Retracing the Revolutions

By Global Journalist Staff Posted Dec 8 2011

One man is credited with spurring an Arab revolution. Mohammed Bouazizi, a Tunisian vegetable vendor sets himself on fire after his cart is confiscated by police in December 2010. The Arab Spring, a revolutionary wave of demonstrations and protests occurring in the Middle East, begins spreading throughout the region: a civil war in Libya; revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt; civil uprisings in Bahrain, Syria and Yemen; and protests in other countries.

This week on Global Journalist, we take a look at the Middle East to see if revolutions are sowing the seeds of a free press.

The following is a timeline that recounts the year of revolts and highlights important events in major countries.

Dec. 17, 2010 — Tunisia: A 26-year-old vegetable vendor Mohamed Bouazizi from Tunisia sets himself on fire in protest. He was angered by an officer who tried to confiscate his cart and slapped him in the face. He died of self-immolation and triggered a series of protests against bureaucracy and corruption throughout the country.

Jan. 14, 2011 — Tunisia: Tunisian President, Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, falls from power and flees the country to Saudi Arabia. The prime minister announces he is taking over to organize early elections and build a new government.

Jan. 25, 2011 — Egypt: Inspired by the fall of Tunisia's longtime dictator, thousands flock to Cairo streets and other major Egyptian cities to denounce President Hosni Mubarak's rule.

Feb. 11, 2011 — Egypt/Yemen: After 18 days of anti-government demonstrations, Vice President Suleiman announces on television that President Mubarak has officially resigned and assigned power is handed to the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces. Hosni Mubarak becomes the second leader forced to leave the position after 30 years in power. Inspired by revolts in Egypt and Tunisia, anti-government protests begin in Yemen, and conflicts between anti-government demonstrators and supporters of President Ali Abdullah Saleh erupt Feb.15 in Yemen's capital, Sana’a.

Feb. 15, 2011 — Libya: Protests break out and quickly turn violent after the arrest of human rights lawyers, and the Gadhafi regime responds with massive force. Within three days, opposition supporters are in control of the second city, Benghazi. The government sees massive defections. Clashes between protesters and security forces lead to at least 200 deaths on Feb. 20.

March 10, 2011 — Yemen: President Ali Abdullah Saleh announces that a new constitution will be drafted to transfer power from the president to a parliamentary system by the end of this year. But Yemen's opposition rejects the proposal.

March 14, 2011 — Bahrain: Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states send troops into Bahrain to support the Sunni Al Khalifa monarchy after an uprising by the kingdom's subjugated Shia majority.

March 15-29, 2011 — Syria: Pro-democracy protests in Syria begin. About 200 protesters gather at the Syrian capital of Damascus to demand reforms and the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Government forces then shoot dead five protesters on March 18 in the southern city of Deraa, which marks the beginning of uprisings across the country against the president. The Cabinet resigns around 10 days after as the country experiences the worst unrest in decades, and President Bashar Assad accepts the resignation as concession for the mass protests.

March 30, 2011 — Egypt: Egypt's military leaders announce that the country's first presidential election since the ouster of Hosni Mubarak will be held by November. Leaders give emerging political groups eight months to organize and prepare.

April 23, 2011 — Yemen: President Ali Abdullah Saleh agrees to step down in exchange for immunity from criminal prosecution for him and his family.

May 24, 2011 — Syria: The death toll from Syria's nine-week crackdown exceeds 1,000.

May 31, 2011 — Libya: Libyan rebels reject a reported truce offer from Moammar Gadhafi.

June 13, 2011 — Egypt: Egypt's most organized and powerful Islamist movement announces its intention to collaborate with one of the nation’s oldest liberal parties, an act that shows a “promising coalition” for the parliamentary elections.

June 3, 2011 — Yemen: President Ali Abdullah Saleh is wounded in a rocket attack on his palace in the nation’s capital of Sana'a. The attack comes after widespread protests that kill a group of demonstrators during violent battles between army loyalists and rebels. After the president flees to Saudi Arabia for treatment the next day, thousands of demonstrators celebrate.

June 20-July 5, 2011 — Tunisia: After five months of exile, Tunisia's former autocratic ruler goes on trial in absentia. The Tunis Criminal Court hears the money laundering, embezzlement and drug trafficking cases against Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. On July 5, Ben Ali was convicted of smuggling drugs, guns and archaeological artifacts and sentenced to 15 1/2 years in prison.

June 27, 2011 — Libya: Judges from the International Criminal Court issue a warrant for the arrest of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. Gadhafi is called to stand trial for crimes against humanity.

July 5-July 13, 2011 — Yemen: At least 40 militants associated with Al-Qaeda have been killed in two days of airstrikes and clashes with government forces. Saudi border guards arrest more than 19,000 infiltrators from Yemen in June, almost twice the number arrested the month before. The sharp increase indicates a big challenge faced by Yemen’s president when a popular uprising has emboldened Al-Qaeda-linked militants in Yemen's south.

Aug. 3, 2011 — Egypt: The country's army rulers put Hosni Mubarak on trail in response to increasing public pressure. With the company of his two sons, Mubarak is wheeled into court on a stretcher.

Aug. 21, 2011 — Libya: Libyan rebels take the capital city of Tripoli after months of fighting. Analysts say NATO’s bombing campaign contributed to the victory, though its involvement incited international criticism. The Gadhafi family flees, and the dictator's birthplace of Sirte is embroiled in fighting. Two days later, rebels overrun the heart of Moammar Gadhafi's fortified Bab al-Aziziya compound. The event marks the possible end of the battle for Tripoli. But one of Gadhafi's sons, Saif al-Islam Gadhafi, appears in public earlier that day to deny his father’s capture.

Sep. 30, 2011 — Egypt: Thousands of Egyptians flood Tahrir Square to “reclaim the revolution” nine months after the winter uprising that ousted Mubarak and began the country’s military ruling.

Oct. 20, 2011 — Libya: Moammar Gadhafi is killed after being seized in a sewage tunnel in his home town of Sirte. The event marks the final triumph for pro-democracy fighters after eight months of efforts to take control of the country.

Oct. 23, 2011 — Libya: Libya’s top leader declares the country officially “liberated” from the 40-year rule of Moammar Gadhafi and pledges to replace the former regime with a more democratic but a more strictly Islamic system.

Nov. 12, 2011 — Syria: The Arab League approves a package of measures censuring Syria, a measure that hints at increasing international pressure against President Bashar al-Assad.

Nov.28-Dec.7, 2011 — Egypt: The first and second rounds of the first phase of parliamentary elections are held on Nov.28, Nov. 29, Dec. 5 and Dec. 6. Egypt’s interim military rulers reassert their power and swear in a new Cabinet. The military will appoint a council to oversee the drafting of a new constitution, a decision spurred by growing concerns over the dominance of Islamist parties.

Egypt’s Prime Minister Kamal al-Ganzuri announces his administration decisions Dec. 7, two weeks after the previous cabinet resigns in November. At least half of the positions were unchanged in the new cabinet.

Source: The Washington Post