Observers of authoritarianism are aware that one of the hardest obstacles for opposition to overcome is the unknown: the number of people unknown to opposition leaders who do not support the regime and could potentially be induced to act against it, but remain silent out of fear. If an authoritarian regime is effective in atomizing society and hindering free speech, even in private, people will be unable to gauge the extent of public dissatisfaction in existence, making opposition action seem highly risky. No one knows if a person makes a public stance, will others join and support him? (See Lisa Wedeen’s readable and informative account of this phenomenon in Syria)
In Tripoli, still under the tight grip of Moammar Qaddhafi, fear still prevails. One activist, however, is displaying his defiance in an effort to rally the citizens of Tripoli into action. In a story on CNN, he admits to burning a mural of Qaddhafi in broad daylight – a brazen act by any standards – and explains his motivations.
He said he hurled a Molotov cocktail and set one of the capital's largest Gadhafi posters afire. "It is symbolic because it is in the heart of Tripoli," he said. "It has been what some people have been calling a city devoid of opposition to Gadhafi."
According to CNN, “Niz [pseudonym of the activist] is not alone in his viewpoint: there exists in Tripoli a large, frightened group of people who oppose Gadhafi. Niz hopes to push them into action.”
It is actions like these that started the revolt in Syria. Only by starting with actions like these can people sitting on the fence or frozen in fear be motivation to action.
See the CNN story here:
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