Egypt's military rulers have re-imposed the country's emergency law since anti-Israeli protesters stormed the embassy of the Tel Aviv regime in Cairo earlier this month.
Egypt's political parties continue organizing nationwide protests, calling for the abolishment of the country's decades-old emergency law.
The following is the transcript of Press TV's interview with Khaled Elshami, the political editor of Al-Quds online on the matter.
Press TV: What exactly does this mean? We are talking about laws that Egyptian people thought should have been buried with former dictator Hosni Mubarak, but now they are going to go on until June next year and the scope of them is being extended.
Elshami: Yes, that is true. People expected all that to be ended before the elections as promised by the military council. It is a setback, but does not mean that we are going back to the days of Mubarak. Egypt has changed and will never go back to the days of Mubarak.
Emergency law simply means that the police have the right to imprison any individual for virtually no reason for any period of time without even putting them on trial.
Press TV: These laws date back to 1981 and the assassination of former president Anwar Sadat. How have they been used over the years and have we seen a decrease in their use since February this year when Mubarak was deposed or indeed an increase? Because I read that over 12,000 civilians have come before military court since he was deposed.
Elshami: The emergency law has been used by Mubarak to prolong his role and his stay in power. It was never used to serve the security of the people in Egypt. Since the revolution, security has been deteriorating and the government has been unable to implement normal laws, leave alone the emergency law. This is like posing the question whether it is durable to enforce new emergency law, which is like the full version of the law, if the government is still unable to enforce the regular laws.
Press TV: I was wondering whether or not in the absence of the rule of law, in the absence of ordinary everyday political representation, Egypt should look to postpone the elections that are forthcoming, because some people say we do need the state of emergency; we cannot have a democratic election during the period of the state of emergency. So, something has to give.
Elshami: I agree that we cannot really have fair and free elections under the emergency law. We have tried this under Mubarak for 30 years. The Military Council has promised to abolish the emergency law before the elections.
Press TV: But the elections are supposed to be held before the end of the year.
Elshami: This is the promise we had from the Military Council. Up to this minute, we have not heard the declaration was the timetable of the elections. Everybody in Egypt is now waiting for this and if it does not happen it is going to be a big problem and we will have massive demonstrations asking for the elections so that the Military Council keep its promise.
As far as security [is concerned], I think in the days of Mubarak the emergency law failed to oppress the opposition. Now we fear that the real motive behind imposing this full version of the emergency law is not a direct response to the attack on the Israeli embassy or even to the attacks on the Interior Ministry which happened on the same night.
People fear that the real motive is to oppress the political opposition to the ruling Military Council and fear that the government wanted more tools to be able to oppress these sit-ins and demonstrations every Friday people go on strikes, but it has been tried in the days of Mubarak and it has failed.
Press TV: You have been to Egypt in a couple of occasions since the fall of Mubarak in February. What have you seen and does the situation worry you?
Elshami: It does not worry me. I should say that Egypt does have institutions. We have a political heritage. We have a long history of political establishments and the practice. Egypt had its first parliament in 1866. So, we do have this. We have the history; we have the experience. But circumstances are very difficult at the moment as it is in any transitional period.
Press TV: What did you see in Cairo for example?
Elshami: I spent time in Tahrir Square as well and there was no police force or army. This was purposely designed to avoid any frictions or any confrontation between the demonstrators and the police especially after over 800 people were killed during the demonstrations. They decided to stay out and I think this is the right decision for now, but definitely the police has to start coming back to fulfill its duties and maintain security.
I think generally people are happy that the revolution has succeeded, because this is a major change in Egypt. But [they are] also a bit disappointed that they have not got everything that they hoped for, particularly on the economic side. People are still suffering and the government seems to have failed in addressing their demand.
There is a government but the question is how much power it has, because it seems that it is the Military Council who calls the shots and other have to obey it.
Press TV: Let us look at the relationship between the Military Council and the people. Because when you have lived under the yoke of dictatorship for over 30 years, you get used to it and you get used to not questioning. Then you look at the other countries and say they have their freedoms, what about us? Then you go through this revolution and you think everything is going to change, but it does not and many of the same people are still in place. So, what is the relationship between the people who now call the shots in Egypt and the ordinary people who bled? We talk about 800 victims. What did they die for?
Elshami: You have mixed kind of opinions there. The military establishment in Egypt historically has enjoyed huge respect from the people in Egypt for its patriotic history not only in defending Egypt but the whole Arab and Muslim world. So, we really differentiate between two things. One is the army, which is hugely respected and the other thing is the Military Council who is now acting like a president.
Press TV: What kind of people own the Military Council?
Elshami: There are 19 people in the council. They are the heads of different branches of the armed forces. So, people respect the army, but many would disagree politically with the Military Council that is acting politically now as a president. So, there is a difference ...
We have a statement by a military source, saying we have to stay until June; we are going to cancel it as we promised as soon as we can, because they do realize that this is very unpopular in Egypt. So, the question is not whether we should have election or not, it is about what kind of election we should have. Do we have enough guarantees for a free and fair election?
This is something that needs to be worked on. I think there are some decisions that make us worried. For example, the Military Council has refused any foreign observers to involved in the voting process and this makes us wonder why.
Press TV: Are Egyptians free today?
Elshami: Of course Egypt is free after Mubarak and the people will never be the same like before. It is not only about Egypt. I think the whole Arab world will never be the same again.
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