Cairom, January 25: As Jan 25 marked the first anniversary of Egypt’s civilian uprising that led to president Hosni Mubarak stepping down after nearly 30 years in power, many people questioned if it had actually proved successful.
Following 18 days of protests at Cairo’s Tahrir Square, Mubarak was replaced by a Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF) which ordered severe clampdowns on street demonstrations and political dissent.
Under SCAF’s governance and martial law, there have been 11,879 cases of civilians being tried in military courts, six times more than during Mubarak’s rule, Al-Jazeera reported Wednesday.
On Oct 9, protesters called for the SCAF’s dissolution and this resulted in a military standoff and clashes leading to dozens of deaths through December 2011.
After a year since public protests commenced in the country, Egypt is now in the process of instituting a civilian rule.
The recent parliamentary elections witnessed a high voter turnout, few reports of corruption, and Islamist parties winning a majority of the vote.
The de facto head of state, Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, Tuesday announced that the Mubarak-era’s state of emergency would be lifted Jan 25, 2012.
SCAF is describing Wednesday as “a day of national celebration” while many opposition groups have deemed it a day of protest. These groups want the military to transfer power to civilian authorities.
Egypt is now in the process of instituting civilian rule. The recent parliamentary elections saw a high voter turnout, few reports of corruption, and Islamist parties winning a majority of the vote.
The de facto head of state Mohamed Hussein Tantawi announced that the Mubarak-era State Emergency Law would be lifted on Jan 25, 2012. SCAF is calling Wednesday a day of national celebration while many opposition groups have deemed it a day of protest. Those groups are calling on the military to transfer power to civilian authorities.
On January 25, 2011, Egyptian protesters succeeded in ending President Mubarak’s 30-year rule after which, the Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF) assumed temporary leadership. In celebration, the SCAF has declared January 25 a national holiday however, for many, the euphoria of the revolution’s victory has been tempered by the realities of transitional governance. Since Mubarak’s fall, SCAF declared a state of emergency and conducted a violent clampdown on street demonstrations and political dissent.
An electoral transition towards a democratic civilian rule is underway, marked by the Egyptian Parliament’s first post-Mubarak session.
Islamist parties won the majority parliamentary vote with the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) and Salafi al-Nour Party receiving, respectively, 47.18% and 24% of parliamentary seats. Mohammed Saad al-Katatni, a member of the FJP was also elected parliamentary speaker.
Meanwhile, protests outside the Parliament building called for the accountability of those responsible for the revolution’s martyrs.
Amongst criticisms of the SCAF is its use of “Emergency Laws”, allowing it to try civilians in military courts. Under Mubarak’s regime, there were 1,959 such cases while under SCAF rule, there have been 11, 879 cases, six times as many, with a conviction rate of 93%.
A few Parliament members engaged protesters and donned “No to Military Trials” sashes in crowd solidarity.
Despite government warnings of civil unrest on the revolution’s anniversary, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, has partially lifted emergency laws “with the exception of acts of thuggery.” Online community voices have expressed skepticism regarding Tantawi’s latest announcement
Prior to former President Mubarak stepping down last January, Tahrir Square protesters chanted, “The army. The people. One hand.” A year later, youth groups have become the most vocal critics of the military council. Various youth collectives, including the April 6 movement, allege that the state media has conducted smear campaigns by depicting youth protesters as foreign agents, thus hindering their credibility.