As the violence in Libya spreads following the overthrow of the regime in Egypt and with further unrest in Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Jordan, Yemen and Bahrain. Virtually the whole region now has some difficulties with courier deliveries.
A by-product of this is the spike in the cost of crude oil which will surely push up the fuel surcharge that we pay to the courier companies and Citibox, which has maintained its prices for nearly three years now through a VAT (IVA) increase from 16% to 18%, through fuel surcharges rising from 12% to 15% and courier price rises for 2011 of 4% will need to increase its prices (although from an admittedly very low base).
By and large the Western democracies seem to approve of the freedom movements in an area of the world known for its long-term totalitarian leadership. Clearly, the dictatorial situation is not entirely satisfactory but it should not be underestimated how frightening is the violence of a mob, nor what happens when the established security forces are removed or made ineffectual. Remember the hundreds of thousands of civilians who were killed in Iraq after the second Gulf War. A similar indiscriminatory (but with less loss of life so far) slaughter, pillaging and rape appears to have started in Libya.
However unsavory these brutal regimes are, their destruction brings very nasty consequences for many of the citizens of the countries involved, including resolving personal feuds with violence which would not have been possible when before there was a rule of law (however odious), but in the vacuum caused by removal of the head of state old scores can be settled with no threat of the agressor being brought to trial. It is indeed a very frightening time for the ordinary man in the street.
And don’t think it won’t affect you. Just wait ’til you next fill your car up!
