Lessons from Egypt - The strong will of the people must prevail

Alando N. Terrelonge, Contributor

February 11, 2011 is a date that will not soon be forgotten. It will live on in the minds of many in Egypt, throughout the Middle East and in the world, forever. As the events unfolded in and around the aptly named Liberation Square in Cairo, it became obvious to onlookers everywhere that the strong will of the people must, and will, prevail. And as the evening drew to an end, the vice-president announced to the massive crowds chanting for President Hosni Mubarak to go, that the voices of the children of Egypt had been heard, and that their despotic modern-day pharaoh had relinquished all power.

The revolution that started in Egypt on January 25, 2011 has its genesis in the uprisings that engulfed Tunisia in December 2010 and culminated in the overthrow of President Zine Abidine Ben Ali, who had ruled that North African nation with an iron fist since 1987. The Tunisian revolt is important as it demonstrates the power of one individual and how that individual can affect and change the course of history. On December 17, 2010, 26-year-old Mohamed Bouazizi, a street vendor, was harassed and physically abused by police officers who confiscated his fruits and vegetables for not having the requisite licence to sell these items. A situation not unfamiliar to many Jamaicans who peddle their goods in our streets daily.

A university graduate, Mohamed had resorted to vending in the streets to support his family, given Tunisia's high unemployment rate. When the young man attempted to file a complaint with the relevant authorities, he was precluded from doing so, and, in his desperation, set himself on fire to protest the injustice that was meted out to him. By his immolation, Mohamed ignited the sparks of a revolt that saw not only the ousting of Ben Ali but also set the entire region ablaze with chants for democratic change, equality, and an end to corruption and injustice.

In mirroring the actions of their North African brothers, the people of Egypt defied the fear barrier of Mubarak's regime and took to the streets to protest against political corruption, poverty, police brutality, social inequality, and low wages. In a population of 80 million people, half of whom live under or just at the poverty line, and a president with a reputed asset base greater than US$70 billion, the people were emboldened by the actions in Tunisia to demand accountability and social change from their leader.

The revolution in Egypt may be viewed as a battle of wills, that of the president versus that of the people. Notwithstanding the chaos that had taken over Egypt and the millions of citizens who took to the streets chanting, "Mubarak must go now", he remained resolute that he would not relinquish power until September. As the protests grew, the protesters themselves were resolved to halt the affairs of the nation until he stepped down from power. His defiance led to more than 350 people being killed. However, the will of the people eventually overcame all barriers placed in their way and, in the end, Mubarak was forced to renounce his leadership over Egypt.

There are many lessons to be drawn from the self-sacrifice of Mohamed and the revolution commencing in Egypt on January 25, 2011. The most significant being that the strong will of the people must prevail against the will of a corrupt government which does not hold itself accountable to its people. These occurrences demonstrate that the individual can affect great changes in his society, and that ordinary civilians can have their voices heard when they stand together and relentlessly demand justice and equality from their governments. What started out in Egypt as demonstrations calling for social and political changes, engulfed an entire nation within 18 days and toppled an autocratic government that ruled, using fear under emergency powers, for more than 30 years.

The people of Egypt have sent a clear message to other autocratic leaders in the Middle East and to leaders across the world generally. If they can oust an oppressive dictator, with control of the world's 11th largest army; and if they can have their will be done and their demands for a new government met, the peoples of other regions can transform their nations from within by igniting similar peaceful revolts geared towards achieving accountability and greater equality. No government should be made to ignore the will of the people; and the lessons of Egypt may one day be learnt here at home in Jamaica, where similar conditions of social inequality; police brutality; low wages; corruption; and lack of political accountability are rampant and ought to be set ablaze.

Alando N. Terrelonge is an attorney-at-law. Email feedback to colums@gleanerjm.com and alando.terrelonge@ btalawjm.com.