大象传媒

Is now the time for a new Arab democracy?

| Thursday, 1 Jan. 2011 | 17:00 - 19:10 GMT

Protests in Egypt are entering their third day, angry demonstrators torched a police post and up to a thousand people have been detained. There is a pledge for more people to take the streets again tomorrow. Similarly protests have broken out in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa calling for the President to step down.

Your comments

  1. Comment sent via host

    Thanks - that''s all for now folks.

  2. Comment sent via Twitter

    RT @matchavez @大象传媒_WHYS they call it DPRK. If you use that definition of democratic & republic anything goes. Democracy is an overused word

  3. Comment sent via Twitter

    @大象传媒_WHYS they call it the DPRK, and if you use that definition of "democratic" and "republic", anything goes. Democracy is an overused word

  4. Comment sent via SMS

    Why arent people in subsaharan africa chasing out their dictators?what are we waiting for? Audrey, nairobi

  5. Comment sent via Twitter

    @大象传媒_WHYS Africa needs real democracy = online democracy without parliament #4e4

  6. Comment sent via SMS

    The dawn of new democracy throughout Middle East and Africa has already appeard in Tunisia apraoching Eygpt ,Yemen , jordan and it鈥檒l proceed on.Mohamd-sudan

  7. Comment sent via Twitter

    @大象传媒_WHYS that is the most racist thing I have ever heard.

  8. Comment sent via Facebook

    Chipiliro says on Facebook: the best way to handle this, is for Mubarak to step down. While these protests have been motivated by those in Tunisia, Egyptians have very legitimate reasons to go out in the street and to some degree they face the same challenges like unequal distribution of wealth... I urge the Egyptians to keep on pressing until there is change because failing to do that would make the deaths of the 6 people worthless.

  9. Comment sent via Facebook

    Ade says on Facebook: Arab democracy is an oxymoron.

  10. Comment sent via YOURSAY

    Akram in Oslo emails: Probably the most concerned are the western countries that for years have supported the many corrupt repressive regimes in the middle-east.

  11. Comment sent via YOURSAY

    Ahmed in Bahrain called WHYS and says: There is confusion in the Arab world now. People want change, that is true. And democracy is a very favourable word that people know and think is the solution. But I see people on the streets of the Arab world. They don't seem to be ready for democracy. Not yet.

  12. Comment sent via SMS

    Abdullahi,the people in yemen and Egypt have tired with along time of adictator rule,so now it is the time to show their will and let the cat be out of the bag

  13. Comment sent via Facebook

    Mike says on Facebook: Arab revolutions are a wake up call to all governments and rulers around the world that they must respect human rights and create equal opportunities for all citizens. Otherwise, their days are numbered.

  14. Comment sent via SMS

    Each of these counries has/had a dictator supported by western democracies ! Dont patronise, democracy is defined by voters not journalists/economists/political professionals. Simon Florence Italy

  15. Comment sent via BLOG

    Juol from Juba, in Southern Sudan on the blog: Arab leaders are tyrannical, malicious, and morally corrupt. It is now time for the neglected to wake up and push through with a revolutionary agenda. Bravo Egyptians! Your blood will not be spilt in vain.

  16. Comment sent via Facebook

    Geoff in Kenya says on Facebook: Why protest? Wait for general elections... don't force a coup

  17. Comment sent via SMS

    If people decide to be free, nothing can stop them. Mubarak should resign before he is forced to flee like his Tunisian counterpart. Ekayu Wilson. Soroti.

  18. Comment sent via Facebook

    Ojo says on Facebook: As good as this idea of democracy is, the fear of Islamist militants taking charge of these countries is very strong. Hizabollah and Hamas kinds of leadership are most feared.

  19. Comment sent via SMS

    The big Q. Is. R we ready for democracy ? I think not.

  20. Comment sent via BLOG

    Zainab in Iraq says on our blog: Finally there is an Arab awakening. I feel happy for this but one thing those brave people must be careful of is - don't let anyone to destroy your action, don't let outsiders come to take your victory. Go forward and achieve freedom from the tyrants.

  21. Comment sent via Facebook

    Ryan in the USA says on Facebook: Now is the time! I hope the societies can bear the stress of what now seems inevitable.

  22. Comment sent via BLOG

    Pendkar on the WHYS blog: If they have decided to pull the house down, I hope they have a plan for they want to build in its place. Don't start what you cannot finish.

  23. Comment sent via Facebook

    Peter in Seattle on Facebook: The time has come for Arab people to rise up against oppression. This will not only end in Egypt and Yemen but the next one may be northern Sudan when the South breaks away as well as Algeria and Morocco.

  24. Comment sent via host

    We''re on air now. We''re asking is now the time for a new Arab democracy? Post your comments here.

  25. Comment sent via Twitter

    Brian and I are listening to @大象传媒_WHYS on a new Arab democracy. Great stuff!