13) THE REVOLUTION IS ONGOING! ANTI-IMPERIALIST SOLIDARITY WITH THE EGYPTIAN PEOPLE MUST CONTINUE!
Statement by the Central Executive Committee, Communist Party of Canada, Sept. 4, 2013
Since the overthrow of the brutal regime of Hosni Mubarak in February 2011 ‑ the "first wave" of the Egyptian revolution ‑ the Egyptian people have not ceased their mobilizations for democracy, social progress and peace. Their demonstrations and strike actions blossomed into the Tamarod movement during the presidency of Mohamed Morsi, as it became increasingly apparent that he and the Muslim Brotherhood were authoritarian, sectarian and corrupt. Clearly, it is this people's movement that has forced Morsi from power and set the stage for new elections.
The Communist Party of Canada expresses its continued support for the progressive people's movement in Egypt, and calls on all democratic and progressive forces in Canada to extend and deepen anti‑imperialist solidarity with the Egyptian people.
During the past year, with over 30% unemployment and a poverty rate of 50%, with skyrocketing public debt, and with mass fury over Morsi's betrayal of the ideals of the first wave of the revolution, the Egyptian people organized a staggering 7400 protests and strikes. This ongoing and deepening organization of the mass of the Egyptian workers and people has been critically important for the purpose of maintaining and strengthening a progressive, democratic current within the pluralistic people's movement. While the military and Muslim Brotherhood emerged in positions of power early on, the people have continued to be a force for social change and progress. Within this struggle, the people's movement continues to project a popular, democratic alternative for Egypt's development.
There has been much confusion over the characterization of Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood as democrats. The sources of this confusion are varied ‑ pro‑Brotherhood organizations, pro‑imperialist "liberals", and sectarian leftists ‑ but they all have the same dangerous potential to neutralize active anti‑imperialist solidarity with the Egyptian people and their revolution. It is true that Morsi and the Brotherhood were elected, but it is far more significant that they quickly and decisively turned their backs to democracy ‑ by imposing a constitution with their own, narrow, interpretation of Sharia law; by avoiding the people's "first wave" demands for economic, social and cultural rights, political freedom and secularism; by encouraging foreign intervention to overthrow the Syrian government; by continuing neoliberal privatization and austerity policies; and by leading murderous, sectarian attacks against minorities in Egypt.
What is truly democratic is the massive and broadly‑based movement to oust Morsi. Over 22 million people ‑ one quarter of the country's population ‑ signed petitions indicating non‑confidence in Morsi and calling for early elections. The anti‑Morsi demonstrations on June 30, 2013 involved 27 million people ‑ one out of three Egyptians ‑ on a single day. These demonstrations and mobilizations, reflecting secularism and unity, are the real expressions of the Egyptian people's revolution.
The uprising against Morsi in 2013, led by the Tamarod movement and the National Salvation Front, was stronger and deeper than that against Mubarak in 2011 and, as had occurred two years prior, the military was moved to intervene ahead of the people's movement. The military leadership's concern is similar to that of imperialist states and organizations ‑ that the revolutionary movement was maturing and growing, and was becoming capable of achieving political and social change on a truly democratic and anti‑imperialist basis.
The Egyptian people have now begun the "second wave" of their revolution. While the struggle against sectarianism and religious fundamentalism is not over, the people have overwhelmingly turned their backs to the authoritarianism and reaction of Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood. Many contradictions remain ‑ the military has assumed power and control, and the people's revolution will need to confront that powerful apparatus and replace it with democratic, progressive institutions of governance.
One of the great dangers is that imperialism will use the current situation, of confusion and violent conflict, as a pretext to once again interfere in Egypt's internal affairs. On July 5, less than a week after Morsi had been ousted, the Wall Street Journal opined that Egypt needs fascism, declaring, "Egyptians would be lucky if their new ruling generals turn out to be in the mold of Chile's Augusto Pinochet, who took over power amid chaos but hired free‑market reformers and midwifed a transition to democracy." This kind of "advice" needs to be roundly condemned. There must be no imperialist or foreign interference in Egypt, under any pretext. It is the sole right of the Egyptian people to determine the path of their social, economic and political development.
The Communist Party of Canada expresses its unqualified solidarity with the Egyptian people and with the progressive movements of Egypt. In particular, the CPC declares its support for the Communist Party of Egypt, whose militants are continuing to organize among working people and projecting a democratic, secular and anti‑imperialist alternative for Egypt.
The Communist Party of Canada is confident that the ongoing, unfinished Egyptian revolution will achieve a transformative victory. We call on all of our members and supporters, and all democratic‑minded and anti‑imperialist Canadians to support the Egyptian people and the revolutionary process unfolding in Egypt today.
(The above article is from the September 16-30, 2013, issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading communist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $30/year, or $15 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $45 US per year; other overseas readers - $45 US or $50 CDN per year. Send to People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver, BC, V5L 3J1.)