Victory for Egyptians

Time to ensure smooth transition to democracy

The Egyptians are now rewriting the history of not only their own country but also the Middle East. They deserve praise for revolting against the corrupt and incompetent dictatorship and ousting President Hosni Mubarak from power.

They have won victory over an authoritarian ruler and the old order. The popular revolution is a triumph of democracy, humanity and other universal values. It is the manifestation of the Egyptians’ long-cherished aspiration for justice and prosperity.

Now, they have succeeded in toppling the nearly 30 years of the iron-fisted Mubarak rule. The civil uprising followed the so-called Jasmine Revolution that led to the downfall of Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali last month. The enthusiasm for democracy is spreading throughout the Arab world.

There are growing expectations that the democratic revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt will bring significant changes across the region. They remind South Koreans of their pro-democracy movement in June 1987 that opened the way for ending more than three decades of military rule. The lesson is that no dictator can go against the will of the people for such a long time.

On Saturday, the South Korean government and political parties hailed the resignation of Mubarak as a win for the Egyptian people toward democracy. South Korea can share its valuable experience with other developing nations. It achieved democracy and economic development at the same time.

The first thing for the Egyptians to do is to ensure a smooth transition to democracy. It is also important to restore stability and peace. Now, the military is the official ruler as Mubarak handed it power before leaving. It should keep its promise to make a peaceful transition to permit an elected civil authority to be in charge of Egypt and to build a democratic free nation.

What’s at stake is who will rule a new Egypt. The future of the country may be shaped by three powers: the military, the protesters and Mubarak’s followers who remain in place. There might be a reactionary move against the revolution. Islamic fundamentalists or extremists are likely to jockey for power. The main opposition Muslim Brotherhood, albeit outlawed, could emerge as a dominant force in the transition process. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mohamed ElBaradei is another option.

All the players are required to work together to set up a new power structure and let Egyptians elect their own leader in a democratic way. Then the new ruler and the people must do their best to create a functioning democracy. They should not neglect their efforts to revive the Egyptian economy to build up the middle class, the backbone of democracy.

Last but not least, Egypt needs to do more to promote peace in the Middle East. It should work closely with its neighbors to reaffirm its commitments to a 1979 peace accord with Israel. The Unites States has to play a more positive role in guaranteeing peace in the region. Uncle Sam should no longer attempt to back Arab dictators such as Mubarak to keep the status quo there.

The departure of Mubarak is not the end of the revolution. It is only the beginning of a test of the Egyptians’ capability of establishing a democracy. We hope they prove to the world that democracy will thrive in the cradle of the ancient civilization.