Our struggle for a new Egypt isn't over yet
On Friday we Egyptians celebrated. But today we fully appreciate the magnitude of the task ahead
Egypt was a very beautiful place to wake up to on Saturday 12 February. For the first time in my life and that of millions of Egyptians we woke up to a nation that wasn't ruled by Hosni Mubarak. The night before was like nothing Egypt had ever experienced. People poured on to the streets and strangers were hugging each other, congratulating each other, singing, dancing and relaying stories of 17 days of struggle. It is the day Egyptians regained their freedom and dignity, and Egypt reinstated its leading role in the region and beyond.
I and my colleagues had the honour and privilege to be on the frontline of this revolution and ran its day-to-day affairs. On Saturday we gathered once more and discussed the next steps. The army had already declared that it was not going to stand in place of the people in running the country, but the regime was far from removed and anything short of that would be a disastrous failure. Amid the thousands of volunteers who converged on Tahrir Square to help with the removal of the barricades and the clean-up operation, we issued a statement detailing our demands and vision to build the new Egypt.
These were: the immediate lifting of the 30-year emergency law; the immediate release of all political prisoners; the annulment of the current constitution and all amendments; the disbandment of the present parliament, the Shura (consultative) council and regional councils; and, within nine months, to hold a free and fair election in which all political forces can participate, to be run by a national government under an independent presidential council.
While some of those demands have been met – including the disbandment of the Shura council and parliament, and the suspension of the constitution – others remain outstanding. The youth who led this revolution are unequivocal in their intention to see this through to a satisfactory conclusion. Anything less would be a betrayal of the hundreds who gave their lives, the thousands who were wounded, the millions who revolted, and the countless nations now looking to Egypt for inspiration to fuel their own struggles. There is no question that the momentum on the streets of Cairo and all Egypt will continue, and we will be monitoring political developments to ensure that the people's demands are fulfilled.
The best of Egypt has shone in the last few days. The people transcended sectarian divides and rose above their ideological and political differences. Young Muslims guarded Copt churches throughout the 17 nights, with Christians caring for and offering shelter and food to Muslims injured in the clashes. The main true opposition political parties stood united behind the young people who instigated and led the revolution, and petty crimes such as harassment and pickpocketing – which had been at epidemic levels in Cairo – all but disappeared throughout the revolution.
However, we are under no illusion as to the magnitude of the task ahead. The Mubarak regime had 30 years to drag the country and its people down to miserable levels of poverty, corruption, oppression and inequality, and a few days or weeks won't put all that right. It is vital, therefore, that the initial steps in this new era are in the right direction.
On the global front, we hope that this revolution will change many false perceptions. Governments who considered Mubarak a good friend and ally need to examine their role in cementing autocratic regimes which ruined millions of lives, and assess how to establish a positive and constructive relationship with the new Egypt. To the people and nations of the world, we have a humble and heartfelt message of gratitude. Your presence, good wishes and support was felt by us all and helped drive the revolution past the first hurdle towards a complete and total victory. Thank you.
2 opmerkingen:
Ik las op Twitter:
Americans should learn from Egypt and rise up en masse against a system that squanders their wealth on wars and private profiteering.
Nou mevr. Clinton heeft alle steun gegeven aan de opstand van de mensen in Iran. Heel snel na 1 dag demonstreren vond zij dat de inwoners van Iran dezelfde rechten zouden moeten hebben als de inwoners in Egypte.
Zou zij bedoelen dat zij wil en gaat bepalen welke regering er komt,dat zij ook dat land wil onderwerpen aan de nukken en behoeften van de VS?
Ik ondersteun alle protesten tegen dictaturen maar wel op een andere manier.
jose
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