- Title: EGYPT: Egypt approaches revolution anniversary with mixed feelings
- Date: 23rd January 2014
- Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (JANUARY 22, 2014) (REUTERS) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE EGYPTIAN INITIATIVE FOR PERSONAL RIGHTS [EIPR] KHALED MANSOUR SEATED FOR INTERIVEW SIGN OF THE EGYPTIAN INITIATIVE FOR PERSONAL RIGHTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE EGYPTIAN INITIATIVE FOR PERSONAL RIGHTS, KHALED MANSOUR, SAYING: "We have a long way to go to achieve the objectives of the
- Embargoed: 7th February 2014 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Egypt
- Country: Egypt
- Topics: Education,Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA82PUZM444M7C5FOX3X5TU4066
- Story Text: In the nearly three years since Egyptians first took to the streets to protest against the government of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak the country has lurched from crisis to crisis, with many Egyptians now feeling let down by the failure to achieve the revolution's lofty goals.
Few predicted that the initial protests would lead to Mubarak's ouster 18 days later, but the euphoria that followed proved short lived.
The military's clumsy stewardship eventually gave way to an elected government led by the Muslim Brotherhood, until mass protest again prompted the military to step in.
On Saturday Egyptians are expected come out in numbers to celebrate the third anniversary of the January 25th "revolution", but the fractured nature of the calls for demonstrations by rival groups reflects the divisions that have grown over the last three tumultuous years.
Protests have been called by supporters of the military backed government that ousted elected President Mohamed Mursi in July, and also by liberal opponents of the government hoping to 'reclaim' the revolution.
At the same time Mursi's loyalists, who have defied a fierce crackdown that has killed over 1,000 protesters since August by continuing to protest, also plan to make their presence felt.
The rival groups are all expected to try and converge on Tahrir Square, the focal point of the 2011 uprising, and smaller waves of demonstrations since.
The square was quiet on Thursday morning, and one man said that on Saturday Egyptians would celebrate not only the initial uprising but the mass demonstrations against the brotherhood on June 30th of last year.
"It was a revolution that was hijacked by the Muslim Brotherhood and then corrected on June 30th. June 30th is an annex to January 25th. God willing the revolution will continue and Egypt will stand on its own feet again, and overcome all obstacles. We will defy any foreign intervention in our country, and we as Egyptians are against this heart and soul," said Afifi.
While protesters have succeeded in bringing down unpopular government's the lofty goals of January 25th and June 30th have proven more difficult to achieve.
Rights activists and critics of the government say that the vested interests of the security state and bureaucracy have ruined any hope for changes.
And, they say, the return in force of the police and rising prominence of the military following Mursi's removal have led to a rise in abuses and the restriction of rights.
Human rights activist Khaled Mansour says that achieving the revolution's goals - bread, freedom and social justice - are a long ways off, and won't be achieved until there is accountability.
"We have a long way to go to achieve the objectives of the January 25th revolution and even the demands of the people who went to the streets on the 30th of June, and I think the first step is to genuinely and in a credible manner respect human rights from civil political social and economic.
"It's poverty and marginalization that is the root of political disturbances, politically motivated violence or what is called terrorism etc. Without a genuine action in that direction we will not get dignity, we will not get social justice, we will not get freedom and then we would have then failed the revolution of 2011," he said.
Mansour pointed out that few security personnel have been successfully prosecuted for the deaths of nearly 1,000 protesters during the 2011 revolution, the period after, or for the over 1,000 who have died during the crackdown on Mursi's supporters.
While supporters of the government say a constitutional referendum that passed by a 98 percent margin earlier this month is a sign that the political roadmap is succeeding, opponents say the way the referendum was run - with the notable arrest of 'no' campaigners' - is evidence to the contrary.
Observers say the lack of participation by young people is a worrying sign of apathy and discontent.
Young protesters took to the streets of central Cairo on Wednesday (January 22) night in opposition to the military backed government and General al-Sisi, whose supporters want him to run for President in upcoming elections.
"We initially revolted for change and freedom. Our demands were freedom, bread and social justice; nothing more. The Muslim Brotherhood then assumed power and people were still getting killed," said protester Karim Kamal.
"We will not put up with any regime that allows even one drop of blood to spill. No advanced state allows the death of human beings. If one United Stated citizen dies they mourn him while here our blood has no value -- we will not allow this.
"We removed the Brotherhood. We are against the Brotherhood but we are also against the massacre [the mass killing of pro-Mursi protesters in Raba al-Adawiya square on August 14th] passing unnoticed. We reject all of this.
"On January 25 2014 we will remove the military regime, and God willing the youth will return and this won't be a state run by the old people."
But the interim government, many of whose ministers are longtime left wing politicians, say the new constitution ensures basic freedoms and there will be no return to the repression of the past.
The 2011 uprising coincided with a national day to celebrate the police, who were deeply unpopular for human rights abuses and corruption.
At a gathering for the police on Thursday attended by senior police officers, military officials, government officials and dignitaries, Interim President Adli Mansour said there could be no return to the past.
"We all welcome Egypt entering a new era - nation that has hopes and ambitions, the hopes that Egyptians had in January 25 2011; An era ratified by a modern constitution and confirming the Republic's support for the police force while also defining the police's obligations and responsibilities.
"A constitution protecting the Egyptian citizen's dignity, life, family and property. [The constitution] puts an immediate end to a police state which will never return. [The constitution] ends the corrupt political regimes that have used the Nation's institutions to fulfill their needs," he said.
But while Egypt's new constitution ensures some basic protections, it also embeds the power of the military, rendering it virtually unaccountable to the civilian government.
Nonetheless film director Khaled Yousef, who took part in the January 25th uprising, said that the freedoms guaranteed in the constitution are a step in the right direction.
"After the ratification of this constitution I believe we are moving towards achieving the revolution's goals. Three years ago there was a lot of confusion. For a while the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces was in power, and committed many mistakes and created obstacles in the revolutions' path.
"The Muslim Brotherhood destroyed the revolution entirely, and stole it, and divided the factions within it. They were directing us to a future contradictory to the revolution's goals.
"Now there are great hopes that the revolution will continue its course and its true goals after the approval of the new constitution and when a new President and Parliament are elected," he said.
As Egyptians approach the third anniversary of an uprising that united much of the country in a common goal the deep divisions have now taken hold are casting into doubt the country's long, tumultuous political transition.
With so many different factions now claiming the revolution's mantle, the unity of purpose so notable in Tahrir square during the 18 day revolution will likely be an unfulfilled aspiration this coming Saturday. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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