Arab Spring: US sounds notes of optimism and caution

The US hailed yesterday last year’s “Arab Spring” revolutions in the Middle East but said instability and violence often precede greater respect for human rights.
In its annual survey of human rights around the world, the State Department criticized “extremely poor” human rights in Belarus, China, Iran, North Korea, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
On the Arab Spring, it sounded notes of optimism and caution.
“The yearning for change we have witnessed in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen, and Syria is inspirational, and yet change often creates instability before it leads to greater respect for democracy and human rights,” it said, saying an open political culture would not appear overnight after decades of repression.
“Transitions are times of uncertainty. They can be chaotic, unstable, and at times violent. And even when they succeed, they are rarely linear, quick, or easy,” the State Department’s “Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2011” added.
In presenting the report, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said “this has been an especially tumultuous and momentous year for everyone involved in the cause of human rights.
It added: “Many of the events that have dominated recent headlines from the revolutions in the Middle East to reforms in Burma (Myanmar) began with human rights, with the clear call of men and women demanding their universal rights.”
Following decades of repression, “it will take time to create diverse political parties, a robust civil society, a climate conducive to freedom of expression, and a transparent political culture,”the report said.
It recalled the high cost to demonstrators in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen and Syria, where thousands have been killed and many others abused by security forces.
“But the images of demonstrators who had seemingly lost all fear, risking their lives to oppose governments they deemed illegitimate, inspired people around the world,” it said.