Friday, 13 May 2011
Only 100 days after the revolution of 25 January, one can hardly believe the sweeping changes that have taken place. The regime of Mr. Mubarak has been overthrown and a new structure is being put in place. No one had expected Egypt to do it. No one expected the nation to rise up like one man and call for change.
Within a few weeks the Egyptian people escalated their demands, from change to the departure of the president, then for freedom and social justice. Thousands took to the streets, in cities and in the countryside. They were young and old, men and women, and they turned Tahrir Square into a melting pot. Everyone came, from the right and the left, Muslims and Copts. This was the tipping point. This was the moment of truth for a nation everyone had thought was too meek to act.
Within a few weeks the Egyptian people escalated their demands, from change to the departure of the president, then for freedom and social justice. Thousands took to the streets, in cities and in the countryside. They were young and old, men and women, and they turned Tahrir Square into a melting pot. Everyone came, from the right and the left, Muslims and Copts. This was the tipping point. This was the moment of truth for a nation everyone had thought was too meek to act.
The army chiefs sided with the people and their demands. Then came the moments of doubt. Fear blended with hope as we watched in horror as the Battle of the Camel unfolded. Pro-Mubarak supporters rallied in front of Mustafa Mahmoud Mosque and things began to turn ugly. The whole nation held its breath as the men of Habib al-Adli used rubber bullets, water cannons, tear gas and then live rounds against unarmed civilians, killing more than 800 people.
The Egyptian people were by now determined to change the whole structure of power, and the army proved to be on their side. But the people still harboured doubts about Omar Suleiman and then Ahmed Shafik, due to the close links both men had with the old regime. Many suspected them to be part of the counter-revolution, and there is no evidence yet to the contrary.
Then came the ministerial change. With Essam Sharaf running a new government, the country shed much of the old regime and replaced most of the governors who worked for it. Mubarak is detained and his sons are now behind bars awaiting trial.
Within a hundred days, despite moments of doubt and despite heated debate, the revolution succeeded in putting the country on track. We are heading to a new constitutional life. Partial constitutional amendments have been put to the vote. Candidates for the presidency are already campaigning. And parties with various intellectual and political platforms are coming onto the scene. Time will tell how far they are ready to contest the parliamentary and presidential elections. We have plenty of forums of dialogue, so many that it often gets confusing. But what do you expect from a country that has been deprived of dialogue for decades?
If we look around us, we have to admit that Egypt has changed a lot since the revolution. Its foreign policy has changed too. So much rust had covered Egypt's face for 30 years, impeding its rapport with Arab countries and African countries. The rust came from the minds of Egypt's leaders. It is gone now and Egypt is shining again.
The achievements of the revolution make it look older than its age. But there is a lot more to be done. We have an economic problem to deal with. We have sectoral demands to sort out. And we have to start paying attention to poverty, health and education.
What makes me worry is the emergence of sectarian divisions that are capable of tearing the fabric of our society. The Salafis and Sufis and many others must not be allowed to turn Egypt into another Lebanon.
One hundred days are not enough for healing. But they may be enough for a new illness to take root.
(Published in Egypt's al-Ahram Weekly in the May 12-18 issue.)
The Egyptian people were by now determined to change the whole structure of power, and the army proved to be on their side. But the people still harboured doubts about Omar Suleiman and then Ahmed Shafik, due to the close links both men had with the old regime. Many suspected them to be part of the counter-revolution, and there is no evidence yet to the contrary.
Then came the ministerial change. With Essam Sharaf running a new government, the country shed much of the old regime and replaced most of the governors who worked for it. Mubarak is detained and his sons are now behind bars awaiting trial.
Within a hundred days, despite moments of doubt and despite heated debate, the revolution succeeded in putting the country on track. We are heading to a new constitutional life. Partial constitutional amendments have been put to the vote. Candidates for the presidency are already campaigning. And parties with various intellectual and political platforms are coming onto the scene. Time will tell how far they are ready to contest the parliamentary and presidential elections. We have plenty of forums of dialogue, so many that it often gets confusing. But what do you expect from a country that has been deprived of dialogue for decades?
If we look around us, we have to admit that Egypt has changed a lot since the revolution. Its foreign policy has changed too. So much rust had covered Egypt's face for 30 years, impeding its rapport with Arab countries and African countries. The rust came from the minds of Egypt's leaders. It is gone now and Egypt is shining again.
The achievements of the revolution make it look older than its age. But there is a lot more to be done. We have an economic problem to deal with. We have sectoral demands to sort out. And we have to start paying attention to poverty, health and education.
What makes me worry is the emergence of sectarian divisions that are capable of tearing the fabric of our society. The Salafis and Sufis and many others must not be allowed to turn Egypt into another Lebanon.
One hundred days are not enough for healing. But they may be enough for a new illness to take root.
(Published in Egypt's al-Ahram Weekly in the May 12-18 issue.)
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