Let devils save world!

 

 

No doubt, the present century exemplifies the victory of democracies over any other political systems. It has innumerable reasons to rejoice too but history has also witnessed the fact that in weak democracies, militaries have always been very influential in the power equations. Be in nondescript South Asian countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma; African countries like Sudan or Latin American countries like Cuba, Venezuela, in times of political, economic and social unrest, military interventions have often been necessary to repose faith of people in the government.

Consider Pakistan Army. History testifies the assertion of the army over there just after the declaration of Pakistan as an Islamic state in the post partition era .The first case of military seizure of power was that of Ayub Khan, the then Commander-in-Chief of Pakistan Army. He, in fact, introduced the legacy of seizing power from civilian leaders through military coup. It was then followed by another army Chief General Yahya Khan. Later, with time it became a norm than exception in Pakistan to overthrow democratically elected governments in power through military coup and charge them with cases of corruption, bribery, poor governance. Former Pakistani presidents like Gen. Zia-ul-Haq, Gen. Musharraf are cases in point. Ironically, of the six decades of it’s democratic history, almost half the time it was dictated by military leaders. Further, Bangladesh is another example which has literally followed the footsteps of Pakistan so far as military coups are concerned. The first in case was that of the overthrowing, trial and eventual execution of popular independence leader and first president of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujiboor Rahman. A military coup by Major Faruque surprisingly overthrew his government in 1975. Later, during the presidency of late Ziaur Rahman, Gen. Manjur assassinated the president in 1982.

The list goes on to include other countries like of Burma. In spite of so much of criticism, accusations of torture, violation of human rights, the military continues to dominate with utter disregard to everything. In countries like Venezuela, Cuba and Sudan, former military leaders like Hugo Chavez, Fidel Castro and Omar Al-Bashir made their fate in politics and controlled the government by tossing in the air all kinds of democratic norms. The recent swearing of the 34-year old Andry Rajoelina as the president of Madagascar by violating the constitutional limit of 40 years and overthrowing of the democratically elected President Marc Ravalomanana was only possible because of Andry’s popularity in the army.

In hindsight, whether the cheerleaders of democracy like it or not, the fact is that the influence of army in political affairs especially in third world countries is here to stay. In countries like Turkey or Bangladesh it has surely helped in keeping the fundamentalists at bay whereas Pakistan proves it otherwise. In future whether a politically conscious army would help or not, only time will tell.