EDITORIAL - Revolution

In Cairo’s Tahrir Square, the scenes were reminiscent of EDSA on the night of Feb. 25, 1986. People cheered, wept, hugged each other and waved flags, celebrating freedom from a repressive regime and the success of a revolution that not too long ago was unthinkable in Hosni Mubarak’s Egypt.

Less than three weeks ago, inspired by the ouster of the long entrenched authoritarian ruler of Tunisia, Egyptians used Facebook and other networking sites to call on their compatriots to take to the streets. With long-simmering resentment against the regime, it didn’t take long for crowds to gather in several cities, demanding the departure of Egypt’s president of three decades. Like most despots, Mubarak’s immediate reaction was to deploy his troops to quell the unrest. Aware of how the continually growing crowds were mustered, his regime also clamped down on Internet access and the press, rounding up journalists including foreign media.

It soon became clear that Egyptians were no longer taking any more repression from his regime. Mubarak, who at past 80 years old had sought to install his son Gamel as his successor, tried to hold on to power. He promised free elections in September where he would no longer run, and relinquished much of his power to a vice president. But it was too little, too late for the oppressed. Tired, hungry, some of them kidnapped and murdered, the protesters refused to leave or change their demand.

Eighteen days later, one of the most durable leaders in the Middle East gave in and stepped down. The military stepped in, creating early uncertainty over the stability of the nation and the region. Mubarak was a staunch ally of Washington; he was unique among Arab leaders in his willingness to make peace with the Israelis. His departure is not a reassuring development for Tel Aviv.

Revolutions in the Arab world are no guarantee that civil liberties will finally reign. A revolution against the autocratic rule of Iran’s Mohammed Reza Pahlavi gave Iranians the mullahs and its current leader, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. But similar movements are now underway in Yemen and Algeria, raising hopes that the days of despots in that region are truly numbered.

Rebuilding from the ashes of dictatorship is not easy, as Filipinos have learned after the 1986 people power revolt. For now, Egyptians can relish the euphoria of a successful revolution. The free world shares in their celebration.