Tuesday, 30 July, 2013
Egypt seems to be suffering not just turmoil, but in repeated
convulsions. The Arab Spring led to the ouster of Egyptian President
Hosni Mubarak, easily the most powerful Arab ruler to fall victim during
it, but the elections after that led to Muhammad Morsi of the Ikhwanul
Muslimeen being elected President a year ago. President Morsi’s
government, faced criticism and was unable to consolidate its hold. Not
long after his installation, he was overthrown by the Egyptian army. His
departure has been resisted, to the extent that those protesters killed
over the weekend in Cairo and Alexandria now have crossed 180, but
protesters have vowed to continue the protests till Morsi is restored.
That might well mean dragging the country into further bloodshed, and continuing the clash between the armed forces and the people. US Secretary of State John Kerry has called on the Egyptian armed forces to respect the right of the people to assemble and express their opinion. However, neither he nor any other American official has spoken so forthrightly about the need for the armed forces to respect the mandate of the government.
Meanwhile, European Union Foreign Affairs Commissioner Catherine Ashton will visit Egypt for talks, according to a Presidency spokesman.
One of the more disturbing aspects of the bloodshed in Egypt is the law enforcing agencies’ intentions, which seem to be to shoot to kill, rather than merely to disperse. As observed, those shot dead so far have been injured in the face, head and chest. This will mean further proliferation of casualties, which in turn means that the Egyptian High Command is absolutely determined to suppress Morsi’s supporters, to the extent that it is ready to risk the mutiny that always lurks whenever troops are ordered to fire on their fellow citizens.
The Egyptian people, and their armed forces, have embarked on a very difficult journey. Not only must parties learn that they must play by the rules, but the people must learn to accept election results, and the armed forces must learn the lesson of obedience to popularly chosen authority.
Pakistan cannot play much of a role in the situation, but it must ensure that its diplomats play a positive role in encouraging tolerance and patience. It should also be willing to extend a helping hand and build whatever institutions are possible, if asked. Pakistan’s experience of civil-military relations may be both interesting and useful.
Morsi supporters call new protests
That might well mean dragging the country into further bloodshed, and continuing the clash between the armed forces and the people. US Secretary of State John Kerry has called on the Egyptian armed forces to respect the right of the people to assemble and express their opinion. However, neither he nor any other American official has spoken so forthrightly about the need for the armed forces to respect the mandate of the government.
Meanwhile, European Union Foreign Affairs Commissioner Catherine Ashton will visit Egypt for talks, according to a Presidency spokesman.
One of the more disturbing aspects of the bloodshed in Egypt is the law enforcing agencies’ intentions, which seem to be to shoot to kill, rather than merely to disperse. As observed, those shot dead so far have been injured in the face, head and chest. This will mean further proliferation of casualties, which in turn means that the Egyptian High Command is absolutely determined to suppress Morsi’s supporters, to the extent that it is ready to risk the mutiny that always lurks whenever troops are ordered to fire on their fellow citizens.
The Egyptian people, and their armed forces, have embarked on a very difficult journey. Not only must parties learn that they must play by the rules, but the people must learn to accept election results, and the armed forces must learn the lesson of obedience to popularly chosen authority.
Pakistan cannot play much of a role in the situation, but it must ensure that its diplomats play a positive role in encouraging tolerance and patience. It should also be willing to extend a helping hand and build whatever institutions are possible, if asked. Pakistan’s experience of civil-military relations may be both interesting and useful.
Morsi supporters call new protests
July 30, 2013
CAIRO - Supporters of Egypt’s ousted president called for new
protests on Monday, threatening to deepen the country’s crisis as the EU
foreign policy chief met both the government and the opposition.
The Anti-Coup Alliance of Islamist groups organising protests against the ouster of president Mohamed Morsi urged demonstrators to march on security buildings on Monday night and called a million-man march for Tuesday.
Their statement came after the National Defence Council warned Sunday night that it would take “decisive and firm action” against demonstrators if they went beyond their right to peaceful protest.
Tensions were running high after the deaths of 72 people at a pro-Morsi rally in Cairo on Saturday. A security source said on Monday that a police officer had died of wounds sustained in the violence. “We... call for a million person march under the banner of ‘Martyrs of the Coup’ on Tuesday,” the Anti-Coup Alliance said in a statement.
The group urged Egyptians “to go out into the streets and squares, to regain their freedom and dignity - that are being usurped by the bloody coup - and for the rights of the martyrs assassinated by its bullets.”
It also called for protesters to march on security buildings across Egypt on Monday night “to condemn the criminal acts and the firing of live ammunition by the interior ministry at peaceful demonstrators.”
The calls raised the possibility of fresh confrontations after the National Defence Council warned protesters “not to exceed their rights to peaceful, responsible expression of their opinions”.
The council, which includes the military-installed interim president and the army chief, said demonstrators would face “decisive and firm decisions and actions in response to any violations.”
The military issued its own warning to Cairo protesters in flyers dropped from helicopters in the early hours of Monday.
“We call on you not to approach military facilities or units, help us to protect your safety,” it said, addressing protesters as “honourable sons of the nation.”
With tensions rising, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton began meeting with government and opposition figures. Shortly after her arrival on Sunday she met vice president for international affairs, Mohamed ElBaradei, his office said. “ElBaradei stressed that Egyptian authorities are doing everything possible to achieve a peaceful way out of the crisis,” a statement said.
Ashton will meet ElBaradei again after talks with other officials, including interim president Adly Mansour and representatives of Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood, his office said.
In a statement earlier, Ashton said she would be calling for “a fully inclusive transition... including the Muslim Brotherhood”. The Brotherhood’s political arm, the Freedom and Justice Party, confirmed it would meet Ashton on Monday on the basis of “constitutional legitimacy and in pursuit of an end to the military coup.”
The group has insisted that it will not accept any solution to the crisis that does not involve Morsi’s return to office.
In its first comments on the bloodshed, Egypt’s interim presidency said on Sunday that it was “saddened,” but dubbed the protest area where the deaths occurred a “terror-originating spot”. “We cannot decouple this (incident) from the context of terrorism,” presidential adviser Moustafa Hegazy told reporters.
Morsi’s supporters remained defiant, with thousands still camped at the Rabaa al-Adawiya protest site where the violence erupted.
A security source and the Anti-Coup Alliance said two leaders of the moderate Islamist Wasat party - president Abul Ala Mady and vice president Essam Sultan - were arrested early on Sunday.
State news agency MENA said the two were being investigated on suspicion of inciting violence and murder.
The party is taking part in the protests calling for the reinstatement of Morsi, who has been in custody since just hours after his July 3 ouster.
Last week, he was formally charged with offences related to his escape from prison during the 2011 uprising that overthrew president Hosni Mubarak.
In the Sinai Peninsula, where security has deteriorated rapidly since the 2011 uprising, an attack on a military post in Rafah near the border with Gaza killed one Egyptian soldier and wounded eight overnight.
The Anti-Coup Alliance of Islamist groups organising protests against the ouster of president Mohamed Morsi urged demonstrators to march on security buildings on Monday night and called a million-man march for Tuesday.
Their statement came after the National Defence Council warned Sunday night that it would take “decisive and firm action” against demonstrators if they went beyond their right to peaceful protest.
Tensions were running high after the deaths of 72 people at a pro-Morsi rally in Cairo on Saturday. A security source said on Monday that a police officer had died of wounds sustained in the violence. “We... call for a million person march under the banner of ‘Martyrs of the Coup’ on Tuesday,” the Anti-Coup Alliance said in a statement.
The group urged Egyptians “to go out into the streets and squares, to regain their freedom and dignity - that are being usurped by the bloody coup - and for the rights of the martyrs assassinated by its bullets.”
It also called for protesters to march on security buildings across Egypt on Monday night “to condemn the criminal acts and the firing of live ammunition by the interior ministry at peaceful demonstrators.”
The calls raised the possibility of fresh confrontations after the National Defence Council warned protesters “not to exceed their rights to peaceful, responsible expression of their opinions”.
The council, which includes the military-installed interim president and the army chief, said demonstrators would face “decisive and firm decisions and actions in response to any violations.”
The military issued its own warning to Cairo protesters in flyers dropped from helicopters in the early hours of Monday.
“We call on you not to approach military facilities or units, help us to protect your safety,” it said, addressing protesters as “honourable sons of the nation.”
With tensions rising, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton began meeting with government and opposition figures. Shortly after her arrival on Sunday she met vice president for international affairs, Mohamed ElBaradei, his office said. “ElBaradei stressed that Egyptian authorities are doing everything possible to achieve a peaceful way out of the crisis,” a statement said.
Ashton will meet ElBaradei again after talks with other officials, including interim president Adly Mansour and representatives of Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood, his office said.
In a statement earlier, Ashton said she would be calling for “a fully inclusive transition... including the Muslim Brotherhood”. The Brotherhood’s political arm, the Freedom and Justice Party, confirmed it would meet Ashton on Monday on the basis of “constitutional legitimacy and in pursuit of an end to the military coup.”
The group has insisted that it will not accept any solution to the crisis that does not involve Morsi’s return to office.
In its first comments on the bloodshed, Egypt’s interim presidency said on Sunday that it was “saddened,” but dubbed the protest area where the deaths occurred a “terror-originating spot”. “We cannot decouple this (incident) from the context of terrorism,” presidential adviser Moustafa Hegazy told reporters.
Morsi’s supporters remained defiant, with thousands still camped at the Rabaa al-Adawiya protest site where the violence erupted.
A security source and the Anti-Coup Alliance said two leaders of the moderate Islamist Wasat party - president Abul Ala Mady and vice president Essam Sultan - were arrested early on Sunday.
State news agency MENA said the two were being investigated on suspicion of inciting violence and murder.
The party is taking part in the protests calling for the reinstatement of Morsi, who has been in custody since just hours after his July 3 ouster.
Last week, he was formally charged with offences related to his escape from prison during the 2011 uprising that overthrew president Hosni Mubarak.
In the Sinai Peninsula, where security has deteriorated rapidly since the 2011 uprising, an attack on a military post in Rafah near the border with Gaza killed one Egyptian soldier and wounded eight overnight.
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