Terror in Egypt and the Return of Morsi

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By Chester B Cabalza

Blogger's Notes:
Commentary of an Academic (Copyright @ 2013 by Chester B Cabalza. All Rights Reserved).

The July people power ‘revolution’ that would spark social and political reforms anew in Egypt has been wasted. The bloodshed and chaos ongoing in Cairo manifests rivalry of power between pro and anti-Morsi.

The deposed authoritarian Mohamed Morsi was Egypt’s fifth president and the first ever democratically elected President who sat in office for only a year since June 2012. His abrupt ouster occurred when his country’s powerful military connived with angry protesters and set a deadline last July 3 of this year after Morsi disappointed myriad of Egyptian people to set massive reforms. This resulted for his overthrow from his office at that time when he held under house arrest.

The dissatisfaction brought by Morsi’s poor governance resulted from his unfulfilled promises and increasing internal security threats such as, rising food prices, long fuel lines, and frequent electricity cuts that triggered to anarchy in Egypt of which some of the revolutionaries are calling on the army to return to politics. This affirms how polarized Egyptians are to their leaders.   

Egypt celebrated and his countrymen wished for a new chapter in their post-modern history. The military began to mop the memory of his government and detained the former president in an unknown and secret place. What complicated the political unrest, Brotherhood’s chief strategist, Khairat al-Shater, captured and detained. A military-led interim government was installed but confronted with continuing conundrums.

The Muslim Brotherhood protested and they wanted to restore the overthrown Morsi to power and continue his reign as president. The Muslim Brotherhood is the largest Islamist religious, political, and social movement in Egypt. The Muslim brotherhood emerged into power in elections after Egypt’s 2011 Arab Spring uprising against former president Hosni Mubarak. It also played a major role in the country’s elections back in 2012 by naming then Muslim Brotherhood candidate Morsi, who lacked charisma and oratorical skills, as Egypt’s first post-revolution and first civilian president. 

The unending failure and breakdown of law in the streets of Cairo which has endangered social peace is blamed to the movement. Even during Muslim holy month of Ramadan, there were small distractions in the constant standoff.

Egyptian progressive intellectuals are thorn with the political unrest. After eight weeks of imminent danger in Cairo’s public squares, military-backed government assaulted civilian protesters. Some may think of the chaos as a war between Egypt’s people and Egypt’s armed forces. Thousands has been injured and hundreds of death toll has been reported as the continuing saga unfolds.

International community’s reaction

US President Barack Obama confirmed that his country would cancel biannual Bright Star joint military exercises with Egypt set next month. This sign of displeasure would entail the freezing of billions of dollars of US annual aid to Egypt as the leading superpower can withhold individual arms packages to the beleaguered Middle East country. The United States, however, has also been blamed for the political unrest in Egypt by not exercising its greater yet perilous influence in the region.

In his remarks Obama said the US or the West is blamed of the mess by the two conflicting factions in Egypt. But the American leader wishes for Egypt's lasting peace, democracy, and prosperity. 

Leaders of the European Union are also calling for Egypt’s rulers to step back from a growing confrontation with the Muslim brotherhood. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned and felt deeply disturbed by the continuous killings as violence further escalates in the streets of Cairo. Meanwhile, the Philippines continuously advised its Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) for possible repatriation due to deteriorating peace and order situation in Egypt. It has raised alert level after police allegedly massacred Morsi loyalists.

On the other hand, Saudi Arabia is pleased with the turn of events in Egypt, particularly the ouster of the Brotherhood, since the reforms it initiates do not support monarchies but wants to propagate Islamic caliphates.

Leadership in Crisis

It is clear to all observers that there is apparent leadership crisis in Egypt. The disturbing death toll and escalating violence in Cairo will not stop unless Egyptian stakeholders will decide conscientiously who will lead their country. The fate of their country lies in the good hands of their own good and wise people.  

Dialogues must be fostered amongst parties. Errors must be rectified and military-backed Egyptian government must initiate democratic process in the form of clean election. The whole corrupt system must be overhauled and Morsi will still play a major role in taming the Muslim Brotherhood to reform Egypt’s politics.