With Access to
Information, the Liberation of Arab Lands Has Begun
"The
democratization of the Middle East has now begun, with the youth using tools
like Twitter and Facebook. For young people who exchange their own
opinions and news via the Internet, statements from leaders and government are no
longer so easy to swallow. … . At long last, it's out with the old and in with
the new."
It's pandamonium in Egypt, as people power has pushed aside one of the world's most entrenched leadersm Hosni Mubarak. With 60 percent of of the population under the age of 30, most Egyptians have never known another leader.
Cairo's Tahrir Square
continues to be flooded with civilians demanding the resignation of President
Mubarak. The voices of those who have long endured the regime collectively cry, "Out
with Mubarak!"
The president's authority
is plummeting faster than ever. Although he has yet to accept resignation as an
option, wouldn't it be marvelous for the people to turn a new page in their
history?
There must be reform for
Egypt to move into an era in which the will of the people forms the basis of politics.
If Mubarak remains in power, it will only prolong chaos in the country. As we
have said, we would like to see his immediate resignation.
A few days ago, a group
calling for "presidential support" suddenly appeared in great numbers
on the streets; a truly bizarre spectacle.
Days ago, as expected,
Vice President Suleiman sought to calm the situation, condemning the violence
shown toward civilian demonstrators by the president's supporters and warning
that severe steps would be taken in response.
While the vice president
referred to the demonstrators as "presidential supporters," there is
a strong belief that this was a government-initiated demonstration paid for by
the [ruling] National Democratic Party (NDP). Given that the group disappeared
after the vice president's warning, it seems that this was an effort mobilized on
behalf of the government. It is common knowledge around Egypt that the NDP buys
both its supporters and its votes.
Furthermore, they continue
to use the police to keep opposition candidates from running for office. Due to such
underhanded tactics during the general elections last November, the NDP managed
to maintain an 80 percent party majority in the legislature.
This time, as a means of crushing the democratization movement, it seems that the NDP is using the same
technique of money-politics as it did during last year’s election. What a
farce.
We would like Vice
President Suleiman to stick to his promises to tell the truth and
investigate the appeals of opposition leaders issued after last year's
election. These are the type of measures it will take to improve things in
Egypt.
Confronted with
President Hosni Mubarak’s "no" to demands posed by the
people that he step down, there is great suspicion between the population and those who hold
power and distorted the people's voice with money and force.
NDP leaders and former
cabinet ministers have already been slapped with a travel ban and have had
their assets frozen. These kinds of investigations into the corrupt influence
of money and the depravity of politics in the country should be the outcome of
the democratic movement now taking place.
In addition, criticism
of iron-fisted rule is spreading across Yemen, Jordan, Syria, and
Algeria. Wherever suppression of human rights and corruption continues, there
will be other leaders who find themselves in a similar situation to those in Egypt.
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
In countries where rulers
and governments exert unbridled political power, such as after democratic
elections are tampered with, democracy is molded to fit their agenda.
The democratization of
the Middle East has now begun, with the youth using Internet tools like Twitter
and Facebook. For young people who exchange their own opinions and news
via the Internet, statements from leaders and government are no longer so easy
to swallow.
This capacity to
exchange information and ideas with one another binds people together, and binds
them to developments within their own countries. At long last, it's out with
the old and in with the new.
