Hosni Mubarak’s Exit-A Great Triumph of People : Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

Hosni Mubarak’s Exit-A Great Triumph of People!

Egypt of Nasser, Sadat and Mubarak

Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

An 18-day revolt led by the youth of Egypt ousted President Hosni Mubarak. Whether Mubarak’s exit would usher Egypt have a democratic set-up or continue to be under military dictatorship is a million dolor question. People obviously want a fundamental democratic change and open elections. The Military which controls Egypt now, in a statement ensured the amendment of the Constitution to “conduct free and fair presidential elections”. “The armed forces are committed to sponsor the legitimate demands of the people,” the statement declared, and the military promised to ensure the fulfillment of its promises “within defined time frames” until authority could be passed to a “free democratic community that the people aspire to.” It pledged to remove the “emergency law.” Whether the military will subordinate itself to a civilian democracy or install a new military dictator is difficult to predict now.

Egypt-for long a British protectorate, adopted Parliamentary Representative system and enjoyed partial internal autonomy before it was liberated from the Monarch rule by General Muhammad Neguib in 1952 revolution. Neguib who became the first President of the Egyptian Republic on June 18, 1953 was toppled in 1954 by Gamal Abdel Nasser-the Principal Architect of the 1952 revolution.

Nasser led Egypt to full independence on June 18 1956. His mark on Egypt, its people, culture, and politics is Indelible even forty years after his death. Nasser established a populist-socialist single party state banning all political parties and regulating every civil association. The civil society became very weak and opposition to Nasser's personal autocracy was negligible. Nasser consolidated personal and political power. The best indicator of his popularity as one of the great world leaders of his times is the Non-Aligned Movement-formation of an intergovernmental organization of states-which maintained equidistance from the major powers. Under the leadership of Nasser Suez Canal was nationalized and Egypt was seen as center point for anti-imperialist activity.

Nasser along with the then Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru, Yugoslavia First President Marshal Joseph Broz Tito, Indonesia First President Sukarno, the co-founders of Non-Aligned Movement, were recognized all over the world as the four prominent leaders of advocating middle course of states in the developing world away from the Cold War between Western and Eastern Blocks. Nasser was seen either as an equal or at times even above some of the world Prominent Leaders like the then Chinese Prime Minister Chou Enlai, Chinese Communist Party Leader Mao, Nkrumah of Ghana, First President of Zambia Kenneth David Kaunda, 35th and 36th Presidents of USA John F Kennedy and Lyndon B Johnson, Nehru’s daughter and third Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, President of France for over a decade Charles De Gaulle and former Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev.

Nasser on joining the army and progressing in the career gained importance. He was once summoned by the then British Controlled Prime Minister and was interrogated on the suspicion that he was forming a secret group of dissenting army officers in 1949. Though he denied the allegation, the “Association of Free Officers” was formed and started talking of freedom for Egypt. Two years later Nasser decided to launch large scale assassination campaign and guerilla attacks on British. Nasser determined to establish the independence of the army from the monarchy. Consequent to the developments that preceded and succeeded Egyptian Revolution of 1952, Nasser planned for the takeover of the government by Army Units loyal to Association. Following success of the revolution in just one day, Muhammad Naguib became the first President of Republic of Egypt and the monarchy was abolished.

“Association of Free Officers” was renamed as “Egyptian Revolutionary Council” chaired by Naguib with Nasser as Vice-Chairman. Both of them were also Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister respectively. Nasser being more powerful among them initiated banning all political parties and creating one-party system but favored to hold parliamentary elections. Following an assassination attempt on him, Nasser ordered the largest crackdown by arresting more than twenty thousand people. President Naguib was removed and was put under house arrest. Nasser toured extensively and through his speeches and acts gained control of the media. Soon he got himself appointed as President pending an election in January 1955.

Nasser took advantage of international scenario with specific reference to Arab World as well as Israel attacks in the Gaza Strip and projected himself as leader of Arab World. He emerged as prominent person of Non-Aligned Movement. In order to acquire arms to defend his country he preferred Communist Block over Western Countries. The New Constitution of Egypt was drafted in January 1956 and as the nominee of “National Union”-the single party-Nasser was elected as President of Egypt. Nasser’s policies both domestic and international alienated American support to him. When USA and Britain withdrew financial support for Aswan High Dam across the Nile River, Nasser announced nationalization of Suez Canal Company. This decision of him made a Great Hero throughout Arab World.

The Israeli war on Egypt, sequel to a secret agreement between Britain, France and Israel in October 1956 was publicly condemned by US President Eisenhower. Israel and its British and French allies had to withdraw. The Suez Canal that was closed was reopened. Nasser’s position became very strong in the international scene. Later developments made him more popular. Following developments in Syria which appeared close to becoming a Communist Satellite, Nasser formed the “United Arab Republic” with a total merger of both the nations-Egypt and Syria-in February 1958 and he became its President. Nasser always opposed Communism in the Arab World and even banned. When once he met Nikita Khrushchev, Nasser refused his request to lift the ban stating that it was an internal affair. However in September 1961 Syrian Army Units declared independence and the UAR collapsed. Nasser accepted personal responsibility for the collapse of UAR and his health deteriorated after the dissolution of the Union.

To preempt a Syrian like situation in Egypt, Nasser brought in Socialist Agenda in the country. The National Union Political Party was renamed as Arab Socialist Union. North Yemen civil war, Algerian independence, military coup in Iraq and connected developments also made Nasser popular once again. To overcome couple of internal dissentions Nasser appointed himself as Chief of the Armed Forces in 1963. Nasser introduced a new Constitution and the National Charter in 1964. The latter called for universal health care, provision of housing, building of vocational schools, widening the Suez Canal, an increase in women's rights, and developing a program for family planning. In addition, he attempted to maintain oversight of the country's civil service to prevent it from inflating and consequently becoming a burden to the state. He allowed gender-mixed schools, introduced evolution as an acceptable subject matter to discuss, amended divorce laws, and merged religious courts into civil ones.

Nasser sought to firmly establish Egypt as the leader of the Arab world and to promote a second revolution in Egypt with the purpose of merging Islamic and socialist thinking to satisfy the will of the general populace. He called for an Arab League Summit and also for the creation of the United Arab Command against Israel. In May 1964 he founded the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), an umbrella group of various groups. Nasser became President of Non-Aligned Movement in the same year and held the second meet in Cairo. Nasser was reelected for another six-year term as President in March 1965.

In the year 1967 Egypt had problems of war. In fact Soviet Union cautioned Nasser of the Israel’s intentions of a large scale war against Syria. Nasser in his speech to UN General Assembly in May that year raised the issue of the rights of Palestinian people. He believed war was inevitable. In June first week Israel attacked Egyptian Airfields. Within three days Nasser appeared on Television and informed the Citizens of the Country’s defeat. Israel captured the entire Sinai Peninsula and Gaza Strip from Egypt, the West Bank from Jordan, and the Golan Heights from Syria in the next two days. Nasser announced his resignation on 10th June 1967. Entire population of the country, on hearing his resignation over television, in one voice rejected, pouring in to streets. Nasser’s resignation speech goes like: “I have taken a decision with which I need your help. I have decided to withdraw totally and for good from any official post or political role, and to return to the ranks of the masses, performing my duty in their midst, like any other citizen. This is a time for action, not grief.... My whole heart is with you, and let your hearts be with me. May God be with us-hope, light and guidance in our hearts”. Responding to the demonstrators slogans that “We are your Soldiers Gamal” Nasser retracted his decision next day.

The Soviet Union resupplied the Egyptians what they needed and broke diplomatic relations with Israel. Nasser cut his relations with the USA. At home he arrested many army generals. Nasser slowly moved towards creating a full dictatorship in Egypt and assumed the roles of Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. In November 1967 Nasser accepted UN Resolution which called for Israel’s withdrawal from occupied territories. In June 1968 Nasser commenced the “War of Attrition” against Israel. He allowed Soviets to construct naval Facilities. By then Yasser Arafat became the leader of PLO. The battle was perceived as an Arab-Palestinian victory. Nasser decided to entrust the battle leadership against Israel to Arafat. During his visit to Moscow Nasser introduced Arafat to high-level Soviet Officials. There was a cease-fire in the Attrition War in August 1970.

Nasser held an emergency Arab League Summit on 27th September to sort-out differences between King Hussein and PLO leadership. The participants literally crossed swords while Nasser pleaded with Arafat and Hussein to put an end to the verbal fight. The conference ended on a compromise note.

On 28 September 1970, at the conclusion of the summit, Nasser suffered a heart attack and was pronounced dead soon after. Following the announcement of Nasser's death, Egypt and the Arab world were in a state of shock. His funeral procession through Cairo, on 1 October, was attended by at least five million mourners throughout the 10-kilometre procession to his burial site. His flag-draped coffin was attached to a gun carriage pulled by six horses and led by a column of cavalrymen. All Arab heads of state attended. King Hussein of Jordan and PLO leader Yasser Arafat cried openly while Muammar al-Gaddafi of Libya reportedly fainted twice. Soviet premier Alexei Kosygin also attended. Almost immediately after the procession began, mourners had engulfed Nasser's coffin shouting "There is no God but Allah, and Nasser is God's beloved... Each of us is Nasser." Police unsuccessfully attempted to quell the crowds and as a result, most of the foreign dignitaries surrounding his coffin, including Kosygin, Hussein, French premier Jacques Chaban-Delmas, and Haile Selassie of Ethiopia were evacuated. The final destination was the Nasr Mosque, renamed Abdel Nasser Mosque, where Nasser was buried. An Egyptian political activist who was imprisoned by Nasser for four years claimed that "Nasser's greatest achievement was his funeral. The world will never again see five million people crying together”.

Anwar Sadat, a senior member of the “Association of Free Officers” during the 1952 Egyptian Revolution and a close confidant of Nasser, succeeded him as President of Egypt. His eleven years rule brought in the Multi Party System. Sadat’s success against Israel in the 1973 war culminating in “Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty” not only made him a Hero in Egypt but also won him the Nobel Peace Prize of that year. Sadat also became equally un-popular and his country had to lose membership in the Arab League. Contrary to expectations of Nasser’s supporters, Sadat surprised many with his tactical and shrewd political moves to emerge as a strong leader. His famous “Corrective Revolution”, a step to purge Nasserist members of the government and security forces as well as imprisonment of other political forces paid rich dividends to Sadat.

The 1973 October war suddenly launched by Sadat against Israel and the initial victories restored popular morale throughout Arab World that was lost during Nasser’s days. Israel recognized Egypt as a formidable force. The peace process had thus begun. Sadat’s peace move gained support from religious leaders including support from Pope Paul VI. When he visited Israel on November 19, 1977 and met Prime Minister Menachem Begin, he became the first Arab Leader to do so. Towards achieving a comprehensive peace to the Arab-Israeli Conflict, Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin facilitated by US President Jimmy Carter, signed the “Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty” in Washington on 26th March 1979. Both the signatories were awarded with Nobel Peace Prize. The Treaty that got wide support in Egypt however was seen as a betrayal by many Arabs. Arab League expelled Egypt and the League’s Head Quarters was moved from Cairo to Tunis-capital of Tunisia.

On October 6, 1981 Sadat was assassinated in Cairo. Among others Egypt Vice-President Hosni Mubarak was also wounded. His funeral was attended by record number of dignitaries. Sadat was succeeded by Hosni Mubarak and has held office for nearly 28 years.

Mubarak has been a central figure in the world's most volatile region for decades. His support for Israel won him the support of the West. Government critics are routinely jailed and freedom of expression and assembly are restricted. Egypt has long been a leader of the Arab world, and Mubarak, has successfully negotiated the complicated issues of regional security, solidifying a relationship with Washington, maintaining cool but correct ties with Israel and sharply suppressing Islamic fundamentalism and terrorism. He is one of the world’s longest-serving presidents. His iron grip on every level of Egyptian society has kept the Arab world’s most populous nation stable, but at a price.

Mubarak declared emergency rule immediately after Sadat’s assassination and renewed regularly. The decree allows Mubarak to seize or censor all publications and other media outlets. Mubarak made few friends among Palestinians. He proved incapable of influencing the Palestinian-Israeli peace process. Mubarak reestablished relations with Arab countries, beginning the Gulf's oil powers, and by 1989 won Egypt's return to the league. Cairo again became its headquarters.

But…people prefer democracy…and they agitated. They could get rid of Mubarak. Whether they would get democracy that they cherished is still awaited.