Egypt’s Dangerous Precedence: Hosni Mubarak
By Yero Jallow.
It is nerve breaking to see Egypt setting dangerous precedence. According to news report on CNN online (www.cnn.com, culled from the web on 11/29/2014, http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/29/world/meast/egypt-mubarak-trial/index.html?hpt=hp_t2), a court in Egypt has acquitted Egyptian former criminal ruler, Hosni Mubarak. It sends a wrong message to the rest of the African oppressors sitting on the high chairs and continually enjoying the limelight.
In January of 2011, many people hailed the Egyptian people, for doing what was thoughtfully a people revolution to rid the old oppressing regime of Hosni, a man that ruled for 3 decades with iron fist. One thing I would have accepted is a South African type of reconciliation, to encourage unity, and pave the future for Egyptians. I am not saying that for 3 decades, Hosni didn’t do anything good, but most Egyptians were left to Hosni’s political whims and caprices, and that is obvious. From the judiciary, some healing and hope was expected, or at least a restoration of some of worst law breakages that wrecked the African continent for so long under some of its worst criminal rulers.
But here are some wrongs in this precedence.
The Justice system shouldn’t have reduced itself so low, to where such a long time leading oppressor will go scot-free without being pinned on his wrongs. A justice system must be dependable and earn the trust of citizens. If trust is lacking, then that justice system will not represent its citizens. It is not uncommon for a 3 decade old regime to have loyalists, or even some of their own seeds within the corrupted judiciary, who after all, will also like to protect their own images and keep their cupboard’s skeletal nibs continually sealed.
It also means Egypt’s yearn for liberation is yet to be seen, as the latest ruling, is likely to spark some more citizen demonstrations. What the courts are now telling the whole world is that the millions of citizens that spoke with their hearts lied about Hosni. How all these millions could be wrong certainly beats my imagination.
What message does this send to the outside world? How about other Oppressing rulers like Yaya Jammeh, the self-acclaimed herbalist and one time wrestler of Gambian fame? This ruling is a dangerous precedence. Other African rulers sitting on knife edges are likely to take this as yet another opportunity to justify their continued wrong doings on their citizens. “Get a bigger crown” is all I hear rocking some of their ears, as they recharge and brace for more years to lead with oppression. The lack of term limits in political leadership positions, as well as the greed loaded in some of these souls is all you need to know to start keeping yourself away from the treachery. I think the political hypocrisy everywhere plays a part. Normally people who are close to leaders enjoy by virtue of the temporal gains as in money, exercise of authority, political appointments and even the societal pride of their crowns and fame. For them to let go, it becomes so hard. Their families and friends equally enjoy the transmitting wave of goodness, and they too, are leap-sealed, as they don’t like to be seen as either the jealous midgets or the ones to alarm the bells on leadership excesses. Whatever it is, the political idiots are the first witnesses to their wrongs, and for example, in our own Gambia no-problem, we are sitting on a ticking time bomb. So you ask yourself of neutrality? Political righteousness? Bishop Tutu of South Africa will tell you to tell the heavy mighty elephant to remove its hooves from the rat’s tail, otherwise, how could such an oppressing relationship be championed as neutral, just and equal. It is certain that the environment was the least favorable for such criminal rulers, and their octopus tentacles are almost hanging loose, in-between coma and death, so essentially anything to justify their ways of reign, they will hold onto with grace.
In conclusion, justice is supposed to serve and represent, to heal and provide grounds for reconciliations, as well as to punish the wrong doers. I am just saying that Egypt has set a very dangerous precedence and this is certainly a slap on all of our faces. In typical dictatorships, the justice systems truly failed its citizens. It is a heart breaker, after all, some of the politicians usually involved, are themselves out for fame or positions. They enjoy the continued political hostility while positioning themselves for power. They neither care for their country nor the country men. Give them power, give them money, and give them positions and nothing matters after that, as they will blindly support no matter who is affected. African sons and daughters must not be intimidated by the cowardice or the Egypt’s failure to represent; rather citizens should take the challenge to yearn for proper power and true representation, as it is Africans that can solve their problems.