BRUTALITY DOES NOT PAY

BRUTALITY DOES NOT PAY

SON OF AFRICA

BRUTALITY DOES NOT PAY
Authoritarian rulers are the root cause of civil wars and other insurrections over the nations. They want to rule or enslave their countries indefinitely. They ascend to power mostly through hook or crook: military coup, rigged election, or change of baton from father to son. They are intoxicated with power. These dictators and tribal rulers should be blamed more for crisis in their respective countries, than those they label as secessionists, and dissidents. Today, there is turmoil in: Syria, Iraq, Somalia, and other troubled countries of the world.

These troubled countries have long history of dictatorial or despotic rule. Sit-tight rulers and their descendants unleash, “official terror” on their people, who in turn respond with uprising, or what is generally regarded as rebellion. Many of them after ruling for two terms amend the constitution to allow them to contest and rule for: third term, fourth term, and perpetually. In African countries, many have held on to power, or have lorded over the people for decades; even up to thirty years. They want to die in those positions, or want for their children or grandchildren are old enough to take over from them. They create dynasties. Though some of these wicked rulers died many years ago; they left behind legacy of: tribalism, genocide, wanton destruction of lives and property; the aftermath of their dictatorial and evil rule when alive..

This has prompted the International Community, including United Nations to be sending Peacekeeping Missions, and Humanitarian services. These despotic rulers should have a change of heart and repent from their impunity and wickedness. Then, wars and terrorism in many countries, will be drastically reduced.

Take for instance, post-independent African countries. Many of the indigenous rulers who emerged were dictators and tribal rulers. They see the governing of their respective countries as the property of their families. Their inordinate ambitions are that their descendants will succeed them in power, when they die off. This accounted for numerous tribal wars, and guerrilla activities of the marginalized people. Affected countries include: Angola, Congo Brazzaville, and Somalia.

These unscrupulous, as well as occult rulers, subject their citizens to all forms of dehumanizing conditions like: mass killings, rape, and arson. “Ethnic cleansing,” has become order of the day. There has been wanton destruction of lives and properties of opponents. Countries that haven’t experienced civil wars, or serious civil strives, accounted for leaders who tolerated views of minorities. Tanzania and Ghana are some of them.

Many of these rulers see their countries as business empires; with their children and other descendants as shareholders. They loot the treasury with impunity; with numerous bank accounts abroad. Of course, they have landed properties:  family estates, factories and so on.  Some of these overlords are richer than their countries. They imprison or kill political opponents, and other tribes on trivial issues. They use tribalism, religious bigotry, and oppression to perpetuate themselves in power.

Julius Nyerere of Tanzania (exemplary African leader), once observed after mediating in a conflicts in some African countries, that tribalism and greed for power, were responsible for most of the civil wars, and conflicts in the continent. Same is applicable to other continents of the world. Authoritarian, wicked and ungodly rulers breed terrorism, and all kinds of uprising in their territories. “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked are ruling, the people mourn”—Proverb 29:2.

Rulers in many countries, are religious hypocrites who claim to fear God; but, they are far from Almighty God in their wickedness, and inhuman actions. Although they claim to belong to Christian or Moslem faiths; they don’t adhere to the tenets of these religions. They are workers of iniquities and members of secret societies; who use religious or sectarian bigotry to draw following, and perpetuate themselves in power.

They are tribal and authoritarian rulers, who commit all manner of heinous crimes like: killings, adultery, looting of the treasury, and cannibalism. Their nefarious activities constrain aggrieved persons, to organize themselves into all forms of secessionist groups. Evil rulers hiding under religion, leave behind legacies of wars and internal unrests.

Take for instance, the current volatile situation of Iraq. The citizens there are still feeling the aftermath of Saddam’s despotic rule, long after he was forced out of power, and was executed. Every now and then, we hear of bombings and murders in Iraq. Sectarian violence has become the order of the day. He sowed the seed of violence in Iraq. The seed germinated, and is now ravaging the troubled country in the Middle East.

Righteous people – those who worship God in spirit and in truth, know there won’t be any religious sect or denomination, in the kingdom of God that will soon come. God Almighty is looking for true worshipers, and not hypocrites, who hide under sects or denominations.

Noah and Abraham worked with God, long before existence of established religions like: Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, came into being. He called Abraham out from his people who worship idols, to serve Him in a foreign land. “And the scripture was fulfilled which said, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God” – James 2:23.

In the new life to come, God will make everything new. The new earth will be entirely a different environment. The present earth will be burnt together with the elements in it. It will pass away with great noise. “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up”—II Peter 3:10.

The New Jerusalem will replace the current Jerusalem. “And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” –Revelation 21:2. It will be far more beautiful and fascinating than the present one. Of course, there will be no land dispute there, as is currently with East Jerusalem, where Palestinians are in conflict with Israelis. All religious wars, territorial disputes and other conflicts, will eventually come to an end. Only true worshipers shall enter the kingdom of God. God Almighty, will judge people individually on how they lived on earth. Violence, brutality, and terrorism, are evil winds that blow no one any good.
BASHAR ASSAD OF SYRIA
Bashar Asssad of Syria is another despotic leader, who has caused much pain to his people, and expenses to International Community. Power was handed over to him by his equally despotic father Hafez al-Assad. He was reconfirmed by the national electorate as President of Syria in 2000 and 2007, after the People’s Council of Syria had voted to propose the incumbent uncontested each time. The form of government Assad presides over has been designated as an authoritarian regime by political scientists.  The Assad regime has described itself as secular, while experts have contended that the regime exploits ethnic and sectarian tensions in the country, to remain in power. The regime’s sectarian base relying upon the Alawite minority has been noted. He ordered mass crackdowns and military sieges, on Arab Spring protesters, leading to the Syrian Civil War.

ASSAD:     A DYNASTY OF TURMOIL

The Syrian opposition, the United States, Canada, the European Union, and the majority of the Arab League, have called for al-Assad’s resignation from the presidency. During the Syrian Civil War, an inquiry by the United Nations human rights chief, found evidence to implicate Assad in war crimes, and crimes against humanity. Assad was included in a list of 20 sample war crimes indictments of government officials and rebels, handed to the International Criminal Court. Assad announced he would run for a third term, in Syria’s first multi-candidate direct presidential election in decades, amid serious concerns by the European Union, the United States and other countries, regarding the legitimacy of this vote, and the effect it would have on peace talks with the Syrian Opposition.  He was sworn in for his third seven-year term, on July 16, 2014, in the presidential palace in Damascus.

Over the next six and half years, until his death in 2000, his father Hafez, went about systematically preparing Bashar for taking over power. Preparations for a smooth transition were made on three levels. First, support was built up for Bashar in the military and security apparatus. Second, Bashar’s image was established with the public. And lastly, Bashar was familiarized with the mechanisms of running the country.
Protests in Syria started on 26 January 2011. Protesters called for political reforms and the reinstatement of civil rights, as well as an end to the state of emergency which had been in place since 1963.  One attempt at a “day of rage” was set for 4–5 February, though it ended uneventfully.  Protests on 18–19 March were the largest to take place in Syria for decades and the Syrian authority responded with violence against its protesting citizens.
On 18 May 2011, U.S. President Barack Obama signed an Executive order, putting into effect sanctions against Assad, in an effort to pressure his regime “to end its use of violence against its people, and begin transitioning to a democratic system, that protects the rights of the Syrian people.” The sanctions effectively freeze any of the Syrian President’s assets, either in the United States proper or within U.S. jurisdiction. On 23 May 2011, EU Foreign ministers agreed at a meeting in Brussels to, add Assad and nine other officials to a list affected by travel bans, and asset freezes.
In August, Syrian security forces attacked the country’s best-known political cartoonist, Ali Farzat, a noted critic of Assad’s regime and its five-month crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators and dissent. Relatives of the severely beaten humorist, told Western media that the attackers threatened to break Farzat’s bones, as a warning for him to stop drawing cartoons of government officials, particularly Assad. Farzat was hospitalized with fractures in both hands, and blunt force trauma to the head. By the end of January 2012, it was reported that over 5,000 civilians and protesters (including armed militants), had been killed by the Syrian army, militia (Shabiha) and security agents, while 1,100 people had been killed by the anti-regime forces. On 10 January 2012, Assad gave a speech in which he accused the uprising of being plotted by foreign countries, and claimed that “victory was near”. He also said that the Arab League, by suspending Syria, revealed that it was no longer Arab.
On 6 January 2013, Assad, in his first major speech since June, said that the conflict in his country was due to “enemies” outside of Syria who would “go to Hell” and that they would “be taught a lesson”. However he said that he was still open to a political solution, saying that failed attempts at a solution “does not mean, we are not interested in a political solution.” Several members of the Assad family, who were once considered untouchable, have died in Latakia under unclear circumstances, raising questions about the Assad family’s influence in the pro-government bastion.
After a string of government defeats in northern and southern Syria, analysts noted growing government instability coupled with continued waning support for the Assad government among its core Alawite base of support.  In June 2015, United Nations special envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura stated that Assad must leave power and suggested petitioning the US to militarily pressure him to do so; this was a large shift in position, as Mistura had previously described Assad as “part of the solution” to the Syrian Civil War.
On 19 November 2015, President Barack Obama reiterated that Assad must be removed from office to lead the end of the Civil War: “The reason is not simply because of my opinion of him. It is because it is unimaginable that you can stop the civil war here when the overwhelming majority of people in Syria consider him to be a brutal, murderous dictator. The Syrian economy lies in ruins. Assets and infrastructure have been destroyed, half of the population lives below the poverty line, and the human development index has fallen back to where it stood 37 years ago.
Human Rights groups, such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have detailed how the Assads regime’s secret police routinely tortured, imprisoned, and killed political opponents, and those who speak out against the regime.
During its decades of rule… the Assad family developed a strong political safety net by firmly integrating the military into the government. In 1970, Hafez al-Assad, Bashar’s father, seized power after rising through the ranks of the Syrian armed forces, during which time he established a network of loyal Alawites by installing them in key posts. In fact, the military, ruling elite, and ruthless secret police are so intertwined that it is now impossible to separate the Assad government from the security establishment…. So… the government and its loyal forces have been able to deter all but the most resolute and fearless opposition activists.

In this respect, the situation in Syria is to a certain degree comparable to Saddam Hussein’s strong Sunni minority rule in Iraq. It was reported that 200,000 political prisoners were in jail in Syria for opposing the Assad regime.
In March 2015, a report published by Physicians for Human Rights, documented that the Assad regime was responsible for the vast majority of the deaths of 600 medical workers, since the Syrian Civil War began; 88% of recorded attacks on hospitals, and 97% of killings of medical workers were attributed to Assad’s forces.

SIAD BARRE OF SOMALIA

A military junta in the person of  Major General Muhammad Siad Barre, seized power, and became ruler of Somalia. He was a tribal ruler. His dictatorial rule and tribalism, laid the evil foundation for the lingering anarchy and bloodshed that ensued after his overthrow. He was actually the architect of Somalis crisis. The Somali Republic gained independence on 1 July 1960. The country was formed by the union of British Somaliland and Italian Somaliland, while French Somaliland became Djibouti.
Rebel forces ousted him in 1991; but turmoil, factional fighting, and anarchy ensued. The Somali National Movement (SNM) gained control of the north, while in the capital of Mogadishu and most of southern Somalia, the United Somali Congress achieved control. The country had been without a stable central government since dictator Mohamed Siad Barre fled the country in 1991.
There was no national government in Somalia for nearly two decades. Much of the country has been effectively governed by local authorities, in Somaliland and Puntland, but these entities were not recognized as states by the international community. Since 1991, an estimated 350,000 to 1,000,000 Somalis had died because of the conflict.
From the fall of Siad Barre’s regime to the present day, events have flowed through several distinctive phases. The period 1991-1992 was marked by the most intense conflict, when the different clan factions fought for control of land and resources in southern Somalia. In 1992, responding to the political chaos and humanitarian disaster in Somalia, the United States and other nations launched peacekeeping operations, to create an environment in which assistance could be delivered to the Somali people.

BARRE “THE ARCHITECT OF SOMALIA CRISIS”
On October 3rd 1993, US troops received significant causalities (19 dead over 80 others wounded) in a battle with Somali gunmen. When the United States and the UN withdrew their forces from Somalia, in 1994 and 1995 respectively, after suffering significant casualties, order still had not been restored. Somalis continued to flee the country as internal displacement became routine/common in particular regions of the country.
The period 2006-2011 was marked by the December 2006 intervention by Ethiopian troops, which by January 2007 had effectively dispersed the Islamic courts. In its place, the militant wing al-Shabaab continued to fight. against the TFG and foreign forces, and by 2008 it had regained control of much of southern Somalia, the territory held by the Islamic courts in 2006.
Somaliland and Puntland, two regions in the north, broke away from the country and set up regional, semi-autonomous governments. They were not internationally recognized. By September 2011, more than 20 separate regional governing authorities had developed across the country, in addition to Puntland and the self-declared Republic of Somaliland, (which maintains a separate regional governing authority) – including Southwestern Somalia, Ayn, Somalia, Maakhir, Northland State, Madar, and Somal. Some of the authorities engaged in armed conflict with each other.
A top U.N. official said up to 3,000 African Union soldiers had been killed in Somalia over the past few years fighting the Islamist insurgency. UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson gave the death toll at a news conference 09 May 2013 at UN headquarters. Eliasson said Uganda and Burundi, which supplied most of the troops for the AU force, “have paid a tremendous price.” A spokesman for the force, Ali Aden Hamoud, says he cannot confirm or deny the death toll. “That responsibility belongs to each one of those contingents, or troop-contributing countries,” he said. Over the previous two years, AU troops, working with Somali and Ethiopian forces, forced militant group al-Shabab out of southern Somali towns and cities they once controlled. The al-Shabab threat receded but still existed, and that the AU force, known as AMISOM, still played a crucial role in the country.
Military option alone can never solve the crisis, like in other troubled parts of the world. Neither can it stop the bombings. Permanent solution lies in addressing the grievances of the “rebels”: which include marginalization, and subjugation of other ethnic groups. Some rulers use armed groups to ascend to power, by hook and crook. As soon as they are established in that position, they kick against the “ladder” that brought them to power. Then, unending armed struggle continues. Authoritarian rulers and dictators, both past and present, are the ‘progenitors’  of turmoil in virtually all the troubled countries in Africa and beyond.

Evangelist Joseph U. Afurobi

SADDAM HUSSEIN OF IRAQ
Saddam Hussein was eventually made to pay for his crimes against humanity. He has the dubious distinction of being the best-known Middle Eastern dictator. He ruled Iraq from 1979 until his overthrow and capture by a US-led coalition, in 2003.
Saddam forced the ailing President to retire a decade later, and had himself sworn in as leader of the republic. To ensure his control, Saddam ordered the execution of dozens of top ranking soldiers. In an attempt to wrest the Shatt-al-Arab waterway from Iran, Saddam, armed by the West, declared war on Tehran in 1980. The battle ended in a stalemate, eight years later, with an estimated one million people declared dead.
Thwarted in expanding Iraq’s influence to the east, Saddam claimed Kuwait as the 19th province of Iraq, citing historical justification. The devil moved him to do so. He wanted to expand his territory like King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, his ancestor. He failed woefully. His soldiers crossed the Kuwaiti border in August 1990, only to be bombed into retreat by a huge US-led coalition four months later. The campaign was known as Desert Storm. Saddam tagged it

“Mother of all battles.” But when the battle became too much for him, he ran helter skelter for safety like a rabbit. He hid himself among the civilian population most of the time. He was firing scud missile into Israeli territories to give “Islamic dimension” to the war. He boasted he would go for the liberation of Palestine. But, he couldn’t liberate himself and his elite republican guards, from the onslaught and fire power of coalition forces, led by United States.
Since the international coalition did not attempt to topple Saddam, his regime continued to brutally suppress Kurds and Shiites. Although Saddam survived attempted coups in 1992 and 1993, and a major defection in 1995, UN sanctions hurt Iraq and prevented its resurgence as a power in the Gulf.
As Saddam continued to defy the warnings, the United States – together with a number of key allies – launched an attack which quickly toppled Iraq’s Ba’athist regime. Saddam himself managed to escape and to remain in hiding for some time, but was eventually captured and put in prison pending a war crimes trial by the first democratically elected government in Iraq’s history. During his capture, he was found in under ground bunker in the bush, looking very haggard and frail. He disguised himself with overgrown hair, bears, and mustache. He had by his side, a sack loaded with more than a million US dollars. His apprehension signaled the end of his satanic rule.
On November 5, 2006, Saddam Hussein was found guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced to death by hanging. Saddam’s half brother, Barzan Ibrahim, and Awad Hamed al-Bandar, head of Iraq’s Revolutionary Court in 1982, were convicted of similar charges as well. The verdict and sentencing were both appealed but subsequently affirmed by Iraq’s Supreme Court of Appeals. On 30 December 2006, Saddam was hanged.
Dictators are terrorizing their people. They are the main aggressors. Those in authority should listen to grievances, or voices of dissent, and begin to address their genuine claims. Impunity and pomposity should give way to direct dialogue with aggrieved people. authoritarian rulers should emulate great and exemplary leaders like Nelson Mandela on how they handled crisis situations.
On assumption of office as South African President, Mandela put to an end the racial and ethnic conflicts in his country. The white minority, the people of Kwazulu, and others, now have a deep sense of belonging in the country. He served a term of four years, and relinquished power voluntarily. Jacob Zuma from minority Party succeeded him. The former laid solid foundation for stable and egalitarian society in South Africa. He wasn’t power hungry, neither did he amass wealth, or subjugate the opposition, nor voices of dissent. Today in South African, nobody talks about: secession, civil war, terrorism, and all worth not. Mandela wasn’t a hypocritical or tribal leader, unlike many rulers in African countries who say one thing, and do another thing.
Authoritarian rulers abound in the world, especially in Africa. They refuse to leave power, instead change the constitutions, to enable them contest presidential election and rule their countries indefinitely. These dictators do much to suppress dissenting voices, with the connivance of their tribesmen.  They try and ward off the concerns of International Community, claiming what is happening in their countries as internal affairs. But, by the time they create huge refugee problems through civil war or unrest, it will no longer be internal affairs. Then, members of International Community, including United Nations, will deign to spend a lot; and be involved in restoring peace, catering for refugees, in the troubled countries.
International bodies shouldn’t allowed dictators or evil rulers to kill or dehumanize their people under the cover of being internal affairs. It has been much abused to carry out genocide and other atrocities. The world powers like United States, Britain, and France, owed it as responsibility to God and humanity, to end nefarious activities of dictators. God Almighty created we human beings equal before Him. Nobody has the right to toy with the lives of others, under any guise whomsoever.
Prosecution and subsequent imprisonment of Charles Taylor of Liberia by ICC -should have taken place much earlier- even while in office. Many monsters of rulers like Idi Amin of Uganda and Emperor Bakassa, had field days terrorizing their people. They were involved in mass murders, cannibalism, and so on. Persons of their type should have been prosecuted and sentenced by International Criminal Court, while in office. These devil incarnates ought not to be allowed to devastate their respective countries to such deplorable level, before being apprehended. A stitch in time saves nine. Their evil activities caused uprising that culminated to civil wars, guerrilla disturbances. They left behind legacies of perpetual uprising and ruins, in their enslaved countries.
We call on International Community not to linger in prosecuting the current Syria President Assad, for crimes against humanity in his country. Then terrorism in that part of the world will be drastically reduced. Tribal and wicked rulers breed rebellion. The oppressed people now form themselves into groups to fight for their emancipation. They use religions and ethnicity, as rallying points for their struggles. These liberation movements are mostly found in “authoritarian” countries in: Africa, Asia, Middle East, and so on.
A lot of atrocities and heinous crimes, are being committed by both sides in conflicts. Women and children are most vulnerable. They constitute bulk of refugees, and bear the brunt. Despicable acts are being committed with impunity. People are burnt and buried alive, rape, arson, genocide, and looting. Attacks and reprisal attacks continue. The vicious circle continues. “Rebel leaders” as they are tagged, will vow never to give up until the dictatorial regimes, are removed from power. By so doing, they bring development in their respective countries several years backward, through massive destruction of lives and property.

Righteousness exalts a nation; sin is a reproach any people.
The parties involved in wars employ all kinds of crude tactics, including diabolical, in order to outwit each other. Many of them visit native doctors, juju priests, and deities, for fake powers. They are instructed by devils to indulge in: murders, rape, and other evils, in order to reactivate their devilish powers. They should realize that Almighty God, the creator of the whole universe, looks down in the kingdoms of men, and to pay everyone according to his deeds. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings”—Jeremiah 17: 9-10.
Down through the ages, God has been dealing with Kings and other rulers over nations up till now. For the evil ones among them, when their iniquities become full before Him, he will cut them off. He dealt with wicked rulers like Samuel Doe of Liberia, and Jonas Savimbi (Rebel Leader) of Angola. The former butchered someone alive; while the latter burnt someone alive. God paid them back in their own coins.
If you can recall your mind, you will discover that virtually all those who put their trust in Idols and charms, have been disappointed and ashamed. For God has already said it. Anything charm must fail, it is a matter of time. “They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols”—Isaiah 45:16. For anyone who claims he has charms to protect him from gun shots or matchet cuts, there is a devil always in front of him, that moves about to wedge the bullets or knife cuts. But, time is coming when the devil will abandon the person and flee. His evil powers will fail him; then those things he is afraid of will come upon him. He won’t be able to come back alive, to question why the charm disappointed him.
Those who have evil powers to disappear have sold themselves completely to the devils. They have imminent appointments with death. They can disappear and then appear in: the middle of ocean, peak of high mountain, tick forest, or dip pit. A lot of them have drowned in the river, devoured by wild animals in the forest, and so on. Some will disappear and will never appear again. Some of them who turn to animals, won’t be able to return as human beings. Quite a number of the animals inside the bush are “human beings.” It is much better to trust in God Almighty than to trust in idols or devils.
“Thus said the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glory glory in this, that he understands and knows that I am the LORD which exercise loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, said the LORD”—Jeremiah 9:23-24.
God is not mocked; whatsoever a man sows that shall he reap. He that sows good fruits shall reap good fruits. Likewise, he that sows bad fruits shall reap bad fruits. He that sheds blood shall have his own blood shed by man, for in the image of God created He man. He that holds captives shall himself go into captivity.
God the creator of the whole universe said, the righteousness of the righteous shall be on him; and the wickedness of the wicked shall be on him. Whatsoever a man sows that shall he reap. He who sows violence shall reap violence. Fret not yourself because of evildoers, neither be envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bows, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation. Their sword shall enter into their own hearts, and their bows shall be broken.

I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found. Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off. Brutality has much to do with ill-education and diabolism.

We therefore call for a change of attitude. Those sit-tight authoritarian rulers should give peace a chance, by allowing others to contest and succeed them. They should emulate civilized countries like America, Britain, France, etc. The rulers step down after serving one or two terms in office. This accounts for the relative stability in those countries. Tanzania and South Africa are not left out. Even in Ghana, the former military ruler Jerry Rawllings, relinquished power voluntarily for elected President to take over. Today the nation is calm.
Those sit-tight rulers and killers, should know governance is not their family or tribal property. God Almighty, the creator of the whole universe, has the power to remove anybody from whatever position.
“The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD has his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. He rebukes the sea, and makes it dry, and dries up all the rivers: Bashan languishes, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languishes. The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein. Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him. Nahum 1:3-6.
We also call on the rebels and other opposing sides to give peace a chance by embracing dialogue. Everyone will give account of his actions before God. Those murderers, rapists, and other workers of iniquities will not go unpunished. Let them not rust in their diabolical powers. For in the day of God’s visitation, their charm, amulet, tortoise, and all worth not, won’t be able to deliver them from calamity.
If both sides in the conflicts exercise restraint and respect fundamental human rights, the society will be a better place for all of us to live in.