Assad Dictatorship collapses – Who could be next?

In yet another demonstration that you can repress people as much as you like but not as long as you like, the Assad dictatorship in Syria has collapsed spectacularly after four decades of bloody rule under both father and son. Reports are that Bashar Assad has been given asylum in Russia, taking advantage of the long-standing relationship which Syria had with that country.

There are not many outside Syria but even fewer within, who will be mourning the departure of the Assad family as the pictures of widespread jubilation on the streets are testifying. There are voluminous reports on the brutality and bloody excesses of the regime. But the big power politics of the Middle East in which Arab states have sought some sort of backing as a counterweight to the hegemonic policies of the Zionists in Israel who are backed by the USA and other western powers, was ruthlessly exploited by the Assads to shore up their own overlordship of the Syrian people.

Just on the other side of the Asian continent, the Far East, another would-be dictator has been stymied in his attempts to impose his will on the South Korean people.

President Yoon-Suk veol attempted to declare martial law, and rule by decree when his own party and Parliament blocked him. He has also now been banned from travelling abroad in order to escape further action against him. Like Assad, his country is in another hot spot situation given the relations with North Korea, creating possibilities for manipulation by opportunists like Yoon. These unrelated situations have again raised the persistent questions of the abuse of power by leaders for their own benefit. This naturally leads to an undermining of democracy, a suppression of the rights of people and all forms of repression. Over the years even some initially popular and democratic leaders have succumbed to this power bug. That road also leads to popular leaders not knowing when to leave the stage, overstaying their welcome and when challenged, often resorting to undemocratic measures to stay in power.

The Syrian situation is yet another twist and turn in the evolution of politics in the volatile Middle East region. Unfortunately, the delicate nature of politics in the Middle East is such that the Syrian people are unlikely to be left alone to determine their own future. Syria, in spite of the dictatorial tendencies of the Assad family, has long been a supporter of the Palestinian people and a buttress against the repression of the Israeli Zionists.

There is in Israel, in different circumstances to be fair, but nonetheless a murderous regime. Daily we see via television open genocide led by Prime Minister Netenyahu. He defies even the world body of nations, the United Nations, as he bombs hospitals, refugee camps, schools and hospitals in the most open extermination of the Palestinian people, in his declared intentions to get rid of Hamas. He manipulates great power politics to maintain his support by western powers and his suppression of the Arab peoples. The Syria situation should be a lesson for all dictators and bellicose leaders who pay scant regard to the impact which their actions have on their oppressed people.