To be or not to be - in Libya

A media organization in Manila is conducting an opinion survey on whether or not the Philippines should take part in the United Nations initiative in Libya. As of yesterday, the result was 52 percent against while 48 percent were in favor, or a difference of only 4 percent. Most likely those who would have the country step into the Libyan conflict don’t have any relatives or friends working in that country. If they have, their response would have been in the negative.

 Why? Because they know that the consequence of a Filipino participation in the civil war therein would expose the thousands of our workers who are still there to the wrath of Gaddafi. With his “no mercy” declaration towards the opposition there is no telling to what extent he would run amok among our OFW’s once he learns of the Philippine’s adventurism in his own domain.

 Most likely also, the survey respondents who voted “yes” must have been the more liberal minded ones, those whose convictions are heavily skewed towards democracy. To them despots are anachronistic fixtures in any society. To them it’s the people who should call the shots of governance, not any strong man whose hold on power and privilege is founded on fear and intimidation. Without doubt, these were the very people who shouted the loudest “tama na sobra na” during the dying days of our own version of dictatorship twenty-five years ago. Idealism was their banner and courage was in their bones, the same driving force that made our forebears lay their lives for the freedom we now enjoy. Wonderful people. Guardians of democracy. Sentinels of free life. With them, what despots would prevail?

 These nemeses of despots have every reason therefore to sympathize with Libyan rebels. They know the agony of persecution, having tasted it or learned of it during their lifetime right here in Philippine soil. Is it any wonder if they want our country to join the initiative to help the Libyan opposition?

 But wait, the “no” group seems to say, we cannot live by idealism alone. Right now three quarters of a million Filipinos are eking a living in the Middle East, some 5 thousand of whom are in Libya. Shall we jeopardize their livelihood for the sake of democratic conviction?

 Even without considering the security of our workers in Libya or in any part of the Arab world, we should be very careful in framing our policies towards the brewing upheavals in those countries. We should maintain a strictly neutral stance so that when things shall have settled down our OFW’s would still be welcome in those areas. To lose our labor market would be a big let down for our economy since a big slice of the more than 12 billion dollars inflow yearly comes from those places.

 That situation considered, our hands are therefore tied. Even if our hearts bleed for the freedom fighters there and for those in Yemen, Bahrain, Syria and others we cannot help but be something like a fence sitter to the Middle East events.

 Perhaps when situations shall have normalized we can send a humanitarian contingent to help the victims of conflict. Perhaps we can send medical teams and other non-military assistance. In the meantime, after assisting our OFW’s in their flight to safety, we can do no more than watch and wait.

 Truth is, there is something discomforting about conflict intervention in a foreign soil, especially for a poor country like ours. The UN vote notwithstanding, many developed countries such as Germany and Russia have opted to be neutral. Perhaps it was Gaddafi’s oil that impelled them to be so, but it could be that they felt squeamish about a military intervention in that part of Africa. For the United States, Great Britain and Canada the rationale could be humanitarian in nature, the so-called R2P or “responsibility to protect”. Aware that Libyan civilians are being targeted by Gaddafi’s massacre cohorts, their choice was clear: Go in and stop the butcher!

 That was an admirable decision. And coming as it did from superpowers with super economy, caution was subsumed under humane considerations. Perhaps there were other considerations that brought about the flights of Tomahawks and cruise missiles into that troubled land. The reality however is that a people whose only fault is to become free are being massacred.

 To be or not to be in Libya – what’s your stand?

* * *

Email: [email protected].