Transformation in the Arab world

‘Mubarak has been an ally of ours in a number of things and he's been very responsible on, relative to geopolitical interest in the region, the Middle East peace efforts; the actions Egypt has taken relative to normalizing relationship with Israel…I would not refer to him as a dictator.’ - US Vice President Joe Biden

I first visited Egypt 30 years ago in 1981 to do research for my master's thesis, which was later published in my first book ‘The Bats of Egypt’. I have visited Egypt twice since then and I vividly recall police abuse of their own people. And yet the Egyptians I encountered mocked and joked about dictatorship. We tried at least from a distance to support our Egyptian brothers and sisters as they struggled for freedom. Arabs everywhere (yes, even here in occupied Palestine) are talking about a transformation and about revolution. But all such transformations carry pain. Over 200 Egyptians have been killed, thousands injured, and there is much destruction.

Yet in a nation of 85 million people this is still a relatively peaceful transformation. While dealing with the present is critical we must also, at this juncture, start to look at post dictatorship scenarios in the Arab world and plan for the future.

I vividly recall a talk by a self-described ‘liberal Zionist’ (an oxymoron) at Duke University on 1 March 198l; at 77 he had no inhibitions in saying, ‘Zionists do not want democracy in the Arab world.’ He explained that if Egypt was a democracy, it would not have signed a peace deal with Israel since the sentiments of Arab people would not accept this. On this point he was absolutely correct, but in the long run such a short-sighted perspective is self-destructive.[1]

As I watched Hosni Mubarak make his (hopefully last) speech, I was very much reminded of the last speeches of the Shah of Iran, Marcos of the Philippines and Bin Ali of Tunisia. They all claimed after so many years of torturing their own people that they now want to ‘reform’. The US funded and supported the brutal Mubarak regime for over 30 years even as human rights organisations documented police abuse of citizens.[2] This is the same police who, on the instruction of the Mubarak dictatorship, beat international activists trying to provide humanitarian relief to besieged Gaza.[3] It is now recognised that Mubarak’s reign is ending and a new era is beginning.

It is rather amusing that the brutal dictator of ‘Saudi’ Arabia (a country named after a ruling family) called to support Mubarak and stated that the demonstrators are hooligans and criminals. Anyone who knows anything about Egypt knows that this amazing, inspiring and mostly nonviolent revolution is a true expression of the will of the Egyptian people regardless of their political or religious persuasions.

In other news for those who don't keep up with internet news or those who watch mainly the (supine) western media:

- Large demonstrations have been held by Egyptians and human rights defenders at Egyptian embassies around the world, all demanding democracy.
- The Israeli embassy in Cairo is essentially emptied (an apartheid state embassy in the largest Arab country is an abomination).
- Israeli pundits are very worried about how Egypt might look after Mubarak.
- There are many signs that the Egyptian military (like the Tunisian military) may be critical in this struggle. Already there are instances where the demonstrators have been protected from the Egyptian police by the Egyptian military.[4]
- A number of human rights groups and Egyptian community representatives abroad have all called for an end to the Egyptian police brutality. By contrast EU and US government officials are making feeble statements to hedge their bets and at best call for ‘peaceful’ actions from ‘all sides’. Slowly they were
forced to modify their rhetoric to talk about ‘change’, but must finally call on their puppet Mubarak to leave power and insist that he and his sons and family return the billions stolen from the Egyptian people.
- A number of religious and civil organisations in Egypt have broken their silence to support the ouster of the ‘last Pharaoh’.
- The dictatorship cutting off web and mobile phone services and banning reporting by groups like Al-Jazeera did little to stem the tide of protest because people are living it daily in their homes and on the streets and are not being incited from outside.
- Protests have spread to Jordan and Yemen (two other Western supported governments). There are now plans for large protests in Syria and other countries.
- On the Palestinian Authority TV news, it was noted that Mahmoud Abbas called Mubarak and stated his support for the stability of Egypt. Other news outlets stated that he fully supported the Mubarak regime. Hamas then came in to say that they supported the Egyptian people.

Sadly, I think all rational human beings know which horse to bet on in this struggle between people and a western-supported dictator who accomplished nothing for his people and instead enriched his family (his sons are billionaires in a country in which tens of millions of people live on less than $1 a day).

I wrote seven months ago that: ‘The political leadership in the fragmented Arab countries and Palestinian authority have convinced themselves that they have no option but to endlessly try to talk to politicians from Tel Aviv and Washington (the latter also Israeli occupied territory) hoping for some “gestures”…I know most politicians like to feel 100% safe (mostly for their position of power) and are afraid of any change. But I wish they would realise that daring politicians make the history books and those who hang around trying to protect their seats will be forgotten. Cowardice is never a virtue.’ And then I concluded that: ‘In the demonstrations yesterday, a child in Gaza was carrying a sign that says “we demand freedom” and a child in Cairo that says “children in Egypt and in Gaza want the siege lifted”. That is our future - not elderly politicians meeting to do media damage control with empty words.’[5]

But make no mistake about it: no power transformation happens without a period of unrest, instability, and pain. I believe in these difficult periods; humans are tested. Some are weak and may even try to use the situation to make some quick personal profit. Others are of strong and decent character and this shows in their watching of their neighbours and their community. I have seen countless pictures and heard countless stories of acts that can only be described as heroic (people protecting the national museum in Cairo or their neighbours' houses). Intellectuals are stepping forward to articulate rational scenarios for the future. People are helping other people. So I think we will weather the transition. As to what the future holds: clearly, the era of ignoring the masses is gone. It will not be easy since we have a legacy of poor education (one that does not emphasise civic and individual responsibility). Getting rid of dictators is not enough. Building a civic participatory society is not easy (Europe's enlightenment did not come just from removing a few dictators).

People's expectations, raised for change, will dash against the reality that it will take decades to create systems of governance, accountability and economic justice to allow for the unleashing of the great potential in the Arab world.

It is critical that people begin to chart this future honestly and pragmatically. Slogans will not work. We the people must take responsibility for our own lives and for our communities. We need to take time to educate children in a very, very different way than we were educated. The beginnings may be simple. For example, in many Arab countries, people were thinking that as long as the country is not theirs (and ruled by dictators), they can only watch over their own personal space and literally dump trash in the public space. In the new era, they have to learn that public space is theirs too. Order and respect for fellow citizens and for the country will have to be taught very early to our children. This is but one example for laying a brick in the road to real freedom and real prosperity. The bricks though are many and they will have to be fashioned and laid by the people. It is very hard work but it is the only way forward.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY PAMBAZUKA NEWS

* Professor Mazin Qumsiyeh teaches and does research at Bethlehem and Birzeit Universities in occupied Palestine. He serves as chairman of the board of the Palestinian Center for Rapprochement Between People and coordinator of the Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements in Beit Sahour He is author of 'Sharing the Land of Canaan: Human rights and the Israeli/Palestinian Struggle' and the forthcoming book 'Popular Resistance in Palestine: A history of Hope and Empowerment. http://qumsiyeh.org
* Please send comments to [email protected] or comment online at Pambazuka News.
NOTES:

[1] I challenged him on this in the Q&A and then wrote a follow-up letter
that was published in the Duke Chronicle. See
http://www.qumsiyeh.org/zionistpositionfailstorecognizeotherside/

[2] Torture at Egyptian police stations. Here are three examples (disturbing content)
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhQRFz65M6s
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCHM6LYiBsY
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8KG5N_yq1s

[3] Egyptian police beat Free Gaza convoy activist on December 30, 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yT4tk2RiNIo

[4] See this Associated Press story about the role of the Egyptian military
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/01/29/ap/middleeast/main7296653.shtml
And this interesting footage of the military shielding demonstrators:
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfqcEsDwgYQ
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQD-X9G9xfk

[5] Mazin Qumsiyeh, ‘Of Cowardice, Dignity and Solidarity’,
http://www.qumsiyeh.org/ofcowardicedignityandsolidarity/

Mazin Qumsiyeh, PhD
http://qumsiyeh.org