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Egypt: The unfolding crisis |
Two years after the revolution, the dramatic turns in |
http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/specialseries/2013/09/201395124736350635.html
In this documentary, we analyse the two-and-a-half year
story of the events that led to the ousting of a president after 30 years of
autocratic rule, the first free and fair elections in Egypt's history, a new
president elected and then deposed 13 months later, and a cycle of violence
that has taken the country to the verge of civil war.
story of the events that led to the ousting of a president after 30 years of
autocratic rule, the first free and fair elections in Egypt's history, a new
president elected and then deposed 13 months later, and a cycle of violence
that has taken the country to the verge of civil war.
This story starts in December 2010, when mass protests in
Tunisia led to the toppling of that country's president. Protesters
demonstrating over high unemployment, food inflation, corruption and the denial
of political freedoms, were met with brutal force at the hands of the police
and security forces. But, after 28 days of continued resistance, President Zine
El Abidine Ben Ali was ousted after 23 years in power.
Tunisia led to the toppling of that country's president. Protesters
demonstrating over high unemployment, food inflation, corruption and the denial
of political freedoms, were met with brutal force at the hands of the police
and security forces. But, after 28 days of continued resistance, President Zine
El Abidine Ben Ali was ousted after 23 years in power.
This televised revolution was watched across the Arab world
and triggered a series of similar revolts by equally disaffected populations.
It was the start of what would quickly become known as the 'Arab Spring'.
and triggered a series of similar revolts by equally disaffected populations.
It was the start of what would quickly become known as the 'Arab Spring'.
Egyptians for the first time have a real choice in terms of who they want to lead the country. In this election they’re voting for individuals and it’s the first time they’ve got the opportunity to actually decide the individual that they want to lead them .... Mike Hanna, Al Jazeera correspondent ahead of Egypt's first free and fair election |
Inspired by the revolution in Tunisia, small networks of
Egyptian activists geared up for mass action. They had been agitating against
President Hosni Mubarak's autocratic rule for years, but they had never before
attracted the kind of mass support that was manifested once Tunisia showed the
people just what could be achieved.
Egyptian activists geared up for mass action. They had been agitating against
President Hosni Mubarak's autocratic rule for years, but they had never before
attracted the kind of mass support that was manifested once Tunisia showed the
people just what could be achieved.
Their demands were simple: political freedoms, an end to
state corruption and a better quality of life for an impoverished population.
state corruption and a better quality of life for an impoverished population.
There were signs that a significant majority of the Egyptian
people were growing increasingly frustrated, but could this spirit transcend
the realm of social media and actually bring people out onto the streets?
people were growing increasingly frustrated, but could this spirit transcend
the realm of social media and actually bring people out onto the streets?
That question appeared to be answered on the morning of
January 25, 2011, when Egyptians decided to start protest marches around the
country, calling for greater freedoms and political change.
January 25, 2011, when Egyptians decided to start protest marches around the
country, calling for greater freedoms and political change.
In Cairo, scuffles broke out with riot police. But the
security forces Mubarak had always relied upon to quell popular protest
gradually become less and less effective.
security forces Mubarak had always relied upon to quell popular protest
gradually become less and less effective.
In February 2011, after weeks of protests, Mubarak stood
down.
Egypt's military chiefs, the Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF), headed by
Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi now ran the country. But, believing that
they had fought hard to secure political change and driven by a determination
to pick their own leader, the Egyptian people continued their protests.
down.
Egypt's military chiefs, the Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF), headed by
Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi now ran the country. But, believing that
they had fought hard to secure political change and driven by a determination
to pick their own leader, the Egyptian people continued their protests.
And, eventually, in May 2012, they went to the polls in the
country's first free and fair elections. By mid-June a result was declared.
Mohamed Morsi of the Freedom and Justice Party, the Muslim Brotherhood's
political wing, had narrowly won with 51 percent of the vote.
country's first free and fair elections. By mid-June a result was declared.
Mohamed Morsi of the Freedom and Justice Party, the Muslim Brotherhood's
political wing, had narrowly won with 51 percent of the vote.
But just 12 months into his presidency, on the first
anniversary of the election, thousands of Morsi opponents gathered in cities
across the country, demanding his resignation.
anniversary of the election, thousands of Morsi opponents gathered in cities
across the country, demanding his resignation.
In response, Morsi's supporters set up a sit-in camp outside
the Rabaa al-Adawiya Mosque. On July 1, as mass demonstrations continued, the
army again played a crucial role. General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Egypt's
military chief, issued Morsi with a final ultimatum.
the Rabaa al-Adawiya Mosque. On July 1, as mass demonstrations continued, the
army again played a crucial role. General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Egypt's
military chief, issued Morsi with a final ultimatum.
The army wanted to replace Morsi with an interim government,
revise his constitution and call new elections within a year.
revise his constitution and call new elections within a year.
Morsi, however, remained defiant. In a dramatic speech, he
pledged to defend his legitimacy and vowed not to step down. But, with many of
the swing voters who narrowly tipped the election in his favour now deserting
him, he relied almost entirely on the Muslim Brotherhood for support.
pledged to defend his legitimacy and vowed not to step down. But, with many of
the swing voters who narrowly tipped the election in his favour now deserting
him, he relied almost entirely on the Muslim Brotherhood for support.
On July 3, the military delivered on its ultimatum. El-Sisi
announced that Morsi had been deposed and replaced by Supreme Court Chief
Justice Adly Mansour.
The Mansour government says it plans to call new elections within 12 months,
but can stability be restored in a way that enables ordinary Egyptians to
regain their hard-earned freedoms and to re-build their lives, their economy
and a brighter future?
announced that Morsi had been deposed and replaced by Supreme Court Chief
Justice Adly Mansour.
The Mansour government says it plans to call new elections within 12 months,
but can stability be restored in a way that enables ordinary Egyptians to
regain their hard-earned freedoms and to re-build their lives, their economy
and a brighter future?
COMMENT:
The victory for
democracy is Inevitable throughout the world. Autocrats,
and dictators fighting to cow-down the democratic move would soon run
down the autocrats and the dictators including those so called democrats
like Israel.
democracy is Inevitable throughout the world. Autocrats,
and dictators fighting to cow-down the democratic move would soon run
down the autocrats and the dictators including those so called democrats
like Israel.
Israel is the worst of all autocratic terrorist country hood winking the world
would soon be crashed. The Israelis are already fed up with the autocratic regime like
the Egyptians are fed up with military dictatorial rule. Like it or not none
can erase
the writings on the wall which is crystal clear.
would soon be crashed. The Israelis are already fed up with the autocratic regime like
the Egyptians are fed up with military dictatorial rule. Like it or not none
can erase
the writings on the wall which is crystal clear.
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