How Can the Egyptian People Support Their Army in Confronting Terrorism? Last week, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi invited Al-Shorouk newspaper to organize a meeting of political parties, to be sponsored and perhaps attended by him, to discuss the political situation and how to find a way out of the current impasse. The appeal came at what appeared to be an opportune moment and seemed to offer a chance to escape the deadlock and social polarization and build a new political consensus. But just three days later, terrorism struck a grievous blow in north Sinai, inaugurating a new round of heightened conflict between the State and forces seeking to spread fear and chaos in the country, undermine efforts to build the national economy, and draw the Egyptian army into a guerilla war that saps its energies and morale. The most eloquent response to this terrorist attack was the sweeping sense of unity on the Egyptian street, the closing of ranks, and the desire to mobilize the country’s resources and energies to confront this sudden danger. I wonder, however, if the Presidents call for dialogue to correct the political course still stands? Is there any use to it now? Or have the momentous events made it a moot point, leaving no space for political reform or dialogue at all? I believe a dialogue is needed now more than ever because the State cannot fight terrorism with military force alone. It must be coupled with every possible effort to preserve social cohesion and unity and uphold law, justice, and political participation. This will not happen without opening up the public sphere and empowering parties, civil society, and youth to once again play an active role. Claims being heard in the media these days that combating terrorism requires deferring commitment to the law, political participation, and citizens’ rights and liberties is tantamount to admitting that terrorism has won. It is an admission that it has achieved one of its principal objectives: subverting the justice system, law, and democracy, and turning the battle into a military confrontation with a society that is no longer keen on its modern civil nature. Political parties thus need to go forward with the dialogue that was scheduled prior to the terrorist attack in Sinai and agree on a way to return to a sound political course. This new consensus, in my opinion, must rely on the following points: 1. Elections and Party Activity: --Amend the laws governing elections and the exercise of political rights, especially as relates to the severely flawed electoral system of closed lists; discuss the law for the apportionment of electoral districts; and agree on a clear, time-bound plan for the coming parliamentary elections and necessary guarantees, even if this means postponing elections until after the economic conference in February. --Agree on the rules necessary for the participation of political forces and parties that commit to peaceful political action, the provisions of the constitution, the separation of religion and state, and a return to the democratic course. --Create a standing framework in which the government and political forces and parties can discuss proposed laws referred to the President so that these laws are expressive of a broader consensus, until a parliament is elected that can reclaim full legislative authority. 2. The Protection of Rights and Liberties: --Repeal or amend the protest law, which has damaged the political climate, led to the curtailment of liberties and the imprisonment of peaceful demonstrators, split national ranks, and expelled youth from the public sphere, without making any marked contribution to ending violence, terrorism, or thuggery. --Resume the discussion on the NGO law initiated by the Minister of Social Soludarity to achieve a balance between national security imperatives and civic freedom and to move away from the overly broad provisions of Law 128/2014 (“the Law of Other Things”), which threatens all social, political, and even union activity. --Establish a judicial instrument to resolve the malicious and frivolous complaints, lawsuits, and cases of the past few years and the attendant travel bans and other precautionary measures against anyone without proven involvement in specific crimes of violence, corruption, or otherwise. 3. Reform Policies: --Agree on a standing mechanism by which the President and his government and political forces can communicate on and discuss major impending decisions on the economy, prices, subsidies, and social protection, to ensure that these decisions and policies will enjoy social support, instead of the people being simply a silent recipient of them. --Take action to calm the charged media environment through a pact between the media, political parties, and the government based on a balanced code of media ethics that is subject to judicial review, while avoiding the re-imposition of media censorship or the curtailment of freedom of opinion. I suggest that these eight points form the basis of discussions among parties seeking to put the country back on a democratic course, whether these parties are revolutionary or old guard, youth or elders, right or left. These points can then constitute the basis of discussion between parties and the State. The goal here is to forge a consensual foundation on which society can rely to leave behind the polarization and infighting of the last few years. This is imperative to truly confront terrorism with the combined efforts of all segments of society. I repeat: abandoning democracy, the rule of law, and rights and liberties is the real defeat and the surest sign of terrorism’s victory over the project of a modern civil state. Despite the heavy casualties, increasing risks, and major sacrifices given by the Egyptian armed forces, the dialogue on political reform must resume, because this is what will preserve society’s unity and cohesion and enable it to triumph over terrorism and other challenges. To conclude, I offer my deepest condolences to the families of the martyrs, the armed forces, and the entire Egyptian people for their tragedy and wish all the injured a speedy recovery
Posted on: Tue, 28 Oct 2014 14:14:51 +0000