Fortunately on the first day of Ramadan there have been no reports of
any major violence in Egypt meaning that I can move straight to the
political developments.
The big news of the day is that the state prosecutor has issued an
arrest warrant for the Muslim Brotherhood's Supreme Leader Mohammed
Badie and 9 other Brotherhood leaders on charges of inciting the
violence that took place outside Cairo's Republican Guard HQ on Monday
(8/7/13). Rather predictably the Brotherhood have decried this move as
an attempt to destroy the Brotherhood as part of the 'military coup.'
This is of course nonsense. Badie was initially arrested last Wednesday
(3/7/13) as part of Morsi's removal. He was then freed on bail. His
first act was to give an inflammatory address to the Muslim Brotherhood
demonstration in Nasr city that provoked a day of violence across Egypt
on Friday (5/7/13). Although he did not appear in person he was one of
the key organisers behind the Brotherhood demonstration that led to
Monday's confrontation outside the Republican Guard HQ. Therefore it is
only right that Badie is re-detained because he has already demonstrated
what he will do having been given the chance by being freed on bail.
After all even in reasonably democratic nations such as the UK is the
police suspect that you are likely to cause a major breach of the peace
they are able to hold you indefinately until that threat has passed.
Also in relation to Monday's confrontation at the Republican Guard HQ
prosecutors have remanded 200 of those arrested in custody for a minimum
of 15 days on a variety of charges including weapons possession. 450 of
those arrested have been freed on bail.
Again rather predictably the Muslim Brotherhood have rejected Hazem
el-Bebawi's offer of seats in the government of national unity in return
for the Brotherhood's support for his nomination of interim Prime
Minister. To my mind this is just further evidence that the Brotherhood
clearly have no-intention of returning Egypt to civilian democratic rule
and instead simply want to return themselves to power. This of course
raises the question of whether el-Bebawi can be appointed interim Prime
Minister without the support of the Brotherhood. I think that he can
because the Brotherhood's plan is clearly to delay the return to
democracy for as long as possible in order to increase their support by
claiming the delay they're causing as evidence of plot by the military
to hang on to power.
In other slightly worrying signs of a further delay in the return to
civilian, democratic rule both the liberal, secular National Salvation
Front (NSF) party/coalition and the revolutionary Tamarod movement have
rejected President Mansour's timetable for fresh elections. Both object
on the grounds that they were not consulted about the process but in a
sign of co-operation both intend to put forward their own suggestions
for negotiation with the President. As I've said before I think the
timetable declaration was a hastily drawn up and panicked response to
events on Monday. Therefore I think the timetable should be scrapped and
the focus should instead be on the formation of a government of
national unity that will then go on to draw up it's own timetable for
elections that reflects the wishes of all the sections of Egyptian
society that choose to participate in that government of national unity.
(Originally Posted) 22:55 on 10/7/13.
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