By Salama A Salama Thanks to a revolution by young people, a revolution that took everyone by surprise, Egypt is now a clear candidate for democracy. It is no longer a question of whether Hosni Mubarak stays in office or not, but of whether we slip back into despotism or have a real future. For a while, the regime tried to hang on to power by playing dirty, but it was too late. No one knows the source of the wealth the ruling family has stolen and stashed abroad. And had it not been for the steadfastness of the young people and their resistance and determination, the regime would have regrouped. Ahmed Ezz, Gamal Mubarak and Safwat El-Sherif would have still been in power.The scene of horses and camels storming Tahrir Square last Wednesday to intimidate the protesters, riders brandishing sticks and swords at the demonstrators, was a damning one. These were the spasmodic reactions of a regime that was fighting for its life.The attack on Tahrir Square, planned by leading figures in the National Democratic Party and rogue businessmen, came in two stages. First, the demonstrators were attacked, then every Arab and foreign journalist in sight was roughed up. Dozens of journalists were already in the country to cover this amazing course of events when the regime struck back, hoping to impose a media blackout at any cost. The official media and the key figures in the regime, after years of bragging about their achievements and their connections in Europe and America, could not bear to see the truth coming out. They could not bear to see the international media relaying in real time the details of the brutal deeds committed by the security forces prior to their sudden disappearance from the streets. Foreign reporters and journalists were intimidated and had their cameras smashed in an attempt to force them to leave the country.The bands of thugs and the remnants of the security forces who went on the offensive in Tahrir Square last week must have been given clear instructions as to what to do. They were given money, and they were sent to attack the demonstrators in Tahrir Square. They were told to chant pro-Mubarak slogans. The orders they were given must have come from officials in the regime, independent of the declared policy of the new government led by Ahmed Shafik and despite the promises made by Vice President Omar Suleiman. Egypt is going through a period of flux. And it is alarming to see the country's decision- making centres making multiple decisions in such an extraordinary manner. Meanwhile, the army remains neutral, or semi- neutral, positioning itself in the hope that the demonstrators will just go home.Now certain individuals are being told not to travel and their assets are being frozen. Among these are former ministers who corrupted the country's political and economic life. And the entire political bureau of the ruling party has been sacked, to be replaced by unfamiliar names, with the exception of Hossam Badrawi, a well-known moderate who cannot be associated with the despotic tendencies of the National Democratic Party.Such measures fall short of meeting the demands of the demonstrators, for they are mainly intended to improve the image of the regime and the party. The popular revolt has now reached a watershed. Now the young people must define their goals clearly and set a timetable for their demands to be met. They must name representatives to speak in their name. These things must be done soon, before divisions appear in their ranks. Neither the opposition parties, nor the country's other political forces, can speak on behalf of the young people who staged this revolution. They have started a revolution, and it is they who must see it through.
