I was away from the television when it happened but I heard the roar as I came downstairs and heard and saw signs of the wildest jubilation equal to the day when victory in Europe was announced in 1945 or the sight of citizens in Berlin helping each other to tear down the wall which divided their city. It was good to be alive and share in the tears of joy, especially when less then 23 hours earlier there had had been such disappointment as first President Mubarak and then his recently created Vice President explained that in reality everything would continue as before. It appears that the King of Saudi Arabia had offered to bank roll the army if the USA pulled out their financial support as it appears was being threatened behind the scene.
It is possible that aspects of the truth will emerge in time although the process of presenting particular versions of these historical events to suit individual and national prejudices has already commenced as we are all Egyptian democrats now. But I run in advance of myself.
What happened is that yesterday as dawn broke in Cairo and elsewhere in the country the population returned to the streets in staggering numbers so that the whole square was filled and then people moved in substantial numbers to surround the heavily guarded main TV and radio station, overlooking the River Nile and then the boundaries of the large Presidential Palace complex between two and three hours walk from the city centre. There was some attempt by a few of the protestors to go over the barricades and the razor wire which the army had put up but in general the protestors were satisfied with the chants for the President and the regime to be brought to an end. The announcement by the vice President lasted only 20 seconds that the President had stepped down and it was later said he had gone to stay at his Palace home at the Red Sea resort.
The Army Council had been asked to take over, something which those organising the demonstrations called for.
It is pertinent to ask the extent to which the President and Vice President volunteered or were required by the Army. Subsequent unconfirmed reports suggested that the army had pushed under pressure from the United States, although there are also reports that the army had been unhappy with their President because of what happened in the 2005 elections and also his plan to make his son his successor. The Swiss government has immediately frozen the funds of the family and it is assumed that similar measure will be taken in London where the son is presently with his family and possible the wife of the former President. Certainly given the suggested size of he fortune making him one of the richest men in the world, a return of the funds to the Egyptian economy will go a significant way to fill the whole caused by the past three weeks.
At the moment the leading protest organisers and others to have appear on TV are talking terms of moving into the new chapter, looking forward rather than on the past, thus avoiding revenge attacks neighbour against neighbour which is often the consequence of a revolution where the existing frameworks of law and administration are just swept away without considered replacements.
The organiser say that something like 10 million people joined the protests and that half the population came out onto the streets in celebrations which went well into the early hours. It is reported some people feinted while other had heart attacks in their excitement and from the those interviewed the joy was abound as well the delight of the commentators who had been with them for the past three weeks, who had seen the horror of the attacks, witnessed their courage, their disappointment and frustration and then the ecstasy. Men in their thirties and forties said they had difficulty in expressing their feelings about being feel for the first time in their lives about their sense of achievement and about their love for the fellow citizens and their country. Art one level it was unbelievable, even Hollywood could not have dreamed up such a reality, yet reality and believable it was. The latest news us that there is to be another day of celebration to day and then they will return every Friday, a day like our Sundays, to celebrate and to ensure that their country moves in the right direction. This again struck me as a very sensible and enlightened approach to continue the sense of being one, to ensure people did not feel left out as the process of rebuilding their country and its economy continued
The entire International Community has welcomed the development with the exception of Israel. At one level I understand and sympathise with Israel because of the history of its people. You may have become paranoid but they have been out to get you. At the same time the response of recent governments to making progress in relationships with their Arab, Muslim and political neighbours has left a lot to be desired. So while understanding their caution they will need to adopt a different stance if they are not to find their position unproductive and counterproductive.
The response of most governments that has been quoted has the same effect as that of former President Kennedy as the Berlin Wall, We are all Berliners now. Most of the European spokesmen and the USA appeared genuinely delighted with the development mixed with relief. There is also caution about two major issues. The first is the role the Muslim Brotherhood. They have said they will not have a candidate for the Presidency but will contest for seats in the Parliament. They had won 88 seats in the last General Election before being stripped of them as their party was outlawed. There has to be concerned because of what happened in Iran and in Gaza where the local branch won the election because of the genuine support for their constituents proving a network fo social services as well as spiritual consistency and political radicalism. As I have repeated stated in previous writings. I have much admiration for fundamentalist in their ideology and spirituality except where they develop structures and regimes in which opposition and difference is not tolerated and everyone is required to support or be treated as the enemy. In Iran and in Gaza having gained power they then set about created a one party one religion state, eliminating the opposition or potential opposition by hitting on the educated middleclass and given power to the educated and irrational; who signed up for the system. While there is a need for caution my impression is that those who organised the peaceful revolution in Egypt have no intention of surrendering their hard won sense of freedom to anyone within or without.
There has also been early recognition of the task ahead and the need to work together to achieve a consensus and the part the international media has to play in keep a watch over what happens and be there if the need should in the future.
There is concern that young people in non democratic as well as democratic countries including the UK will be inspired and potentially exploited to serve the interests of others in this situation
Overall I share in the joy salute the bravery and I am now optimistic whereas within the last 48 hours I was apprehensive and disappointed. The young people of Egypt have a lot to teach us all.
It is possible that aspects of the truth will emerge in time although the process of presenting particular versions of these historical events to suit individual and national prejudices has already commenced as we are all Egyptian democrats now. But I run in advance of myself.
What happened is that yesterday as dawn broke in Cairo and elsewhere in the country the population returned to the streets in staggering numbers so that the whole square was filled and then people moved in substantial numbers to surround the heavily guarded main TV and radio station, overlooking the River Nile and then the boundaries of the large Presidential Palace complex between two and three hours walk from the city centre. There was some attempt by a few of the protestors to go over the barricades and the razor wire which the army had put up but in general the protestors were satisfied with the chants for the President and the regime to be brought to an end. The announcement by the vice President lasted only 20 seconds that the President had stepped down and it was later said he had gone to stay at his Palace home at the Red Sea resort.
The Army Council had been asked to take over, something which those organising the demonstrations called for.
It is pertinent to ask the extent to which the President and Vice President volunteered or were required by the Army. Subsequent unconfirmed reports suggested that the army had pushed under pressure from the United States, although there are also reports that the army had been unhappy with their President because of what happened in the 2005 elections and also his plan to make his son his successor. The Swiss government has immediately frozen the funds of the family and it is assumed that similar measure will be taken in London where the son is presently with his family and possible the wife of the former President. Certainly given the suggested size of he fortune making him one of the richest men in the world, a return of the funds to the Egyptian economy will go a significant way to fill the whole caused by the past three weeks.
At the moment the leading protest organisers and others to have appear on TV are talking terms of moving into the new chapter, looking forward rather than on the past, thus avoiding revenge attacks neighbour against neighbour which is often the consequence of a revolution where the existing frameworks of law and administration are just swept away without considered replacements.
The organiser say that something like 10 million people joined the protests and that half the population came out onto the streets in celebrations which went well into the early hours. It is reported some people feinted while other had heart attacks in their excitement and from the those interviewed the joy was abound as well the delight of the commentators who had been with them for the past three weeks, who had seen the horror of the attacks, witnessed their courage, their disappointment and frustration and then the ecstasy. Men in their thirties and forties said they had difficulty in expressing their feelings about being feel for the first time in their lives about their sense of achievement and about their love for the fellow citizens and their country. Art one level it was unbelievable, even Hollywood could not have dreamed up such a reality, yet reality and believable it was. The latest news us that there is to be another day of celebration to day and then they will return every Friday, a day like our Sundays, to celebrate and to ensure that their country moves in the right direction. This again struck me as a very sensible and enlightened approach to continue the sense of being one, to ensure people did not feel left out as the process of rebuilding their country and its economy continued
The entire International Community has welcomed the development with the exception of Israel. At one level I understand and sympathise with Israel because of the history of its people. You may have become paranoid but they have been out to get you. At the same time the response of recent governments to making progress in relationships with their Arab, Muslim and political neighbours has left a lot to be desired. So while understanding their caution they will need to adopt a different stance if they are not to find their position unproductive and counterproductive.
The response of most governments that has been quoted has the same effect as that of former President Kennedy as the Berlin Wall, We are all Berliners now. Most of the European spokesmen and the USA appeared genuinely delighted with the development mixed with relief. There is also caution about two major issues. The first is the role the Muslim Brotherhood. They have said they will not have a candidate for the Presidency but will contest for seats in the Parliament. They had won 88 seats in the last General Election before being stripped of them as their party was outlawed. There has to be concerned because of what happened in Iran and in Gaza where the local branch won the election because of the genuine support for their constituents proving a network fo social services as well as spiritual consistency and political radicalism. As I have repeated stated in previous writings. I have much admiration for fundamentalist in their ideology and spirituality except where they develop structures and regimes in which opposition and difference is not tolerated and everyone is required to support or be treated as the enemy. In Iran and in Gaza having gained power they then set about created a one party one religion state, eliminating the opposition or potential opposition by hitting on the educated middleclass and given power to the educated and irrational; who signed up for the system. While there is a need for caution my impression is that those who organised the peaceful revolution in Egypt have no intention of surrendering their hard won sense of freedom to anyone within or without.
There has also been early recognition of the task ahead and the need to work together to achieve a consensus and the part the international media has to play in keep a watch over what happens and be there if the need should in the future.
There is concern that young people in non democratic as well as democratic countries including the UK will be inspired and potentially exploited to serve the interests of others in this situation
Overall I share in the joy salute the bravery and I am now optimistic whereas within the last 48 hours I was apprehensive and disappointed. The young people of Egypt have a lot to teach us all.
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