Mohamed El-Baradei
Former IAEA director, Nobel Prize laureate and leader of movement for political reform in Egypt Mohamed El-Baradei are accused in local media for plot against President Mubarak’s regime. Since he left IAEA director position Mr. El-Baradei is leading movement for political reform in Egypt promoting his idea of restoration of democracy in Egypt. In April Mr. El-Baradei visited US where he was speaking with Egyptian Americans in Harward University, he also use this chance to speak for American media about current situation in Egypt and to promote his ideas for better future in democracy.
Mohamed Abul-Ghar, Cairo University professor and El-Baradei’s aid, in his statement to Al-Ahram Weekly says that El-Baradei explained to Egyptian Americans seven objectives set by his National Assosiation for Change whom are important for better future. “These include amending the constitution, eliminating state of emergency, abolishing military tribunals, releasing political prisoners, ensuring the separation of powers, improving Egypt’s record on human rights and issuing a unified law for regulating places of worship”, Abul-Ghar told to Al-Ahram Weekly. The most controversial comment given by El-Baradei is connected to the Muslim Brotherhood were his said that “the Brothers” should be allowed to participate in political life as long as they abide by democracy and rules of democracy. NDP members described Mr. El-Baradei as revolution man who attacks those one who take a role in Revolution in 1952 when is established current regime and dissolved early established democracy. According to his own argues he is against reserved quota of seats in parliament devoted to workers and farmers who helped regime to get power in July of 1952.
“The US administration has no excuse for condemning the record of human rights violations in the world keeping a blind eye on what happens in Egypt”, Mr. El-Baradei said to Egyptian Americans in Harward University. Mr. El-Baradei was guest on CNN’s programme “The Power of Interview” hosted by Christian Amanpour where he delivered many answers about his possible candidacy for Egyptian presidency, incumbent President Mubarak and current state of Egypt. “It is not my primary goal to run for presidency, but it is to see my country, Egypt, a country where I grew up, making a genuine shift towards democracy”, said Mr. El-Baradei to CNN. In case of President Mubarak, Mr. El-Baradei, said: “We have a president who has been in power for 30 years and we have a martial law for almost 30 years and this speaks volumes for the lack of democracy in Egypt. It is only handful of people who have the right to run for presidency and so democracy is no longer part of Egyptian lifestyle for over 50 years.”
NDP’s secretary Ahmed Ezz said to CNN in same programme that Mr. El-Baradei is welcomed in political life of Egypt but that he must to be candidate for one of 24 currently registered parties as it is stated in countries constitution. He also added that Mr. El-Baradei hesitates to do that and he by himself chooses to run his presidential campaign as independent candidate. In his parliamentary speech Mr. Ezz, according to Al-Ahram’s report, strongly “attacked those who want to implement a style of American democracy based on staging street demonstrations and flirting with religious movements.” This in particular means that current Egyptian government is strongly against any changes towards democracy based on their enormous power and privileges devoted to them by Mubarak constitution. Statements given by Mubarak’s followers are nothing else but rhetoric of dictatorship regime blind followers who are afraid of change and possible transfer of power from their hands on people.
If Mr. El-Baradei continues with his campaign for changes in Egypt with this tone and clear attacks on Mubarak’s regime his Egyptian future probably would be in question. His only hope can be strong movement which will include all part of society secured and encouraged by strong movement organization and leadership around Mr. El-Baradei. Big part in his success in fight for better Egypt probably will play American and international public and pressure on Mubarak’s regime to improve human rights in this African country. He was successful director of IAEA, we will see if he would be successful in his fight for his own country.
