Human rights message on Police Day
Egypt's police apparatus must delve deeper into a culture of democracy and human rights, President Mubarak said. Nevine Khalil writes
Celebrating Police Day on Sunday, President Hosni Mubarak addressed a large gathering of officers at the Police Academy, inaugurated the new headquarters of the Department of Public Security, decorated several officers, and honoured the names of others who died in the line of duty. Speaking to a throng of top security officers on the 52nd anniversary of Police Day, Mubarak said that, "in our attempt to modernise society, we have worked on enhancing the citizen's sense of patriotism and modernising the administrative and cultural infrastructure."
This, the president said, is "to better regulate the relationship between the citizen and state apparatus, ensure fairness and equality, and strike a balance between rights and duties in an climate of democracy," thus ensuring popular participation, a non-centralised government, a multi-party system, and civil and political rights.
"Deepening the sense of citizenry in a democratic framework requires the implementation of the principles of equality among all citizens," Mubarak noted. "Hence, we took several measures to achieve these principles." These included the creation of the National Council of Human Rights, repealing the hard labour sentence, and the abolition of Supreme State Security courts and many military decrees. At the same time, the children of Egyptian mothers married to foreigners can now become Egyptian citizens.
"No doubt, more strides towards democracy through these measures will place more responsibilities on the police apparatus and citizens, in order for the culture of human rights to become part of the value system which the entire society believes in," Mubarak said.
The president also noted that, "those in authority, and in a position to implement the law", should be "at the forefront of these believers [in human rights]", since upholding the law and implementing it expediently to protect the citizen's rights are key prerequisites for successfully applying democracy. Mubarak said he had faith that "the police apparatus will continue evolving to face all the political and democratic developments which are taking place in our society."
But the security apparatus also has a role to play in the economic realm, especially with Egypt rapidly turning into a market economy. This gives the private sector and civil society a bigger role in propelling the economy forward, the president said, "and hence there should be increased awareness when interacting with these two groups which play an important role in achieving comprehensive development." Mubarak's vision is that the security apparatus should support and protect industry, investment, the market, and tourism.
On the social plane, Mubarak talked about "developing a new manner of dealing with the citizen, since he is a partner in the country's future". This will lead to developing "a real relationship between the citizen and the state, overcoming complacency and negativism, and expanding public participation to ensure we achieve our goals".
Expanding his address to include developments on the world arena, Mubarak noted that, "the world community is passing through a sensitive phase which requires us all, especially the police apparatus, to be more aware, and at the ready." He said that the globalisation of economies and politics has opened up societies, and brought new dangers to the surface, which require caution in order to properly protect national interests. "I call on every citizen to be a partner to the police apparatus to achieve security and restore discipline to the Egyptian street by abiding by the law and respecting the rights of others," he said.
Mubarak also seized the occasion to acknowledge the "many sacrifices" which the police make to ensure the country's safety. "Today's celebrations represent a valuable symbol of patriotism and sacrifice," he said. "All Egyptians are proud of what the police has given to the people for many decades." He added that the police continue to undertake "courageous and intense battles to secure citizens and society, and have many martyrs in the battles against outlaws".
Mubarak also took the opportunity to reiterate his call for the convening of a world conference to combat terrorism, an echo of a similar call he made in the early 1990s when Egypt was fighting a fierce battle against militant Islamists. "Egypt's police was able to achieve a unique precedent against these groups by drying up their human, financial and ideological resources," he said. "And today, we continue to call for the convening of this international conference."
Personal attention
DURING a meeting on Sunday with the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) delegation currently visiting Egypt, President Hosni Mubarak said that he personally backs Egypt's bid to host the 2010 World Cup.
The delegation, which is headed by Jan Peeters, is conducting a week-long inspection of Egypt's bid to host the prestigious football tournament.
Mubarak told Peeters (left) that if it won the bid, "Egypt would make FIFA, Africans and all football fans proud." The president said Egypt had been improving and developing its infrastructure and facilities, which were on par with the best in the world. Mubarak also spoke of football's popularity in Egypt, where it is considered the national sport.
