Readers' corner
All the same
Sir-- Friday 30 December is a black day in Sudanese-Egyptian relations. There is much blood on the hands of the Egyptian police forces who caused the deaths of so many Sudanese protesters. It seems that it makes no difference where the Sudanese are from. The Nubians of Halfa had their lands submerged in 1959 to build the High Dam that benefited Egypt. And in 2005 southern and Darfur Sudanese lost their lives at the hands of Egyptian police forces. What is ironic is that the refugees from Darfur have legal legitimate grounds for getting refugee status and re-settlement in the developed countries that accept refugees. However, all Sudanese refugees were predictably tainted with the same brush.
Aamna Saror
Essex
UK
A reflection
Sir-- The killing of innocent Sudanese refugees reflects the state of civilised behaviour that you so freely criticise in other countries.
Ziad Tariq
Antwerp
Belgium
Cleaning house
Sir-- What a terrible tragic way we handled the so- called Sudanese crisis. For sure, it was an annoying sight to see all those immigrants camping down in one of our main elite boulevards, but there should have been a better way of re-routing them back home or to alternative countries. We "cleaned house" to end the year very prettily and nicely indeed, like a butcher would clean up his meat fridge.
Hoda Nassef
Cairo
Egypt
Only Egyptians
Sir-- 'Year of battles' ( Al-Ahram Weekly 29 December-4 January) was well written and definitely shows the writer as being a concerned Egyptian who exhibits compassion for the majority of Egyptians. The political situation in Egypt is dooming its promised reforms. Let the Egyptians decide their future by themselves. No one cares about Egypt but the Egyptians. Let Egypt depend on itself. Egypt was great in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Let us not forget our traditions and culture.
Mohamed Khalil
New York
USA
Where's the proof?
Sir-- 'Bad Card' by Gihan Shahine ( Al-Ahram Weekly 29 December-4 January) which deals with Coptic grievances, is reasonably balanced but I would suggest your writer ask her speakers about the sources and documentation to support their claims. What proof does Mr Asaad have to support his claim that the US and the Coptic Church are working on plans to establish a separate Coptic state? Reporting something like this will make the sectarian conflict worse and does not serve anyone's good. What proof does Mr Asaad have to claim that expatriate Copts have their own agenda? To ask for equal rights and total citizenry for the Copts is a wrong agenda? I would appreciate it if you choose your speakers and sources appropriately. Not everyone who claims to be a "Coptic thinker" would automatically make him/her a credible source on Coptic issues.
Kamal Ibrahim
Illinois
USA
Of benefit
Sir-- Referring to Ian Douglas's article 'Why Saddam is important' ( Al-Ahram Weekly 22-28 December) I fail to understand the logic or reasoning of the writer. There is immense value to the Iraqi people and to all the people of our region to witness this ex-president answering to an Iraqi judge and be taken away by Iraqi guards to an Iraqi jail. It is therapeutic to millions of wronged peoples. Perhaps Mr Douglas forgets the many crimes performed by this man against his own people, his neighbours and, indeed, his own family.
It is amusing to see Saddam claim that he has been tortured. He is becoming, quite justly, a figure to laugh at and to ridicule after decades when the whole nation trembled at the very mention of his name.
Is Mr Douglas suggesting that letting Saddam go free in Baghdad would be a better choice? It is said that he would be torn apart at the hands of his compatriots if he ventured forth. No, let's have him remain a laughing stock as he appears day after day in court facing his accusers, and may his example be a warning to other dictators who think that they are above the law.
Raouf Zaidan
Aberdeen
USA
Africa waits
Sir-- Why has Egypt failed to liberalise its economy and integrate itself with sub-Saharan Africa? Free trade generally means prosperity; democracy is not synonymous with free trade (i.e. China. Yes they have to suppress dissent but a seven per cent growth rate year after year garners respect at home and abroad).
Egypt needs to take a leadership role in developing African markets or else China will. America will soon lose its place as the sole superpower; the time to act is now. Sudan's interests are your interests and Africa's as well. Kenya's trade with Sudan is scant compared to what it should be. Despite a tumultuous political year (and incompetent neighbouring states) Kenya grew at a 5.5 per cent clip. Black Africa's prosperity is in Egypt's interests.
If you don't restructure your economies to serve Egypt's interests, which are correlated with "Black Africa", America and Britain will do it for you. Egypt will be a nation of 100 million people in the near future. Your government must build up its economy in order to gain respect in the Muslim world. Time will tell if Egypt will emerge as a superpower or just another Middle East American lackey.
Bradley Ambani
Texas
USA
New and old
Sir-- We all hope the new government will do something to help the ordinary people. We heard a lot about programmes of reform yet the gap between our income and our expenses is getting wider all the time. Rooting out the old faces was the most positive point in the recent cabinet reshuffle. All of us hope the electoral programme of the president will be realised by the new faces.
Ali Omar
Mansoura
Egypt
Back in time
Sir-- The Minneapolis Star Tribune recently had an article about Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Mahdi Akef calling the Holocaust a myth. It is Mr Akef who is the myth-maker. I hope Egyptians will think long and hard before believing the hollow words of the Muslim Brotherhood and the president of Iran. They speak with forked tongues. The truth is the truth, no matter how some try to hide it. Iran is a prime example of what happens when ignorant leaders come to power. The young people of Iran are feeling the heavy boot of extremism when the president takes away their freedom and dictates their music, clothing and behaviour. The greatness of Egypt will not be served by a political party who turns back time and freedom.
Kathleen Wagar
Minnesota
USA
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