Madina newspaperIn a phone call during a recent TV show, a member of the Military Council of Egypt protested against the military being described as a proxy acting for the people in running the revolution. The caller, who I think was Brigadier Hassan Al-Ruwaini, Commander of the Central Area, said that the military is “a partner not a proxy”. “You will realize that when facts are revealed to the people,” he added challengingly. But perhaps what this member of the Military Council meant became clear when a few days ago the former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak appeared in court in a metal cage on charges related to corruption and killing innocent demonstrators. As soon as the trial began with Mubarak inside the cage, the role of the Higher Council of the Egyptian Armed Forces changed, for the first time since February 11, from running the revolution “by proxy” to running the revolution “in partnership with” the people. The historical TV scene of Mubarak, his two sons, his minister of interior and assistants inside a cage in the same hall of the Police Academy where he addressed the country two days before the revolution may put an end to the state of doubt among some of those who began the revolution on January 25 and those who had been running it since February 11. Only a day before the trial, some Tahrir Square revolutionaries said that they considered the generals of the Military Council part of Mubarak's regime while others criticized the same generals for procrastination that might be described as collusion. But the courtroom scene was clear evidence that the military was ready to go ahead with its plans to protect the revolution. It also showed clearly that the military was part and parcel of the revolution, a partner whose partnership cannot be denied at this important juncture. Those who put the former president in the cage were the same generals who only recently confirmed that they had nothing to do with his regime, despite the fact that the road to innocence over the last five months has been full of risks, distrust and doubts. The scene of Mubarak's trial and its ramifications might be one of the most important junctures ever of the Egyptian revolution after his resignation speech of February 11. This TV courtroom scene has brought down the curtain on the first act of the Egyptian revolution, an act which started with protests followed by suppression and then with the president stepping down and finally with the trial of Mubarak, his sons and figures of his former regime in a court of law. But this very scene may increase the ferocity of the second act of the revolution, which socio-political experts call the “Counter-revolution Wave”. This second wave began with the “Camel Battle” when some former regime figures decided to attack the revolutionaries by sending fighters with swords on horses and camels to Tahrir Square. These figures were fighting to stay in power and they clearly understood that they had to either stay in power or go to jail. The only alternative to power was jail and they did not stand a chance of getting away with what they had accumulated over the past 30 years if they let power slip out of their hands. But the power did slip out of their hands. Today, former regime figures are either wanted by the court or international Interpol, and police are attempting to track them down. They might have still thought that they had some chance when they watched the courtroom drama on television, thinking that some might sympathize with the former president who was carried into court on a hospital bed. The new phase of counter-revolution might begin soon, because the Mubarak trial is an enormously important legal case and the people involved are important figures. The court, moreover, might arraign others and demand new information. The courtroom drama may bring positive results to Egypt. The army has become a real partner in the revolution and people perhaps feel more comfortable now that the case is in the hands of judges. All political and non-political parties should take advantage of these positive results and move on with eyes focused on the future. Those who took to the streets for the sake of the revolution should go home now and those who took to the streets, with the motto “We are sorry Mr. President”, to defend the former regime should leave the matter to the court and law to decide. The effect of the Mubarak trial on neighboring countries might be troubling for some and inspiring for others. Those regimes which have mobilized their tanks and heavy artillery to fight their own people might think that they have now reached the point of no return because they may also end up in court whether they decide to back down or whether they admit that they cannot continue holding on to power. This should be a source of inspiration for the countries whose people took to the streets for the sake of freedom. The scene of Hosni Mubarak and his sons inside a cage could mean that there may be a chance for these people to achieve the same results and avenge themselves on those who killed their sons and shed their blood. The trial of the former Egyptian president is not merely an internal Egyptian matter, nor is it only a regional affair. It is rather an important development for the entire human race. __
