The following Al Jazeera clip gives a good summary of last night's events...
The "National Dialogue" on Saturday afternoon was a time set by President Morsi in his speech Thursday night for leaders of all parties to communicate their thoughts and desires with him. The participants included representatives of a few parties--by some reports, they were all Islamist parties including the Muslim Brotherhood. President Morsi attended for the first 30 minutes, and then in an effort to appear neutral, withdrew from the meeting.
As the video clip above describes, this dialogue group recommended the withdrawal of the controversial powers afforded to the President through his Constitutional Declaration that gave Morsi unprecedented powers at the end of November; however, the dialogue group reaffirmed the equally controversial provision that calls for a retrial of Mubarak-regime figures accused of deaths during the January 25 revolution and other crimes (these had already faced their hearing and sentencing).
And, these parties encouraged Morsi to keep the date of the referendum on the proposed Constitution.
This is the heart of the matter from the minds of the opposition, not just its leaders, but also the tens of thousands that have been gathering at Tahrir, the Presidential Palace, and at city centers throughout the country. Why?
#1 - the now withdrawn Constitutional Declaration by the President kept the courts from making a decision on the embattled Constituent Assembly that created the document, and then allowed them to "railroad" through what the opposition believes to be an inherently flawed Constitution. Merely withdrawing the Declaration that led to this point of larger outrage is not enough--the damage, they say, from the President's powers has been done, even if it prevents further damage. This is why the opposition leaders would not agree to participate in a "national dialogue" without President Morsi first withdrawing his new powers AND secondly, at least delaying the referendum, if not withdrawing the Constitution proposal altogether.
#2 - the Constitution proposal (large, contradictory, and full of vague language), in the minds of many of the opposition, provide the way for an Islamic state. The following CNN clip I posted yesterday references this point about 1/2 way interview (5:25); also this article makes similar points "Why the Salafis..." (also referenced previously on the blog) as well and makes similar points. Though the opposition knows that it has a lot of favor and the strength of numbers at this time, the Islamic vote is much stronger organized and directed, and a vote could be so narrow a margin that it could go either way. Islamist parties may be thinking they have the numbers to get this through now, and so don't delay and give the opposition any more time to organize or gain any more "fuel for their fire'.
So tensions remain, and violence is threatened.
Yet, despite the following speech clip from President Morsi stating that he will not stand for violence...
...former presidential candidate Abu Ismail (a leading Islamist candidate before he was disqualified) called for his followers to help him break up the demonstration if any protestors remain at the Presidential Palace past sometime today, Sunday, December 9.
Will President Morsi or someone in the government confront Abu Ismail before he follows through? Or will this public threat remain uncontested until it is too late?
Less than a week from now, the referendum appears to be scheduled to take place. We will wait and see what happens...
The "National Dialogue" on Saturday afternoon was a time set by President Morsi in his speech Thursday night for leaders of all parties to communicate their thoughts and desires with him. The participants included representatives of a few parties--by some reports, they were all Islamist parties including the Muslim Brotherhood. President Morsi attended for the first 30 minutes, and then in an effort to appear neutral, withdrew from the meeting.
As the video clip above describes, this dialogue group recommended the withdrawal of the controversial powers afforded to the President through his Constitutional Declaration that gave Morsi unprecedented powers at the end of November; however, the dialogue group reaffirmed the equally controversial provision that calls for a retrial of Mubarak-regime figures accused of deaths during the January 25 revolution and other crimes (these had already faced their hearing and sentencing).
And, these parties encouraged Morsi to keep the date of the referendum on the proposed Constitution.
This is the heart of the matter from the minds of the opposition, not just its leaders, but also the tens of thousands that have been gathering at Tahrir, the Presidential Palace, and at city centers throughout the country. Why?
#1 - the now withdrawn Constitutional Declaration by the President kept the courts from making a decision on the embattled Constituent Assembly that created the document, and then allowed them to "railroad" through what the opposition believes to be an inherently flawed Constitution. Merely withdrawing the Declaration that led to this point of larger outrage is not enough--the damage, they say, from the President's powers has been done, even if it prevents further damage. This is why the opposition leaders would not agree to participate in a "national dialogue" without President Morsi first withdrawing his new powers AND secondly, at least delaying the referendum, if not withdrawing the Constitution proposal altogether.
#2 - the Constitution proposal (large, contradictory, and full of vague language), in the minds of many of the opposition, provide the way for an Islamic state. The following CNN clip I posted yesterday references this point about 1/2 way interview (5:25); also this article makes similar points "Why the Salafis..." (also referenced previously on the blog) as well and makes similar points. Though the opposition knows that it has a lot of favor and the strength of numbers at this time, the Islamic vote is much stronger organized and directed, and a vote could be so narrow a margin that it could go either way. Islamist parties may be thinking they have the numbers to get this through now, and so don't delay and give the opposition any more time to organize or gain any more "fuel for their fire'.
So tensions remain, and violence is threatened.
Yet, despite the following speech clip from President Morsi stating that he will not stand for violence...
...former presidential candidate Abu Ismail (a leading Islamist candidate before he was disqualified) called for his followers to help him break up the demonstration if any protestors remain at the Presidential Palace past sometime today, Sunday, December 9.
Will President Morsi or someone in the government confront Abu Ismail before he follows through? Or will this public threat remain uncontested until it is too late?
Less than a week from now, the referendum appears to be scheduled to take place. We will wait and see what happens...
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