Democracy and other mysteries
By
Salama A Salama
As 2003 drew to a close political reform in the Arab world, despite having been the focus of so much attention from outsiders, remained as elusive as ever. Outsiders will continue to focus on developments, not necessarily out of concern for regional peace, but because they want to stamp out terror and extremism, things for which America and the West blame the Arabs in full.
Arab capitals were abuzz with conferences and seminars discussing democracy, civil society and human rights. Such events were sponsored by the UN, the EU, and even the US. They produced little beyond promises and recommendations.
Some countries hastened to revise religious and educational programmes, strictly monitoring mosque preachers and allowing the publication of papers and magazines with liberal leanings. But none of this affected political practices or helped further political and cultural freedom.
In Egypt the year began with a promise of "new thinking" in the ruling party. Special committees worked overtime to formulate new policies, vowing to encourage a new generation. State Security Courts were abolished, the National Council on Human Rights was formed, and some clauses of the emergency laws were discarded. None of which has had the slightest impact.
The ruling party, many people said, is embracing the vocabulary of democracy but is in no mood to implement it. By- elections, held near the end of the year, confirmed the suspicion that nothing has changed and that the national dialogue between political parties is going nowhere. A US newspaper commented on the situation by saying that it is now clear that there is no intention to disturb those who have run Egypt for two decades and more.
Arab democracy has become the subject of an epic debate. On one side are those who believe that Arab culture is intrinsically opposed to democracy and that Arab people are condemned to a life under backward regimes unless some saviour comes to their rescue, as is happening in Iraq. On the other side of the debate are those who believe that democracy must emanate from within and cannot be imported from abroad.
The foreign powers that want to reshape the region did not wait for the locals to finish their debate. Having prepared plans, allocated budgets, trained personnel and sent delegations to study, examine, and assess the state of democracy in the Arab world, they proceeded to set up newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations to spread the new gospel of neo- liberalism.
The year 2003 will also leave behind unsolved mysteries with political, social, and security implications, such as the sudden and inexplicable disappearance of our colleague Reda Helal. This yet unresolved mystery has left everyone wondering what invisible hands are working in the dark. A mood of suspicious silence has descended on everyone, as if the case is one of those things better left alone.
Just as disturbing was the kidnapping of a child from his father's home in a Cairo suburb. The parents -- an Egyptian father and an American mother -- are known to be on less than good terms. But why was the kidnapping wrapped in such mystery? There have been similar cases involving German, Italian, and Swiss mothers, none of which has been shrouded in such mystery.
If the above is not enough I have just read on the Internet that full details of any person in any country in the world who holds a passport are now held by NATO and the CIA.
Happy new year.
