Violence Not an Answer for Egyptian Grievances, U.S. Says

By Stephen Kaufman
Staff Writer

Washington - The Obama administration appealed to the Egyptian government to restrain its security personnel and for anti-government protesters to express themselves peacefully as it continues to monitor the country through its fourth consecutive day of political unrest.

"These protests underscore that there are deep grievances within Egyptian society, and the Egyptian government needs to understand that violence will not make these grievances go away," Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said January 28.

The United States is "deeply concerned" that Egyptian police and security services have used violence against the protesters, who have the universal rights of free expression, association and assembly, Clinton said.

"We call on the Egyptian government to do everything in its power to restrain the security forces. At the same time, protesters should also refrain from violence and express themselves peacefully," she said.

According to press reports, Egyptian security forces have fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse thousands of protesters. In addition, the government reportedly shut down Internet, mobile and satellite communications ahead of the massive protests across the country that followed Friday prayers.

"We urge the Egyptian authorities to allow peaceful protests and to reverse the unprecedented steps it has taken to cut off communications," Clinton said.

The secretary said Egypt has been an important U.S. partner "on a range of regional issues," and that "as a partner, we strongly believe that the Egyptian Government needs to engage immediately with the Egyptian people in implementing needed economic, political and social reforms."

What will ultimately happen in the country "is up to Egyptians," Clinton said.

"But it is important for us to be very clear that as a partner of Egypt, we are urging that there be a restraint on the part of the security forces, that there not be a rush to impose very strict measures that would be violent, and that there be a dialogue between the government and the people of Egypt," she said.

Clinton said the United States is focused on how it can support a better future that responds to Egyptian aspirations. She said the Egyptian government "has a real opportunity in the face of this very clear demonstration of opposition to begin a process that will truly respond to the aspirations of the people of Egypt."

"We think that moment needs to be seized," she said.

In a speech to Arab government, civil society and business leaders at the Forum for the Future ( http://www.america.gov/st/democracyhr-english/2011/January/20110113130159nehpets0.8887751.html ) January 13 in Qatar, Clinton highlighted the growing majority of young people in the Middle East who are facing diminished economic opportunities.

Through vision, strategy and commitment, "you can help build a future that your young people will believe in, stay for and defend," she said. "It is time to see civil society not as a threat, but as a partner. And it is time for the elites in every society to invest in the futures of their own countries."
In remarks in a YouTube interview ( http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/2011/01/27/your-interview-president-2011 ) January 27, President Obama described Egypt as "an ally of ours on a lot of critical issues," but said he has always told President Hosni Mubarak that it is "absolutely critical" for the Egyptian government to move forward on political and economic reform.

He also said it is "very important that people have mechanisms in order to express legitimate grievances."

"My main hope right now is that violence is not the answer in solving these problems in Egypt. So the government has to be careful about not resorting to violence, and the people on the streets have to be careful about not resorting to violence," Obama said.

ENDS

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