Editorial Comment: Western duplicity astounding
Friday, 05 July 2013 00:53
Days of massive anti-government protests in Egypt resulted in the ousting on
Wednesday of the countrys first democratically-elected president, Mohamed
Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood, a year after he came to power. Morsi was
elected in June 2012 in the countrys first multi-party elections in over
four decades. The world cheered as Egypts Arab
Spring of 2011, which toppled former leader Hosni Mubarak, seemed focused on
turning the country on a path of democratic rule and respect for the rule of
law.
Military chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi accused Morsi of failing to
meet the demands of the people, while his opponents accused him of
Islamising the government by having members of the Muslim Brotherhood and
also deviating from the 2011 Arab Spring revolution.
These might be genuine concerns, but we also ask why the people of Egypt who
have been able to exercise their right to protest could not also use the
newly found democratic window to engage their government through their
parliamentary and local authority leadership?
Expecting Morsi to have undone four decades of what took the people onto the
streets in so short a time is unrealistic.
It is also unfortunate that only the anti-Morsi view was regurgitated and in
the process muzzling the voices of the 51 percent that voted for him in last
years election.
However, Wednesdays coup detat also raises a number of fundamental issues,
especially the western communitys reaction to the toppling of a
democratically elected leader.
The initial responses by world powers are indicators of the dynamics at
play.
The first such point are the blatant double standards regarding the toppling
of president Morsi, his arrest and the arrest of members of his inner circle
by the military.
The United States, which is one of Egypts close allies because of Israel
through president Barack Obama said soon after the overthrow, We believe
that ultimately the future of Egypt can only be determined by the Egyptian
people . . . Nevertheless, we are deeply concerned by the decision of the
Egyptian armed forces to remove president Morsi and suspend the Egyptian
constitution.
This is notwithstanding that the Egyptian saga played while the US president
was on a three-nation tour of Africa. This is also notwithstanding that a US
citizen was killed during last Fridays protests.
Obama could not even call Morsis overthrow a coup, with the Associated
Press writing on Thursday, Was the overthrow of Egypts Islamist government
a coup? Much hangs on the exact words used to describe what happened. If the
US government determines the Egyptian military carried out a coup, it could
affect the US$1, 5 billion in economic and military assistance Washington
gives Egypt each year . . . In Egypt, too, the legitimacy of the militarys
action hangs on how it is publicly viewed.
Are we then to understand that this painstaking effort to redefine the
overthrow of a democratically elected government is being selectively
applied depending on the level of relationship?
Britain, Egypts former coloniser reacted equally the same with foreign
minister William Hague saying, We will always be clear that we dont
support military intervention but we will work with people in authority in
Egypt. That is the practical reality of foreign policy.
Hague also said he had spoken to his Egyptian counterpart. Which
counterpart, since the Egyptian foreign minister was among the last key
cabinet ministers to resign?
Germany just called it a major setback for democracy in Egypt.
If this coup had occurred in one of the sub-Saharan countries, we would have
heard not only all-round condemnation, but stringent measures like economic
sanctions would have been imposed by now to compel the coup leaders to
restore democracy. There would also be talk of military intervention.
Since last week, emergency meetings of major regional and international
institutions would have taken place. Some countries would by now have
severed diplomatic ties with the military rulers. But this has not been the
case.
Instead, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon just said that it
will be crucial to quickly reinforce civilian rule in accordance with
principles of democracy.
Members of the Arab League were also not supportive. The world expected them
to be the first to condemn the coup and also sever ties with Egypt until
civilian rule is restored. With the exception of Turkey, a number of them
have condoned and/or celebrated Morsis ousting.
Turkey seemed to be the lone voice for democracy in Egypt as its deputy
prime minister Bekir Bozdag said The power change in Egypt was not a result
of the will of the people. The change was not in compliance with democracy
and law.
If those that preach democracy allowed it to be usurped in such a manner,
who then will be the guardian of the democracy they claim to have been
exporting to other parts of the world? And, why the double standards?
The flagrant disregard for international law was also evident in another
unfortunate incident involving Bolivian president Evo Morales whose
presidential jet was denied entry into French, Spanish, Italy and Portuguese
airspace over unfounded suspicion that the wanted US whistleblower Edward
Snowden was on board.
This act flew in the face of international law, especially the Geneva
Conventions, to which all these countries are signatories. This was also
total disrespect to a world leader which threatened his peace and security
and that of the people on board.
In that one act, the West trampled on diplomatic privilege, possibly the
last vestige of civility left to them after they long dumped truth, honour,
justice, and international law.
The question is, who will bell the cat?
Thé Mulindwas Communication Group
"With Yoweri Museveni and Dr. Kiiza Besigye Uganda is in anarchy"
Kuungana Mulindwa Mawasiliano Kikundi
"Pamoja na Yoweri Museveni na Dk. Kiiza Besigye Uganda ni katika machafuko"
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