The Egyptian woman tries to stop a military bulldozer from hurting a wounded youth during clashes that broke out in the country. AFP Photo
The Egyptian woman tries to stop a military bulldozer from hurting a wounded youth during clashes that broke out in the country. AFP Photo
It seems that Arab Spring revolution, which in fact has begun in Tunisia in North Africa, did not achieve its goal in Egypt and continues to languish in despair and ghost of dictatorial regime of Hosni Mubarak is likely to be in place in Egypt as can be ascertained from the ruthless action of military backed interim government of Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who is practically running the show. Whatever might be the failure of first democratically elected in 60 years of Egyptian history summarily dismissed President Mohammed Morsi by military coup on July 3 is unacceptable in term of political science. Interim civil administration installed by military has no voice in governing the country. President Adly Monsur remains in the background. In democracy, an elected government and parliament by the people should be allowed to continue to rule for the mandated period and would be replaced by votes of the people in the fair, free and impartial election if the government could not fulfil the aspiration of the people. This is sacrosanct guideline of democracy. Alternative to this system is dictatorial measure or military power, so to say. The cornerstone of foreign policy of the United States of America is the promotion of democracy in the Middle East and elsewhere. While paying tribute to dead soldiers of the great civil war of America in Gettysburg on November 19 in 1863 President Abraham Lincoln said that “this nation under God shall have a new birth freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth”. I recall scholar President Woodrow Wilson advocated the spread of democracy and after winning of the World War I President Woodrow declared “the world must be made safe for democracy”. President Barack Obama should not deviate from the principled stand of foreign policy of America which has assiduously been pursued by all governments of the United States of America thus far.

The people in the Arab world have a great hope in Egyptian to establish democracy and democratic institution replacing authoritarian regime and freedom in the region. Since the overthrowing democratically elected President and closing down parliament by military coup on July 3, the situation in Egypt remains tense and violence grips Egypt following clashes between pro-Morsi supporters and military. By now as many as 300 Egyptians, including 80 pro-Morsi supporters were killed by military forces. Shutting down of four Islamic TV channels and banning newspaper of Muslim Brotherhood is undemocratic indeed. It is an irony that military leader Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has been calling peaceful demonstrators in Cairo, who are chanting slogan for release of President Morsi and reinstate him to power as “terrorists” while he is on record to describe protesters of June 30 demanding resignation of elected President Morsi as “glorious” chapter stressing that it was necessary that the people get a reply to their call. General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi again is on record by urging Egyptians to give him “mandate to stop potential terrorism” by supporters of Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood. This statement was made on July 26. Now that ousted President Morsi is under investigation on a host of allegations, including murder and conspiring with the Palestinian militant Hamas group to break open jail during the reign of Dictator Hosni Mubarak. This appears to be ridiculous and once again is the proof of taking back Egypt to dictatorial regime of Hosni Mubarak.

Advocates of Human Rights groups are reportedly condemned the “spiraling human rights nightmare in Egypt” while Amnesty International declared on July 31 the Egyptian government’s decision to mandate security forces to end all pro-Morsi sit-ins in Greater Cairo considering recent violence against protesters, was a recipe for further bloodshed. This is one side of the story in Egypt.

The flurry of diplomatic activities by envoys from Gulf countries, Europe, Africa and America to resolve standoff situation following overthrow of democratically elected President Mohammed Morsi could not produce tangible results which has been reflected in the statement released by interim administration on August 7 by saying “diplomacy phase was over to resolve the political crisis and the government was running out of patience with on-going pro-Morsi demonstrations in Cairo”. It is also regrettable to note that Egyptian interim administration did not allow Nobel Peace Laureate of Arab Spring revolution of Tunisian woman Tawakul Karman to enter Cairo and put her on flight back to Dubai on August 4 as she is reportedly spoke in favour of ousted elected President Morsi. This is really another example of high-handed ness of Egyptian military backed interim government. Having talks with the Prime Minister of the Interim government Hazem el-Beblawi, Vice-President El-Baradei and Defense Minister, who is also Vice-President General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and some political leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood both stalwart Senator of the Republican Party of America Senator Lindsey Graham and Senator John McCain admitted at a press conference on August 7 in Cairo “the removal and imprisonment of Morsi and several Muslim brotherhood leaders was a military coup” which is in contrast to the stand taken by Obama administration of the United states of America. The recent comment by Secretary of State John Kerry on the development in Egypt on August 01 reflects of the endorsement of military coup which has caused severe criticism abroad, but he quickly moved out to defuse the flap by saying all parties ,including the military should resolve the crisis in Egypt. Egyptian army receives $ 1.5 billion aid annually from America in exchange for an implicit guarantee not to threaten Israel. It is likely that there will a move again in the Senate to pass a bill to stop continue aid to Egyptian military as per US law. US law categorically states that after a military coup overturns an elected government, military aid must stop. “Only a fool or a demagogue would attempt to argue that the military junta in Egypt is not a coup”, this is the comment made by another Republican Senator Rand Paul in a signed article to the Washington Times of August 02. Senator Rand Paul is of the opinion that ‘we need to address some of the needs we have here at home, as opposed to violating the law and sending American taxpayers dollars to Egypt’.

On August 11 thousands of Egyptians rallied in Cairo to demand Mosi’s reinstatement while hundreds of women march towards central Cairo chanting slogan against General Fattah al-Sisi describing him as “traitor and killer” in defiance of repeated threat of crackdown by the military. This confrontational politics would destroy nascent democracy in Egypt. Now Egypt is in state of emergency following grisly massacres on August 15 by military and police forces on the peaceful sit-in- demonstrations in favour of deposed President Morsi in Cairo’s Nasr city and other cities of Egypt. At least 278 pro-Morsi and other Egyptians were killed while several hundred injured. Journalist was not spared either from this ruthless attack. Reuters photo journalist Asmaa Waguih was shot and wounded while Habiba Abdul Aziz of Gulf News was killed. CNN reporter was beaten by police and was asked to hand over laptop as well. Having seen bloody massacres El-Baradei, who was critical of President Morsi , has resigned from the military installed interim government on August 15. El-Baradei was the Vice-President in charge of Foreign Affairs in the interim government. The resignation reflects Egypt is in serious crisis. Leader of pro-Morsi anti-coup National Alliance Abdul Mawgoad Dardery blasted corrupt Egyptian military calling their actions “crime against humanity and state terrorism”.

Since Egypt grips in violence national dialogue with all political parties, including Freedom and Justice Party of the political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood should start immediately by the military backed interim administration of Egypt to avoid repetition of civil war of Algeria in 1991. Enough blood has flown in Nile River since Arab Spring revolution begun in 2011 in Egypt. Enough is enough. This is the time for reconciliation.

Mohammad Amjad Hossain, a retired diplomat from Bangladesh and former President of Nova Toastmasters International Club, writes from Virginia, USA.