Egypt: Stuck in Reverse!

It seems that the country is absolutely unable to move ahead to pick up with wherever the world is. Egypt seems to be falling in an eternal rebound dual relationship; either a theocracy falling in the midieval times or a bounce back to a military dictatorship stuck in the sixties.

Such realization does not seem to be coming through anyone’s mind. People are currently blinded or plagued by an explicit fascist atmosphere where every party seems to be stuck on their own ways having no tolerance nonetheless sympathy with anyone. And although, throughout 7000 years Egypt has never been part of a conventional civil strife, we absolutely have quite a winner here. The country is on the edge- if not already there.

The funny part is how most of the community is falling in the traps of propagandist media from all parties. In fact, it’s pretty much hard to even call it media, it’s propagandist opinionated information thrown to ignite the feelings of each party to loose the remnants of humanity within them. An extent that reached mocking and bullying human rightists, lawyers and rational thinker who are trying to find ways to cool down issues. It is no secret, both parties do really like that atmosphere already and no one has an intension to give life a fair chance.

Incidents of civil strife or killing is no big news and no longer cause any public to not even sympathize, but even think if that’s going anywhere at all. Pro Morsi killing a 17 year old teenager is countered by a pro Sissi killing a bearded man by burning him alive in his shop is no longer shocking enough to make anyone stop and think for a minute.

The killing of around 70 people in an open fire from police against a demonstration- said to have arms is preceded by testimonies of torture of civilians in a mosque by Morsi supporters. Both Pro Morsi and Pro Sissi, seem they can no longer be stopped but rather more determined and stuck on their own opinions.

Amid all that you have a complete loss of credible and accurate data. The number of lives lost is unclear, the reality about the Pro Morsi supporters is unclear. The Pro- Sissi “delegation to fight terrorism” is unclear. Even the detention and interrogation of many said to be involved prominent politicians is still unclear. A situation that led to an enormous hate evoking media tone among local, regional and international media apertures trying to collect as much gains to whichever party they belong to.

A prominent media anchor clearly came on TV with a clear speech of hate against a party another media anchor moved from reporting a fact of man shot on the back of his head, a scene of a human brain flushing out of a skull to an analysis to where the shot is coming from front or back- making an assumptions that the demonstrators are killing each other for sympathy!! And speakers of Pro Morsi supporters clearly encourage violence against the country.

Even Sinai, news of daily assaults against authority with no real field coverage, no single video or even a real funeral of those who get killed. In fact we have no idea what is going on in Sinai. Not a single bit. Why are those terrorists attacking the country (even at Morsi’s governance) and what is holding the forces from stopping them?

An Arab TV station has enlarged the number of the killed 3 times the actual approximated number and continuously airing a clear hate speech by some speakers on the pro Morsi demonstrators. In fact both parties no longer air any news regarding the other party except in opinions- no facts. Media reporters were attacked on separate occasions at demonstrations.

Not to mention the numeric count assumptions about demonstrators, without any scientific basis. Rab’aa protestors claiming daily they have millions and Pro Sissi claiming an average of 30-40 million people every time they seem to hit the streets! Not a single report from a credible body to justify either number.

Comes in fashion, “War Against Terror” fad. A phrase that never really led to more blood shed and more lives innocent and guilty taken, increased hate, inflamed revenge and decreased any source of freedom or even safety among anyone claiming it.

Looking left to Algeria, you’d find a country that already walked down this road in no proper achievement. Less than 8 months back, terrorists have held BP employees in custody and the government had attacked everyone on the gas facility ending in many casualties including four employees who were in custody.

At moments like this, you have really no choice. If you join the Pro Sissi, you may be asking for Military Rule again and bringing back the country not only to Mubarak’s era but to the 60’s without even promises of a social justice. If you join the Pro Morsi you are probably asking for a violent theocracy that will push you centuries back when democracy wasn’t even practiced. On the process, you will loose your manners, ethics and some friends. Or you can choose to try to find reconciliation, and you’ll be attacked as your neutral stance is a form of treason to either party.

With an atmosphere like this where people replace their anger at killing with anger at the CNN or finding a name for June 30 be it a coup or a revolution or even carrying Morsi or Sissi’ posters and flooding them with intimidating kisses, it’s better you stay Quiet then till the storm passes, and hope that it does with no more damage and no more friends lost.

وللمغتربين ، حظا اوفر .. فى وطن اخر

الصراحة يعنى.. لم اكن انتوى انى اكتب اى حاجة الفترة دى (ولو ان لم اكن انتوى بتفكرنا بايام سودا بس اهو بقا) نظراً لان كل الناس بتقول كل حاجة فيبقي بما انه مفيش اضافة اسكت احسن.. انما انا استفزيت من بوست قريته وكام تعليق بخصوص حاجة كده زى عزل المصريين بالخارج عن الادلاء باى راى ليهم فى اى حاجة تخص البلد.. اخرها الحقيقة بوست كان بصريح العبارة انه اللى هيقول راي مخالف له هو شخصيا تبقى لامواخذه حمرا وبترتر واحسن له يحط جزمة فى بقه ويسكت...

وطبعا الامر ده كان مسبب ان المقيم فى الخارج عايش 'رغد العيش' وبيقبض بالعملة الصعبة وبيعمل باربيكيو فى البارك بينما المصريين فى مصر عايشين البيض بجميع صوره.. 

طب شوفوا بقا... المصريين بالخارج حاجة كده بتاع ٧ مليون نفر فى بلاد الله لخلق الله. فيه اللى طفح الدم لحد ماشترى بيت وعمل الباربيكيو (نفسنة ١)  وفيه اللى كان على مشارف الموت فى مركب مخروم وفيه اللى مذلول فى دول وباسبوره رهن كفيل.. فى برضه اللى قاعد فى شغلانة على كف عفريت وبيقبض عالحركرك ويبعت العملة الصعبه (نفسنة ٢) لاهله وبيته اللى مش معاه.

فيه برضه شباب بتدرس وبتشتغل بعيد عن اهاليها.. فيه برضه ناس اتغصبت بسبب احوال البلد للخروج نظراً لظرف البلد وفيه مصريين فى بلاد الشياكة  وفيه فى بلاد بتركب الافيال ..انما الاهم والاكيد بقا ان كلهم مصريين فى اى بقعة على وجه الارض ...مصرى عن عين التخين ... والمصرى اللى زيك زيه ده يقول رايه ويعجبك او لا موضوع يخصك.. والمغترب ده سايب اهله برضه وله معارف واصحاب واولاد واهالى هو ماراحش القمر! وايوه لو معاه جنسية تانية حقه يقول رايه برضه حتى لو الراي ده مش عاجبك.. وبالمناسبة حصر العاملين بالخارج انهم فى بلاد العالم الاول ده نوع من قصر النظر والجهل.. مطلوب من حضرتك اطلس مستحدث وتشوف العالم على بعضه بغض النظر عن قوالب "فى اوروبا والدول المتقدمة ده" 

وبالمناسبة اى بنى ادم فى الحياه من حقه يقول رايه فى اى بلد ايا كانت امال يعنى الناس شاغله روحها ليه بارسال رسايل لل سي ان ان لما مش فارق راي العالم الاخر..

الموضوع قلب من شوفونيه وتصلب راي وجهل .. لا كمان ده اصبح فوبيا من اى حاجة بره الخط الحدودى على الخريطة. 

اما بالنسبة للسياسة انا حقيقة مش ناوية اتكلم لانه معنديش اضافة.. انما رايي المتواضع.. البلد دى هتتحسن بس يوم ما الكل يعرف انه هيفضل فى اخوان وسلفيين لابد الابدين وحسن البنا هيفضل له مريدين.. وهيفضل فى ناس بتفضل حكم عسكرى وشايفاه انسب .. فقط يوم ما الكل يعرف يعيش مع بعضه مش ضد بعضه البلد هتبقى احسن.. هى المفروض منافسه مش خناقه.. 

اما بالنسبة لحاله الهلع اللى طايحة فى البلد.. دا مش جديد هتهدا زى مابتهدا وترجع تقوم وتهدا.. انما الناس اللى بتخسر صحابها ومبادئها عالسياسة عندى كلمة اخيره "ماتتشددش اوى كده" بكره الاخوان يقعدوا مع العسكر زى ما طوووول عمرهم بيقعدوا ومفهمنا انهم اعداء.. هتخسر صحابك وانسانيتك عالفاضى؟!! لا العسكر بيمشي للابد ولا الاخوان هينتهوا للابد.. Face it ! اما للاراء بتاعة وللمغتربين ان يضعوا البلغة فى افواههم.. احب اقوله ان البلغة already فى بقهم.. دفعوا مقدم ولو مضايقينك اوى يعنى ممكن تلغى تصويت المصريين بالخارج زيادة اقصاء..وحظاً اوفر فى وطن اخر

والله الموفق والمستعان

Coup? Revolution? Never Mind! Mexican Stand Off..

Another day and more bloodshed, less proximity to stability but more persistence by what most Egyptians like to call- a continuation of 25 Jan revolution, what army and supporters call June 30 revolution, what Islamists and Morsi supporters like to call and international media call it Military Coup.

The public scene is now showing a classic standoff between country’s two main players, Military and Muslim Brotherhood while, the world’s international players watch closely and interfere implicitly.

While Muslim Brotherhood do have a solid case on the table, Dr. Morsi was legitimately elected exactly one year ago, with a 52% majority, the international community seem puzzled, confused, annoyed and in the least not interested and of course called coup- a term seemingly annoying most Egyptians.

However, facts are, a street initiative has been running on the ground for months collecting signatures door to door to rebel against Mohamed Morsi; in a popular campaign called “Rebel”. A procedure ended in announcement of 22 million signatures a count far exceeding the number of eligible votes Morsi was able to score on either election rounds.

Such initiative was announced in a presses and called for a march and surprisingly was accepted by humongous marches on June 30^th that no country regime can even ignore.

Why Europe and US do not think it’s such a good idea?

Well because basically you have just extracted your newly seeded democracy and the rule of law. You have all of a sudden returned to the sixties when coups are in fashion; and you are not supposed to oust a president every time he doesn’t do a good job. That’s not the rule of the game. And thus called it a coup d’etat.

Why Egyptians won’t like that?

Well, 22 million signatures collected from people all through the country, dozen million man march (not an exaggerative expression) cannot  possibly be ignored. A year where the country has been pushed backwards in terms of freedoms, law and order, security void, authoritarian governance, poor international relations causing deterioration in relationships with most African, Arab and European relationships but for USA and Qatar- and surprisingly Israel. Comes along the main trigger, dramatic executive mismanagement, prices jumps, scarcity of resources, electricity daily cut offs, and gas disappearance. As a result, the economic standpoint not only was looking bad but the problem did hit every household- daily. In addition to more frequent major incidents implying loss of any control on country.

This was accompanied by violence handling in demonstrations- not only from police- but from Morsi supporters, and a dictatorial decree announced on November giving ultimate- almost Divine- powers to the president.

Many minor issues have emerged along the road that added to the frustration of the people especially at the original revolutionary youth who instead of being part of the democratic changeover, were threatened, arrested and attacked. Mubarak’s regime men however seem to be set free.

Where are we now?

Right now we are in a Mexican standoff..

The Military has “Morsi” under house arrest. It has the public on their side and till this moment is claiming a fair chance for all to be part of our new “civil” state..

The brotherhood, have their supporters and have access to some extremist groups (either by coordination or only mere support) that they believe Morsi is the Islamic religious leader. Thus, you can claim similarities between current situation and the Algerian Model (where in 9 years 40K reported dead) and some separate incidents still happen every once in a while (BP rig incident earlier this year)

The bigger problem with the brotherhood is that it took them around 80 years to come to power and it was taken away in 1. Many of the brotherhood did not believe in democracy till they won and thus the fear is adoption of more violent (AKA Jihadist theories because obviously, democracy wont work)

There is a group of other revolutionaries who had to go and kick the brotherhood out because the country was literally getting out of control, and right now they are forced to be hand in hand with military and pro Mubaraks because they cant have Morsi back.

Islamists in the meantime are throwing a bad tantrum throughout the country bringing absolute chaos of attacking civilians and getting themselves killed as well in the process while their leaders seem to ignite that to get a better negotiation chance..

On a different side, the media is mostly run by the pro Mubaraks and thus the calls on those mouthpieces for a full fledged military involvement cant be clearer..

And within this complicated scene, the international media seem to only grasp what’s been tweeted by the English speaking brotherhood officials with their fancy vocabulary, causing themselves a major downfall in popularity among many accusing CNN of bias to the MB side and blaming Obama along.

How things will end?

The good news is that in this standoff or if you might call it a long awaited face off between Military and the Brotherhood after a fishy 2 years love affair might end up in a resolution where neither can be as powerful as both were.  This might get the youth in Egypt have a fair chance to get a young civil, secular, liberal, non military non theocratic nation on the right track using that balance of non power.

And it can end up dramatically as well.

With that amount of hate speech and emotion between both parties, the intellects are to be blamed for it, no option is off the table; especially that we are a nation that has been always living under the impression that there is a conspiracy against our (country- security- religion…etc).

What the world needs to know?

That we are not only a big bunch of lunatics who can throw a president every time they feel like it (although we partially are), but a lot do still believe in a country of freedoms, equality, social justice and better services for all.

And, that there is always so much in the story behind those camera lenses and the eloquent spokespeople.

In hope for modern country that rises up from the polarity of Military Vs theocracy for a first time after 7000 years of wait.

Class Dismissed, Stupid- A Revolution Story

When you are really out of choices, do you just retain what you have got or get high over the only option you got left (and you KNOW it’s going to screw you again.”

That’s exactly how it is in Egypt. After 2 full years of continuous failures and depressive scenes, Egyptians are now happy because at least we are back to square one. Most people are happy that the army is backing them up. I am honestly not. Not because I mind the army, I am just under the conviction that successful nations do not develop under an authoritarian rule.. But what’s more heart aching is that most people seem to forget what’s happened not so long ago . However, I am not blaming or pointing fingers, the opposition did not and still haven’t come up with an alternative plan and the Brotherhood pushed people to the edge of falling willingly in the arms of the military again.

I just wish those who were injured or are families of others killed in any incident throughout the past two and half years feel right about it.

As Farag Fouda A renowned Egyptian intellectual assassinated in the 90’s said, it is a vicious circle, from military to theocracy to military to theocracy or sometimes a bad combination of both..

The original Jan 25 might have been so romantic to live any further in such a harsh world, but at least we can still keep on dreaming of what it stood for, for all humanity … “Freedom, Bread, Social Equality..for all”

Aside from all those notorious cheers, Euphoria, depression, skepticism, feeling of sudden nationalism, cancellation of some for their immigration plans, and decision of others to leave with bigger determination; this is how my mind puts it.

2005-2010:

-       Mubarak sets his son in the fascade of every potential opportunity and propagandise for him

-       Worldwide credit crunch not affecting Egypt that much

-       Major economic changes and the opening of bigger opportunities…just for the rich ones.

-       As a result, rich got way richer, poor got way poorer.

-       Ministry of Interior (Police) gets a power of the Devil. Punishes, revenges and makes verdicts on people before reverting to court..

-       KHaled Said- A young Egyptian guy, brutally beaten to death at his home, in his own street claiming he was being arrested for doing weed.

-       Country youth alarmed by incident.

-       Many mini political pressure groups (Kefaya- Judiciary Independence) start to emerge

-       2010- Parliamentary Elections- Major forgery, most voters were able even to take live videos of those. Before then, almost every opposition figure was put in jail- by military court.

2011:

-       Jan 25- Police Day

Regardless of what that means, youth thought it should be a valid opportunity to demonstrate against the brutality that has increased massively and practiced from the Police then. (still is though).

-       Jan 25-28- people of all sects and targets joined. Calls for freedom, Bread and social equality began to arise. And Finally and out of the blue, came “People Want Demolishing the regime”

-       Jan 28- Regime technically demolished.

-       Jan 29- Feb 11 – politicians try to find a solution to it and Yes, Mubarak to Step down.

-       Feb 11, 2011 till June 2012 . SCAF takes power

-       SCAF (Supreme Council of Armed forces) – Military

-       Military takes over country and turns down every single road map offered by political figures, youth or street calls. Only adopts Muslim Brotherhood road map.

-       Throughout a very tough period till May 2012,  Egypt suffered a terrible interim period. Regardless of my own opinion of that, the final count was at follows

-       Egypt was degraded several times economically

-       Terrorism was screwed

-       People were still on the streets

-       Security was never retained

-       Riot mismanagement still existed

-       A number of at least 13000 egyptians were detained in different incidents (detained meaning arrested and imprisoned with no verdict or with a military court)

-       Egypt did go to a referrandum for constitutional amends that had major faults and failures and only supported by the Ismalists.

-       Egypt went through parliamentary elections that the MB won and then the parliament was dismantled

-       And since the Egyptian constitution states two Legislative houses (People’s Assembly, Shura Council), Egypt did go through that as well.. with only 6% of those eligible to vote because they knew that this council is absolutely of no known benefit to them.

-       A death toll of Egyptians in several incidents that were always blamed on “A third hidden party” never really disclosed.

Mohamed Mahmoud, Cabinet, Port Said Stadium, The Copt Massacre in Maspero, Balon theatre and others.

     

-       Regardless of what was the reason behind all those incidents, it’s the mismanagement that was so terrible. When the woman was beaten brutally and her clothes were torn apart and cameras of the world did capture it, the islamist channels, pointed fingers at her being out among the protesters and making out of herself an easy prey to that. And the military never really took a real stance against it.

-       When Maspero – the well known Coptic demonstration was savagially attacked, the National TV (mouthpiece for those in power) only backed it up and literally asked people to join the army to stop the protestors. 27 people killed.

-       May 2012- Presidential Elections approaching. And because most opposition figures were too selfish to make affiliations the tie up was between Ahmad Shafik (believed to be backed up with the Army) and Mohamed Morsy (Muslim Brotherhood)

-       Such a tie up and since then, the society was torn into two shares. A share that backed up Shafik, because they really felt that there is no way on earth to support the MB candidate and the other share was his own supporters from the brotherhood and some of those who believed may be if we give them a chance, and others who did not want to recreate the old regime once again.

-       Morsi win with a marginal difference with a euphoria of having a first elected president in Egypt history.

-       June 2012- June 2013

-       Egypt gives Morsi and brotherhood a chance to present the “Renaissance Project” as he primarily presented himself. There was no project.

-       The Presidency, the government and everyone involved did a lousy job in a country that is already suffering a terrible interim period and a good heritage of failure, organization deplection, routine, old fashioned management, economic failures and societal defects… however filled with hope and positive energy.

-       November 2012

-       Morsi assigns himself God. With a dictatorial constitutional decree, he forcibly announces himself and his decrees above the rule of law and dismissed the Attorney General, (who was kept since Mubarak though people asked numerously to be changed through proper and legal procedures)

-       Morsi forces a constitution and a referendum on the people without enough social and communal consent. In a funny scene, the committee was on live broadcast finishing the constitution overnight.

-       Protests are back on the streets, Morsi opposition, Mubarak Supporters are back and revolutionaries who felt betrayed were back.

-       Morsi supporters attack the protests and 8 people got killed. (claimed from the brotherhood)

-       Services in the country has terribly gone worse. Electricity outages, water cut offs, oil and especially solar, prices went up and people are getting laid off.

-       Ethiopia insists to build its own dam that will definitely diminish Egypt’s quota of water.

-       Morsi’s supporters and Morsi, gets Egypt involved in a Sunni Shiite confrontation

-       No country seem to take Morsi and his gang seriously due to his mixed signals to everyone and his terrible approach and instability that occurred.

-       All calls to take opposition suggestions more seriously failed, and the brotherhood’s greed for power made no place for nobody to be part of any institution.

-        

-       April- June 2013

-       Calls to sign Rebel applications. Just an application stating that you do want no more of this president.. it’s one year and it’s enough and ask for another Early presidential elections.

-       Calls for massive rallies on the 30^th were all over the country.

-       Islamist moves take their share of streets and start to rally 3 days ahead just prempting.

-       June 30^th- Massive rallies (biggest ever in the Middle East) were on the streets. People calling for Morsi to step down and for early elections to take place.

-       July 1^st- Al Sissy, announces giving President and Opposition an ultimatum of 48 hours to sort out a plan or they will come with one.

-       We all know, the Army’s plan of course. Is to come back in place surrounded by Egyptians’ blessings who did not find an alternative except that.