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Hillary Clinton Issues Message To Tunisia After Revolution Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Sunday urged Tunisia's new leadership to restore order and adopt broad economic and political reforms in the wake of the popular revolt that overthrew the North African nation's authoritarian president.
At the same time, the State Department rejected claims that revelations of rampant corruption in leaked U.S. diplomatic documents had sparked the uprising. The department also issued a travel warning to U.S. citizens, suggesting they forgo travel to the country and consider leaving if already there, and authorized the departure of nonessential U.S. Embassy personnel and of all family members of U.S. staff at government expense.
In a phone call to Tunisian Foreign Minister Kamal Merjan, Clinton offered U.S. support for Tunisia as it transitions from the autocratic rule of ex-President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Clinton called for the government to address the underlying causes of the popular discontent that fueled the uprising, such as unemployment and poverty.
"She urged that the government work to re-establish order in the country in a responsible manner as quickly as possible," the State Department said in a statement released as looting and violence continued to rock Tunisia in the aftermath of Ben Ali's ouster on Friday. "She also underscored the importance of addressing popular concerns about the lack of civil liberties and economic opportunities, and the need to move forward with credible democratic elections."
Clinton said she was encouraged by remarks by Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi and interim President Fouad Mebazaa "indicating a willingness to work with Tunisians across the political spectrum and within civil society to build a truly representative government."
A day before Ben Ali fled the country, Clinton delivered a stark warning to Arab leaders that they must open economic and political space to the Mideast's exploding youth population if they wanted to blunt extremism and prevent unrest and rebellion. In a speech in the Qatari capital of Doha on Thursday, Clinton said the foundations of development and progress in the Middle East were "sinking into the sand" and would continue to do so unless reforms were enacted.
Meanwhile Sunday, State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley rejected suggestions that blunt assessments of Ben Ali and his family, their lavish lifestyles and graft contained in cables released by the WikiLeaks website had contributed to discontent over high unemployment and poor economy.
Crowley said in a Tweet that Tunisians were well aware of the situation long before WikiLeaks published the cables and that Tunisians alone were responsible for the uprising.
Many commentators have suggested that the cables contributed to the discontent. Some have said the developments constitute the first "WikiLeaks revolution," something that Crowley dismissed.
"Tunisia is not a Wiki revolution," he said. "The Tunisian people knew about corruption long ago. They alone are the catalysts of this unfolding drama."
The cables described the extravagances of Ben Ali and his cronies, particularly those of his wife, Leila Trabelsi, whose family had financial interests from banking to car dealerships. Looters and vandals have hit some of those interests in the days since the president left amid street protests and violence.
Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has through the local news agency reported that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has praised Malaysia for its standards in democracy, economy and governance.
According to the Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister who was on official visit to Washington, the US said that 'Malaysia should be emulated by other developing nations because it is 'democratic, effectively governed and economically sound.'
While Malaysians and the government of the day may take credit and feel elated, Hillary's statement of view-point can also be an insult to many - both in Malaysia and in the region.
While we may celebrate the accolades of praise from 'Big Bother USA', critical questions beg answers, namely: then why are the international bodies consistently rating us so lowly for a variety of benchmarks like transparency, press freedom, education standards, etc.?
If the USA says that Malaysia 'should be emulated by other developing nations', then it simply means that the nations in the region who also qualify for the developing label are not good enough.
It means that other governments too must have oppressive and suppressive laws like the Internal Security Act; the Official Secrets Act; the Printing and Publishing Act and the coming-soon Cybernet Law.
It also means that immigration records can be deleted and there should be no questions asked. It also means that military controlled C4 explosives can be used by ordinary uniformed personnel and there is no need to investigate how such dangerous ammunition is used on foreiign nationals.
It also means that Heads of Sate like our Prime Minister can proclaim in public that if the ruling government loses in the general election there will be 'crushed bodies, lost lives and ethnic cleansing'.
It also means that you can throw a high ranking minister into prison and land land him with a black eye.
There is more. But suffice these few thoughts to just help us seek a clarification from the United States of America.
Now can we imagine what would be the consequences if the neighbouring nations take the US Secretary of State's verdict on Malaysia seriously and implement all the same standards of economy, democracy and government into their own nations?
Not so long ago, when the Tun Doctor was at the steering wheel of the nation, we drew much criticism from the USA. Today Hillary has shown a reverse stand. Have we so suddenly and magically transformed? If so, how?
Yes, Malaysia has been an economic success. That is because in the past we gave the colonial robbers our tin and rubber. And later we have been enjoying our fossil fuel and palm oil. But what happens when the nation's oil wells run dry by 2018 or thereafter?
Yes. Malaysia was effectively governed in the past. That is why we never had a rebellion or civil war. But the USA knows that past success does not guarantee the future - so said your own President Mr Barack Obama. It has to be consistently earned.
Hence, if it is true that Malaysia is a model to be emulated, how come we have bitter battles smouldering on the political front in the country? Are other developing nations not having better peace, co-existence and progress? Are other nations less democratic? Are other nations not economically progressing given their more limited natural resources?
It is not an Asian tradition to arrogantly blare that one is an example for others to follow. It is for others to seek out and accept one as a model.
Perhaps, Hillary Clinton does not appreciate Asian culture the way we Asians do. Unless of course if the Deputy Prime Minister has not divulged the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Please your excellency the Secretary of State, USA do not put our deputy prime minsiter at such odds. Your clarification will be most looked forward to not only by all Malaysians but also by all citizens of the developing world.
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