so don't bury people while they are alive.

In relation to Palestinian issue, perhaps kings and dictators in Middle East are in threat. However the king of Morocco is a legitimate heir of the prophet s.a.w and is smart enough to sense any social reform in the country so for this time, they are being fine without any problem.

The king of Jordan who claims as descending from the Hashemite on the other hand had almost losing power. This is the case of the previous Jordanian king, not king Abdullah. These people came from Saudi Arabia and being put as rulers by the US. They are not the kings for the country forever.

So, we people with the God as our King, see everything as temporary. Only if we are at the peak of 'power' that make us living in anxiety because everything in this universe is limited and having its due : ) Then, other things to be considered is geographic location of those countries. They are close to Palestine territory and most of their workers are foreigners. Are these foreigners happy? However, 'power' is nothing to be joking off in Saudi, and the Shi'ites are tightly watched there.

Lecturer Background

About Mr. Chaliand, he obtained his phd in Sorbonne, France. He has been a paticipant-observer in various guerilla and war-zones such as in Guinea Bissau (1966), Peru (1985), Iraq-Kurdistan (2001-02), Iraq (2009), Iran-Kurdistan (1980), Palestine (1969-1999), Myanmar (1990-1995) and few other countries. He has conducted field studies for over three decades in Northern Africa, South and Southeast Asia, Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East, American continent, Caucasus, Central Asia, and Russia. He lectured various Strategic Institute in Washington, Beijing, London, Madrid, Canberra, and Tokyo. He has written more than 40 books and over 20 of them were translated into English. This lists includes but not limited to it such as:

- History of Terrorism from Antiquity to al-Qaida (co-written with A. Blin), University of California Press, 2007.

- Mirrors of a Disaster: The Spanish Conquest of America, Transaction, Rutgers University Press. N. J. 2005.

- Nomadic Empires: From Mongolia to Danube, Transaction, Rutgers University Press, N. J. 2003. 

I had saw Frau Myer which was my German teacher and my ex-lecturer during first degree, Dr. Rokiah was also there listening to the talk. I'm lazy to greet them, but I think they still remember me and I actually respect them both. Also glad to see Dr. Rokiah is well. Last time she was absent and sick. I just went to mosque because the time for 'Asr congregational service had already passed. I am sad : ( 

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Arabian Spring: Global Implications Part 2

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 David. E Hoffman for Foreign Policy

Now comes to questions from the ground. A person I guess a British who retired in Penang asked about the thought of Mr. Chaliand regarding the KSA. Who'll lead the Middle East or Islam? 

I don't know what did he mean by Islam is equated to Middle East and the leadership? And how he understood Islam. I guess everyone also thinks like this person, be they Muslims or not. As a Muslim of sunnah tradition, I do not perceive ourselves as having any center for our religion like the Vatican in Rome for Roman Catholics. Even, if our holy city is in Mecca, that does not mean that those who control the holy area are the central power to lead others. The central leader for a Muslim and for me is Allah 'Azza wa Jalla, our Lord, our King, not any kingdom nor government in the universe.

Dr. Chaliand said that KSA is going through change slowly and they certainly face problems because of power inheritance from a brother to a brother. Half of the population below 25 and elites among them had been abroad. A lot of them are in the US and some in the UK. When they come back, and they find out their elders are still clinging to old thinking. Looking at economic situation, they have oil sold for many years and they sold more oil this year compared to last year. They can survive but they have to quick thinking of whatever would happen in the future. Regarding the cooperation of the KSA with Turkey in leadership? The Turk may cooperate if they want so, and they could also lead it alone. There is a question mark.

Country which is badly managed would bring a catastrophic result. For example, the Saudi and the al-Qaeda with their harsh belief. 

What about the impact of Arab Spring toward Palestine-Israel issue? This question is posed by an Indian Muslim. To be a Muslim is to be a twin brothers to Palestinian although they do not care about others. Dulu masa saya bercakap dengan 'saudara' seagama Palestin, dia boleh kata dia tidak perduli dengan keadaan saudara Arab diaspora di luar mau pun peranakan Arab yang bukan Palestin cuma peduli akan tanah airnya sahaja. He thinks that only he has motherland. I am a patriotic person to our sultanate too but I would also take my brothers into account. So, I conclude that this is not religious problem but political problem. They love their motherland, Palestine and it is "a paradise in the earth." You will get your paradise in the earth, but those who inherits His Kingdom do not living a life in paradise. I am not a twin brother to Palestinians, I am a twin brother to Muslim brethren. I only care to those who love Allah and prophet Muhammad s.a.w. My holy land is in Ummul Qura, the mother of all villages. Not in Jerusalem where it is the holy land for Jews and Christian fellows. Jerusalem is not mentioned in the covenant between our Patriarch Ibrahim a.s but my dear Lord, Allah clearly  mentions about Mecca in His glorious Word together with its manasik (rituals) as roots of the life.

So, the impact for this Palestine-Israel issue are:

1. For the first time, Israel is really isolated because Egypt now has changed. The compromise between Mubarak and Israel is also gone to somewhere else.

2. The attitude of Turkey toward Israel is now changed. They had joined military cooperation in Jordan. They are having problem with Israel because of Avi Marmara issue which hurts Turkish citizen too.

3. To recognize the state of Palestine is a must, and not an option.

As to say, to be good in the view of Muslims, ones must do something for Palestinian and not only pretend to be democratic. And it should be taken into consideration too that two third of Jordan population are Palestinian. 

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