ID :
160563
Sun, 02/13/2011 - 08:44
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/160563
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UK journalist confident Egyptians will attain free elections
London, Feb 13, IRNA – British journalist Yvonne Ridley has returned from joining the mass protests in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, confident that the Egyptian people will gain democracy.
“I am certain that while the road ahead may provide a few bumps, they will attain their goal of holding free and fair elections soon,” Ridley said.
She told IRNA that she had met some of the committee who have steered this “magnificent revolution” on Tuesday and added that they were “bright, intelligent and thoughtful people who should not be underestimated.”
“They already have felt the burden of responsibility and have seen the blood of martyrs flow in this revolution.”
Ridley said that the army had played a “very clever game” by stepping in to replace former president Hosni Mubarak after he was finally ousted from power on Friday.
“I am hopeful this will be temporary and the committee will step up to the plate to start the process of creating parties and political leaders of the future,” she said.
The next government is expected to be much more independent and concern has been raised in the west on how this would affect relations with the rest of the world, especially the US and its peace treaty with Israel.
“This revolution is not about America or Israel - never was and never will be and the sooner these two realise this, the better,” Ridley said, advising them to “take a back seat and stop trying to pre-judge and react to situations real or imagined.”
“There's some very idealistic young men and women with integrity who are running the revolution. They will do what the Egyptians want them to do and that is put the people first,” she said.
The journalist told IRNA that US interests and the rest of the West are “not a priority and nor should they be.”
“We, in the West, might not like what government comes next but as long as it reflects the choice of the people we must respect their choices and the path they choose to take,” she said.
Her belief was while there was still an “uphill struggle ahead” what the west had learned is that “might is no longer right.”
“I salute the integrity, courage and wisdom shown by the revolutionaries across Egypt - other dictators should take heed and start packing their bags now. A tsunami of change is going to sweep across the Arab world,” Ridley said./end
“I am certain that while the road ahead may provide a few bumps, they will attain their goal of holding free and fair elections soon,” Ridley said.
She told IRNA that she had met some of the committee who have steered this “magnificent revolution” on Tuesday and added that they were “bright, intelligent and thoughtful people who should not be underestimated.”
“They already have felt the burden of responsibility and have seen the blood of martyrs flow in this revolution.”
Ridley said that the army had played a “very clever game” by stepping in to replace former president Hosni Mubarak after he was finally ousted from power on Friday.
“I am hopeful this will be temporary and the committee will step up to the plate to start the process of creating parties and political leaders of the future,” she said.
The next government is expected to be much more independent and concern has been raised in the west on how this would affect relations with the rest of the world, especially the US and its peace treaty with Israel.
“This revolution is not about America or Israel - never was and never will be and the sooner these two realise this, the better,” Ridley said, advising them to “take a back seat and stop trying to pre-judge and react to situations real or imagined.”
“There's some very idealistic young men and women with integrity who are running the revolution. They will do what the Egyptians want them to do and that is put the people first,” she said.
The journalist told IRNA that US interests and the rest of the West are “not a priority and nor should they be.”
“We, in the West, might not like what government comes next but as long as it reflects the choice of the people we must respect their choices and the path they choose to take,” she said.
Her belief was while there was still an “uphill struggle ahead” what the west had learned is that “might is no longer right.”
“I salute the integrity, courage and wisdom shown by the revolutionaries across Egypt - other dictators should take heed and start packing their bags now. A tsunami of change is going to sweep across the Arab world,” Ridley said./end
