中東の戦後70年
2018年11月25日
By Areha Kazuya
E-mail: areha_kazuya@jcom.home.ne.jp
Epilogue
7-3(56) The Peace on The Horizon
People expected that the peaceful and safety life would follow to “Arab Spring”. But Arab Spring has ironically produced massive refugees in the Middle East that have never been before. People lived plainly in their hometowns before. But when the civil war took place in their country, they had no choice but to escape across the border. Firstly, their border was the product of The Sykes-Pico Agreement signed between UK and France in 1916. The border had been drawn before they were born. Now, Border was going to melt down under their eyes by Islamic State (IS).
Japanese people surrounded by the sea and having no terrestrial border lines can enjoy peace as common. Therefore, it is very difficult for Japanese to understand the pain of refugees in the Middle East who suffered from the conflict about the terrestrial border and were expelled from their hometown.
"Even if a nation state was broken, their rivers and mountains remain." This phase is one of the Oriental way of thinking. It seems difficult to share the same view in the monotheistic world of Islam. Among the elderly people of the Arabs, "Inshallah (If Good wills)" is widely accepted for his own fate. But young people is not able to accept passive philosophy as his parents. He gets angry to the contradiction and inequality in the secular world. He believes the promised heaven in the afterlife. He commits suicide bombing making a martyr of himself and rushes to heaven.
Young people who prefer IT rather than martyrdom looks for social reform by using the Internet's SNS. They call for an anti-government demonstration through SNS to overthrow dictatorship. The young generation defeated the dictatorship. It was the so-called Arab Spring. But the movement did not continue. Why? It was proved that the society became activated easily when called on the Internet. To activate the society was easy, but to change it was not so easy.
In the Arab world the outcome of the student democratic movement was taken over by tribal powers or religious forces. The democratic forces lamented that their fruits have been stolen. That was the truth of the modern Arab and Islamic world. In the Arab-Islamic world, the ties of the "blood" of tribe, and the bond of "religion" of Islam took root in firmly. But there was no bond of "ideology” like democracy. Ideology is a product of acquired wisdom. However, the conflict cannot be solved by the ties of "blood" or the bond of "religion". If any new ideology would be born in the Middle East, which is not necessarily a product of West Europe like democracy, it might be possible to open the door for the peace.
The tweet of the ordinary citizens can be heard. They say that the long and severe age of dictatorship before Arab Spring was more peaceful than now. Judging from the chaos situation in these days, there is some truth in the story. Peace in freedom is short and peace in oppression lasts long. It is an ironic paradox.
During 70 years after the World War II, history changed swiftly. People of today accustomed to the speed of change may be assertive that the history changes during his life. Eternal peace is laying in front of that illusion. People in the Middle East is chasing for the dream that a great leader will appear and receive the laurel from the goddess of peace someday in the future.
(The end)
2018年11月18日
By Areha Kazuya
E-mail: areha_kazuya@jcom.home.ne.jp
Epilogue
7-2(55) Increasing refugees
Once a war between nations or a civil war in the country breaks out, many casualties come out to innocent citizens. Not only death or injuries involved in the battle, but also there are many refugees who lose their land and house and wander about foreign soil.
It was 1948 Arab-Israeli War so called Israeli Independence War that the first refugees appeared in the Middle East after the World War II. They were called Palestinian refugees. They escaped to the Palestinian Autonomous Region in Israel or refugee camps in Jordan and Lebanon. The number of Palestinian refugees registered in the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reached 4.5 million. There were 12 refugee camps in Lebanon and 450,000 people lived in a poor living condition.
Before a Palestinian refugee problem has been solved, much larger number of refugees were born in Syria. Triggered by "Arab Spring" in 2011, government troops and anti-government forces confronted in Syria. Furthermore, extremist of Islamic fundamentalism declared the establishment of Islamic State (IS). Mass refugees were born in conflict zones across Syria and Iraq. The word "mass refugees" that accounts refugees as a quantity reminds the sense of self-reproach. But the proper terminology could not be found except “mass refugees”.
It is said that about 4.1 million Syrian refugees fled to abroad in conflict and 7.6 million people were evacuating domestically. It is about half of the total population of Syria and they occupies one fifth of the total number of refugees in the world. As the civil war in Syria became in a mire, supply of relief for internally displaced people stagnated, and food and medicines were stopped. The refugees aimed for camps of neighboring countries in Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan. But there was no room to accommodate new refugees.
They, therefore, aimed for Germany which was emigrant-friendly country. They started a long journey to Western Europe on foot along the road. Many Syrian refugees were from the middle class living in urban areas. When they were in their hometown, they had already acquaintance with the peaceful and rich life of Western Europe, while they saw the savage and non-civilized behavior of "Islamic State" (IS) on the Internet. They scared of the fear if their city was controlled by IS. As soon as they heard the footsteps of the IS, they sold all of family premise and escaped to Turkey. Then they aimed for Western Europe.
However, the capacity to accept refugees in European countries had reached to their limit. It was not due to the reason of the economic burden of each country, but citizen’s anxiety of unemployment by a huge number of poor immigrants or political and social fear of Islamic terrorism which had been spread among society. Already there were many African refugees settled in suburbs of the big cities in Europe. The unemployment rate of second generation of African Immigrants was high. Some of young Muslim guys influenced by Islamic extremism. They felt desperation and carried out suicide bombings in the city. In the meanwhile, the extreme right powers of native European got support from the traditional people. They urged on immigrant exclusion and Islam phobia.
(To be continued ----)
2018年11月11日
By Areha Kazuya
E-mail: areha_kazuya@jcom.home.ne.jp
Epilogue
7-1(54) Middle East meets Far East
Palestinian refugees who were involved in the war against Israel were expelled from the Palestinian territory of the West Bank of Jordan River and moved to the east of the border, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. But the life was not so easy in Jordan. In late 1960s, they again moved to the east of Jordan, Gulf states. They, however, did not try to make the Gulf state to the last settlement. Their host countries did not give them permanent residence, and they themselves did not like the Bedouin of oil producing countries who was arrogant and incompetent. People in the Gulf countries looked down on the poor Palestinians. Most of Palestinians had expected that Israel and Palestine could agree a peace treaty with a mediate effort of Arab colleague. They hoped to return to their home country when two-state coexistence policy would be realized.
But as there were frequent wars in the Middle East, the Palestinian’s dream of independence has gone away. To make matters worse, Iraq invaded to Kuwait in 1990. The world criticized the violence of President Hussein of Iraq. Saudi Arabia, the monarch states in the Gulf, was afraid seriously that the next target after Kuwait was his country. But Jordan and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) had different idea. They supported Hussein regime who claimed to overthrow Israel. As a result, after the Gulf War, both Saudi and Kuwaiti governments ordered Palestinian and Jordanian migrant workers to return to Jordan immediately.
Three Arabs, Khatib, Zahra and Shatila, working at a Japanese oil company that produced the oil in the offshore of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, were forced to be fired. Jordanian Khatib invited Palestinian Zahra to return together to Amman, Jordan. With the savings during the migration and retirement allowance, Khatib planned to be the landlord in Amman and Zahra planned to set up an automobile repair shop. Another Palestinian Shatila decided to imigrate to the United States where his younger brother had been working. Two Palestinians had to leave the Gulf. This time they moved from east to west.
One night, several Japanese colleagues held a farewell party for three Arabs. Guests were served food and beverage. Japanese colleague drunk alcohol drink. In Saudi Arabia alcohol was prohibited, but Japanese staff was assigned a company house where the authority overlooked Japanese drinking habit. All attendees indulged in memories. Shatila spent 30 years in Japanese company. Zahra had been working for 23 years, and Khatib 21 years respectively. It was at the noon of their life. Usually migrant workers did not work so long period for one company. In case of Kuwaiti or Saudi company, they had to be fired by the owner's caprice or they changed spontaneously their job unbearable of the tyrannical owner. But in the Japanese company they could work in peace. The work environment was comfortable. Concession agreement between government and the company was until 2000. They would like to continue to work until that time, if possible. But the Palestinians, who had been at the mercy of history, accepted their destinies calmly.
They sincerely appreciated that they had been able to work in a honest and generous atmosphere of Japanese company. Japan that was defeated by the World War II and burned to the ash achieved miraculous reconstruction. It was an amazing and praising fact that Japanese products such as automobiles, TVs, cassette recorders, refrigerators were overflowing in the daily life. Furthermore, they were so happy that Japanese staff treated them equally without racial discrimination. It was a special experience they never had until entering this company.
When they enjoyed the chat, suddenly they heard the crystal voice of unknown singer from the cassette recorder behind them. It looked like Chinese song. Shatila asked to Japanese colleague what the name of the song was. He answered that the singer was a famous Taiwanese lady and the song’s name was "He ri jun zai lai (When will you come back again)?". The song described that she missed farewell to a loved one and wished to be reunited someday.
好花不常開,
(Lovely flowers don't bloom very often)
好景不常在。
(Beautiful scenes aren't always here to stay)
愁堆解笑眉,
(Worries dissolve my smiles)
涙灑相思帯。
(Memories of love bring back tears)
今宵離別後,
(After you leave tonight)
何日君再来?
(When will you come back again?)
For Palestinians, "you" meant "Goddess of Peace". "Peace" always passed by them quickly. The sweet melancholic lyric and melody evoked nostalgia for them. It was a little bit different from Arabic music. That night, the hearts of ordinary citizens of Middle East and Far East melted into one. It was a moment that Middle East met Far East.
Shatila’s first journey was to the east of Palestine to Jordan and second journey was further to east of Jordan to Gulf countries. But now he turned to west and imigrated to the United States of the Western Hemisphere beyond Palestine. Although he could not be rich there, he spent a peaceful life. It was not easy for Muslims to live in the United States dominated by Christianity, but the United States was still the world's best place to live in peace and safe for everyone. Letters and calls were frequently exchanged between the US and Jordan. It was not sure whether Shatila could meet with his relatives and old friends in Jordan again. Nevertheless, Palestine solidarity was not fluctuated.
(To be continued ----)
2018年11月04日
By Areha Kazuya
E-mail: areha_kazuya@jcom.home.ne.jp
Chapter 6: Genealogy of Islamic terrorism
6-10(53) Syria: Enemy’s enemy is ally or another enemy?
The Syrian civil
war is basically a military struggle between the government and anti-government
organizations demanding the retirement of President Baser al-Assad. Iran and
Russia are supporting the Assad government from the view point of international
balance of power. Iran’s main reason is that the clan of al-Assad was from Alawi
which is one of Shiite faction. And Russia holds a navy base in Syria which
faces to Mediterranean Sea. For Russia, the route from the Black Sea to the
Mediterranean Sea through the Bosporus Strait has a significant strategic
meaning compared with the Baltic Sea. That is the reason why Russia support the
Assad regime. On the other hand, Western countries including the United States
support anti-government organizations to overthrow the autocratic Assad regime
and establish a free democratic regime. Saudi Arabia and Turkey of Sunni sect unanimously
support anti-government organization. This is a countermeasure against the
Shiite power of Assad and Iran.
However, Syria's
anti-government organization was not monolithic. It was “Bitter enemies in the
same boat”, or mere crowd. The ups and downs of members were intense. The main wing
is the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) consisting of Kurdish People's Protection
Units (YPG) and several Arab anti-government forces including Al-Nusra Front.
Islamic State (IS), i.e. ISIL, ISIS or Daesh, was the third power which was
different from neither government organization nor anti-government
organization.
YPG, a leading force in the SDF, is a military organization by Kurds who live in the northeastern Syria. The Kurds are scattered in the four countries of Syria, Turkey, Iran and Iraq. They are confronting with respective governments for independence. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is secular military forces of Sunnis and supported by the US, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. But Turkey tries to eliminate YPG from SDF to constrain the Kurdish independence movement.
Al-Nusra Front, now al-Qaeda in Syria, is the descendent of international terrorist organization al-Qaeda and is a religious sect which advocates Islamic fundamentalism and Salafism. Islamic State (IS) was originally called Islamic State of Iraq (ISI). They began terrorist activities from December 2013 when US President Obama declared the end of the Iraq war and withdraw US military forces. IS extended its activity to Syria and renamed "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)". They declared the independence of "Islamic State (IS)" in 2014. However, even though they proclaimed that IS was an independent state, their nature was a cruel terrorist and burglary group. No countries have recognized IS as a state.
Foreign powers wondered which sect should be supported because the leading power was changed frequently one sect to another. The United States tried to provide military training and supplied weapons to the Syrian Democratic Forces, which was liberal democratic sect among rebels. But in the Middle East where West European type of democracy was unpopular, the liberal forces were weak. Weapons and financial aid were scattering like spraying water in the desert.
Saudi Arabia and other Gulf secular monarchs took part in the Syrian Democratic Force. This was a last option with the elimination method. In other words, GCC countries feared that Sarafist (Islamic extremist) of Sunni like the Al-Nusra Front or IS (Islamic State) would endanger Gulf monarchs. At the same time GCC monarchs thought that the Syrian government supported by Iran was more unacceptable. As far as they keep pace with Western countries, the absolute monarchy system will be stable for a while. GCC monarchs supported SDF as an option with elimination method although they were wary of liberal power. Despite military support from US and financial support from the Gulf countries, the actual warfare ability of Syrian Democratic Force was much inferior to other rebels. They can only protect themselves at best.
The Islamic extremists, Al-Nusra Front (now Al-Qaeda in Syria) and Islamic State (IS), have deep religious consciousness and high combat capability because they are willing to self-sacrifice. But the forces having religious background are up to the character of the top leader and is easily torn in several pieces. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi al-Husseini al-Qauraishi, the leader of ISIS (Islamic Stat of Iraq and Syria), split from Al-Nusra Front and established his own Islamic State (IS). IS did not rely on foreign aid. IS aimed to be not mere domestic power against the central government but to be the regional power. They did not acknowledge the current border according to Sykes-Picot Agreement which was drawn by UK and France during colonial era. IS aimed to be an ideal Caliphate Islamic religious state. They recruited young people living abroad by using the Internet and converted them to combatants.
Islamic State (IS) is a lone wolf terrorist group. Al-Nusra Front relies on Al Qaeda's network. Syrian Democratic Force was supported by Kurdish force with assistance from the West and the Gulf countries. All of them are anti-government forces. Legitimate Syrian government, which confront these anti-government organizations, is supported by Russia and Iran. In summerly, Russia and Iran support the Iraqi government and the Middle Eastern and European country and the United States supported anti-government power. Situation in Syria is extremely confused
However, the common goals of foreign countries recently have been focused on the destruction of Islamic State (IS). In response, IS who stood in inferior situation called for Muslims living in the US, Europe and Russia to do the suicide bombing. IS fighters also may to return to their home countries and conduct terrorist activities. The former is homegrown terror and the latter is terror in hometown. To prevent homegrown or hometown terror, IS must be destroyed completely as soon as possible. Only the Syrian government's legitimate army and the Kurdish force of the Syrian Democratic Force can compete against the IS right now. However, Kurdish troops are not in a position to get support from Russia, Turkey and Iran.
Ultimately, Western countries including the United States left the demand of resignation of President Al-Assad on one side for the time being and bombed the Islamic State (IS). They overlooked the military actions of the Syria and Russia. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries , who supported the Syrian Democratic Force of liberal anti-government forces as the last choice because their true enemy was the Shiite, were abandoned by the United States.
Is the enemy of the enemy a friend or another enemy? The situation in Syria, where confusion is deepened, can be said to be the invisible Middle East situation itself.
(To be continued ----)
2018年10月28日
By Areha Kazuya
E-mail: areha_kazuya@jcom.home.ne.jp
Chapter 6: Genealogy of Islamic terrorism
6-9(52) Deepened chaos in the Middle East
It was the overwhelming victories of Israel through the Middle East wars in 1948, 1956, 1967 and 1973, and the Iranian Revolution in 1979 that changed the views of enemy or ally. After the victory of Israel, tensions in the Arab countries were tended to inside Arabs. It was the tension between secular military states such as Egypt, Iraq and religious monarchy states like Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, when the Khomeini regime of Shiite sect was born in Iran, sectarian conflict took place between Shiite and Sunni. Shiite countries of Iran and Syria has antagonized against Sunni countries. To make the problem in complicate was that Bahrain was controlled by a minority Sunni monarchy. And in Syria an autocratic by Alawi sect of Shiite minority oppressed the Sunni and Kurdish people. In Iraq the minority Sunni ruled majority Shiite. In these country the political power was reversed by minority.
As a result, in the Iran-Iraq war, the sectarian conflict of Shiite vs. Sunni in addition to the ethnic confrontation between Arabs and Persians came to surface in duplicate. Strangely enough the monarchy Gulf countries supported the secular state Iraq. In response, Iran supported Syria. In Lebanon proxy war took place between Syria and Israel. Iran also shook out the autocratic Sunni regime of Iraq and the Gulf states agitating Shiites residents in these countries. In addition, the United States which hated Khomeini of Iran supported dictatorship Iraq leaving their democratic principles on one side.
Iran was the enemy of Iraq and confronted by alone. For Gulf countries, ally’s (Iraq’s) enemy was own enemy. The former simple confrontation of Jewish Israel vs. Islamic states including both Arabs and Persians was changed into another phase. New confrontation was Shiite (Iranians) vs Sunni (Arabs) in the Middle East region. Iran and Syria were in the same situation. Israel was the enemy of Syria and Iraq was also the enemy of Syria. This time ally’s enemy was enemy. Israel was the enemy of Iran and at the same time Syria was the ally of Iran. It might sound funny that for Saudi Arabia Iran and Syria were the enemy and at the same time Israel was still enemy which was shared with Iran and Syria. Simple binary confrontation in the past was changed into polynomial stage.
During the age of four Middle East wars, the confrontation was a binary one between Jews and Arab-Islamic countries. But after wars the conflict in the Middle East had three or four axes of confrontation. The political environment had completely changed from binary confrontation to polynomial ones. Whether the enemy's enemy was ally or enemy? Whether the enemy's friend was enemy or ally? There was nothing clear anymore. The conflict became multi-layers. However, the distinction between enemy or ally was classified by country by country. So, it was still clear for each country that who was the ally and who was the enemy.
However, when the conflict took place between the government and the anti-government organization inside one country, it was difficult for the other countries to distinguish enemy or ally. The problem became more complicated if the anti-government organization split into several factions and conflicted each other or they lived together but different worlds. In Syria the superpowers of U.S. and Russia and regional powers of Iran, Turkey or Saudi Arabia wandered which sect they supported; legitimate government or opposition sector(s). Furthermore, Islamic State (IS) declared unilaterally the establishment of the state ignoring the traditional borders. The problem becomes complicated unlimitedly. Syria at present is the difficult polynomial equation to solve.
(To be continued ----)