As the pictures from Cairo as of the early morning, 4 July, local time, are coming in, I have to hurriedly sum up my ideas about what is happening there just now.
The military issued an ultimatum to the President, and on meeting his refusal, put him in custody, and took over the political power. This was an extra-constitutional behaviour on the part of the military, and as such clearly constitutes a coup, no matter what the Army would choose to call it.
In that sense, I fully agree with the supporters of the President who are saying "Where is the democracy, where are our votes?". The act certainly nullify the fruits of the "Arab Spring".
Therefore the only way out is for the military to release the President, as quickly as possible, and go back to the barracks.
Needless to say, there is a grave question here. What then would happen to the demands of the opponents, who have gathered at the now world-famous Tahirir Square these days? Should they have kept quiet before the elected President? Suppose, in their eyes, the elected President has gone beyond what so many people could have endured, by way of his steep tendency to go the way of Islamic governance, and his allegedly authoritarian way, taking into confidence only the leadership of his Muslim Brotherhood?
Judging from the way there was jubilation in Cairo, crackers and so on, it is obvious that they will find it impossible to accept the unconditional return of the President. So they will nine out of ten reopen the protest movement.
It is my view that let them do so. In so doing let them disobey the law, the President, the whole administration. Today the country is so divided, the situation has become so worsened by the behaviour of the President, that there will be no other possibility in sight, unless and until the President and the Brotherhood alter their way to listen to different views. But no violence, let me repeat, no violence at all, should be used between the two sections into which the nation has divided. The only other way would be a dreadful and unending Civil War. Remember the Partition of India and Pakistan in 1947 and the accompanying enormous cruelties and bloodshed.
But the military take-over is definitely wrong for the future of democracy in this country. Today's events have once again proved the danger of keeping a large army when there is apparently no outside threat. Immediately on the revival of the economic situation, Egypt should think of ways and means of reducing the size and the budget of her military. Even unilaterally. At the same time the US should stop providing such a large amount of military aid to Egypt. And to Israel, too. The US is very slow in understanding that she is no longer a world leader.
The military issued an ultimatum to the President, and on meeting his refusal, put him in custody, and took over the political power. This was an extra-constitutional behaviour on the part of the military, and as such clearly constitutes a coup, no matter what the Army would choose to call it.
In that sense, I fully agree with the supporters of the President who are saying "Where is the democracy, where are our votes?". The act certainly nullify the fruits of the "Arab Spring".
Therefore the only way out is for the military to release the President, as quickly as possible, and go back to the barracks.
Needless to say, there is a grave question here. What then would happen to the demands of the opponents, who have gathered at the now world-famous Tahirir Square these days? Should they have kept quiet before the elected President? Suppose, in their eyes, the elected President has gone beyond what so many people could have endured, by way of his steep tendency to go the way of Islamic governance, and his allegedly authoritarian way, taking into confidence only the leadership of his Muslim Brotherhood?
Judging from the way there was jubilation in Cairo, crackers and so on, it is obvious that they will find it impossible to accept the unconditional return of the President. So they will nine out of ten reopen the protest movement.
It is my view that let them do so. In so doing let them disobey the law, the President, the whole administration. Today the country is so divided, the situation has become so worsened by the behaviour of the President, that there will be no other possibility in sight, unless and until the President and the Brotherhood alter their way to listen to different views. But no violence, let me repeat, no violence at all, should be used between the two sections into which the nation has divided. The only other way would be a dreadful and unending Civil War. Remember the Partition of India and Pakistan in 1947 and the accompanying enormous cruelties and bloodshed.
But the military take-over is definitely wrong for the future of democracy in this country. Today's events have once again proved the danger of keeping a large army when there is apparently no outside threat. Immediately on the revival of the economic situation, Egypt should think of ways and means of reducing the size and the budget of her military. Even unilaterally. At the same time the US should stop providing such a large amount of military aid to Egypt. And to Israel, too. The US is very slow in understanding that she is no longer a world leader.
No comments:
Post a Comment