In a February 1, 2011 in the Kuwaiti daily Arab Times, titled "Not This Way," Ahmad Al-Jarallah, who is editor-in-chief of the paper and also of the Kuwaiti daily Al-Siyassa, discussed the events in Egypt.
The following is his article, in the original English.[1]
"Keen Followers of the Events Have Discovered the 'Hands' Of Some Groups... in the Demonstrations... This Is the Highest Level of... Deception Against the Good-Natured Youth"
"Asking Egyptians to organize peaceful demonstrations to fight corruption and corrupt officials, as well as call for change in the government, is a constitutional demand, which usually happens in every part of the world. Citizens in democratic nations have right to freedom of expression. In advanced democratic settings, this right is often exercised in a peaceful and calm manner without violating the Constitution. This was the same pattern followed by the youth movement at the beginning of the demonstrations but everything has been blown out of proportion and surprisingly snowballed into an unprecedented breakdown in law and order."
"Keen followers of the events have discovered the 'hands' of some groups with suspicious objectives and plans in the demonstrations, which they are currently using to steal the fruit of the protest actions or settle scores with the government. These groups have openly expressed their desire to ensure the collapse of the government and their readiness to take charge thereafter, as reflected in their statements on satellite channels. This is the highest level of triviality and deception against the good-natured youth."
"Egypt is Different from Tunisia and Sudan... How Did [Egyptian] Citizens, Who Supported Peaceful Demonstrations... Become the Victims of Theft and Looting?"
"These groups have forgotten that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is not Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, while Egypt is different from Tunisia and Sudan under the Jaafar Al-Numeiri regime. They have also failed to realize that the Egyptian president has allowed the people to express their feelings, to the extent that they have started writing protest slogans on armored cars. It was only after this incident that Mubarak came out to address the nation, which would have been impossible if Egypt did not enjoy democracy and freedom.
"How did the citizens, who supported peaceful demonstrations of the youth, become the victims of theft and looting by those who exploited the situation to carry out corruption at the periphery of the revolution? Whoever has closely followed reactions over the last few days, will easily recognize those behind the looting and stealing, including those who have been fanning the embers of chaos."
"Iran and Hizbullah... Actually Support the Unruly Activities To Settle Scores With Egypt and Ensure the Release of Their Prisoners
"The issue does not require comprehensive research to realize that Iran and Hezbollah, who have been carrying out heinous activities in Lebanon and Gaza, actually support the unruly activities to settle scores with Egypt and ensure the release of their prisoners. Those who pretend to rescue Egyptians on satellite channels have provided cover for the looting and release of criminals from prison."
"It is good to see that Egyptian youths have quickly realized that they are victims of the groups which target destruction of the economy, especially when they noticed how the lawbreakers exploited peaceful demonstrations against Mubarak to destroy public and private property.
"Again, Mubarak is different from Zine Al-Abiden Ben Ali. He has reiterated his determination to protect Egypt against darkness, so he will only step down once the situation calms down. He is not among those leaders who board private jets and flee from the country at the beginning of chaos. He prefers to face the problem and look for a suitable solution.
"[Mubarak] Has Never Tried To Steal Revenues of the Country or Exploit the National Wealth for Personal Purposes"
"At this point, it is pertinent to admit that I was one of the front liners who marketed the Egyptian economy. I observed that Mubarak, in his discussions with investors and foreign companies which intend to invest in Egypt, have always emphasized the need to protect the rights of poor Egyptians. He has never tried to steal revenues of the country or exploit the national wealth for personal purposes.
"It is clear that corrupt practices accompany economic and non-economic activities. This situation occurs everywhere in the world, so people take such cases to international courts rather than going out into the streets for looting, stealing and jail-breaking. They normally consider positive aspects of the demonstrations. Businesspersons who have set up companies and industries in areas with numerous Egyptian workers have succeeded in their activities.
"We should not also disregard the achievements and goals actualized under the Mubarak regime. People should understand the nature of Egypt without prejudice. Despite the limited capabilities of the country, it has achieved a lot, considering its high population growth rate which, by the way, is one of the highest in the world. Under such circumstances, the implementation of reforms requires a miracle, but it cannot happen through outcries on the streets."
I Fear "That This Chaos Is Part of a Foreign Scheme to Foment Large-Scale Destruction to Destabilize Egyptian Security"
"Yes, the Egyptians should understand that things are not done this way, particularly since the country plays a significant role in the Arab world. I am afraid of the possibility that this chaos is part of a foreign scheme to foment large-scale destruction to destabilize Egyptian security and push the nation towards the unknown. I do not want to see the Israelis taking over Sinai again, which may take Egypt back to the 1967 situation and then it will be too late for regrets."
[1] Arab Times (Kuwait), February 1, 2011.
