Jordan disappoints
DEAR SIR — Pallo Jordan never fails to disappoint, billed as he is, as an African National Congress intellectual. It may be that “the old ones are the best”, but why repeat the tiresome: “The US and EU (European Union) support democracy, but only when it produces results they approve of” (Egypt needs dialogue, not the West’s indulgence, August 22).
Yes, and what’s wrong with that. First, democracy has to be defined as a system that produces a government under free and fair conditions which then operates under a constitution, freely negotiated by all the parties, which protects all the parties from oppressive or venal executive action.
Or does Mr Jordan think it means untrammelled rule by the president and his party — Stalin-style. So of course when an election produces Mohamed Mursi who suspends process to push through a constitution and immediately purges every institution to be run for his own agenda, the West is entitled to say we do not accept the result of what calls itself democracy.
The crisis in Egypt will not be solved by Mr Jordan’s simplistic weasel words and sentiments. The situation is too grave for that. The Muslim Brotherhood does not have democratic genes, as it proved in its short time in office. It is a fascist organisation that does not have “multiparty democracy” in its vocabulary and is a mortal danger to those, including Muslims, who will not accept a narrow backward theocracy.
Political Islam is not a partner in democracy but a force that recognises no opposition. Egypt is in a battle that it has to win, not only for itself, but for the region and for Africa.
Responsible governments should support the Egyptian army in that struggle and to secure stability. The army also needs support to return the country to democracy under a suitable constitution, with the participation of all like-minded parties.
“Perhaps the West should pull back and allow the AU (African Union) to find a solution,” Jordan asks. What is it waiting for? It doesn’t need the West’s permission to act.
Sydney Kaye
Cape Town