COMMENT Finally, Osama bin Laden, the world's most wanted man is dead, killed by members of the American Navy Seals in a special forces raid this week.  

NONE His death must have been bloody and cruel in the extreme. But we are talking about a man who attracted superlatives in every description of him. All we can say is that he lived by the sword, and he has died by the sword.

By now, the world has become fully familiar with the tragedy of 9-11, among other major massacres caused by Osama’s followers in several countries all over the world. Osama’s hatred for the Western world sprang from his religious fervour. One wonders how such great destructiveness can be engendered from profound and pious religious sentiment.  

Watching the television coverage over the past week, we remain amazed at how the destructive impulse of one man can bring about such unspeakable carnage. In a way, Osama’s extremism typified the nihilism peculiar to the modern age.

His death was as controversial as his life. There was no ‘free and fair’ trial, for he was killed like a mere insect. In his case, the Americans under Barrack Obama did not bother with due process or natural justice. The Americans did not even trifle over jurisdiction as their Navy Seals flew to Pakistan, nabbed Osama and executed him. The Western world did not raise the slightest protest about this lack of respect for universal human rights.

NONE Osama lived his life on the run from the law, and he died as an outlaw.  Though jihadists all over the world will mourn Osama's death as a martyrdom, the Western world celebrated his death with unrestrained joy, in memory of the thousands of people he purportedly killed at the New York Twin Towers a decade ago.

Whether Al-Qaeda has been dealt a debilitating blow by the death of Osama remains to be seen. It is unlikely, to say the least, to expect that religious extremism will die with Osama.  

The world still has to adopt eternal vigilance against all forms of extremism. Religious militancy of Osama’s bent will be the common enemy of all mankind forever.

Radical changes in Muslim world

But even before Osama's death, there have been fundamental and radical changes within the Muslim world. Recent events in Libya, Egypt, Tunisia, Syria, Yemen, Bahrain and elsewhere have shown a radical opening up of Muslim societies.

egypt the day after mubarak overthrow women celebrating 1 Among the disparate parts of the Arab world, there is a common thread within their social fabric. Many nations in the Arab world are now moved by this seminal opportunity to develop democracy, the rule of law and human rights, in tandem with historic changes in other parts of the world.  

We have watched in awe as pro-democracy rebels struggle against the oppressive forces at work in many countries of the Arab world. Though they may be Muslims and some of us may believe in different religions, their aspirations for freedom are exactly the same as ours.  

The current crisis in the Arab world will take a long time to resolve, with no guarantee of a positive outcome. It is a painful process for any society to go through that kind of wrenching change, that may claim the sacrifice of countless innocent lives.  

But the progress of history in the past century is a record of such continuous struggles by different societies the world over, searching for their fulfilment of their destiny. The upheaval in the Arab world may seem painful, but in reality it is a necessary step for any society, if it wants to carve out a niche in history for itself.

As for those the likes of Osama, we can only pray for the end of their misplaced passion. Give me the Arab awakening anytime, but may the likes of Osama perish forever.

 

 

 

SIM KWANG YANG was member of parliament for Bandar Kuching, Sarawak from 1982 to 1995. He can be reached at sky8hornbill@gmail.com. All comments are welcome.