More than 10-years of driving on the Greater Cairo Ring Road should give one good experience of driving safely without causing accidents on the road. The ring road is no place for amateurs to risk driving on it. On this challenging road, different means of transport have no consideration for traffic laws, nor is there a real presence of traffic police or even radar to detect speed violators. On this road, one is forced to deal with different kinds of drivers starting from owners of fashionable cars that encourage them to accelerate to more than 120km/hr, to the microbus drivers who move between lanes without giving any warning signals to other traffic beside or behind them. The biggest cause of chaos, however, is drivers of heavy lorries, who require wisdom and firm commitment to traffic rules, but insist on driving their vehicles in the same way as some teenagers ride their bicycles. The difference is that the cyclist would be committed to the right lane to prevent being smashed into by speeding cars, while the lorry drivers insist on taking the left lane allocated to the private cars wishing to go up to their maximum permitted speed on this road. This introduction is designed to elaborate the kinds of skill one could acquire in driving aside these different types of vehicles and people. However, such skills acquired on the ring road did not save me from bumping into another car, while I was driving on the October 6th Bridge at a speed of no more than 20km/hr. It wasn't a question of momentarily nodding off, as one might do after driving long way early in the morning. Instead, it was a moment of distracted attention. And who would not do likewise while seeing such shocking scene as I was subjected to one day last week on my way to work? A senior police officer was angrily beating the orderly assigned to drive him as his driver. The poor police orderly showed no reaction at all and continued driving the police car while the officer was punching him in his shoulder and chest and shouting in his face with insults. The scene reflected the known image of arrogant police officers accustomed to humiliating their orderlies, non-commissioned officers, suspects and even ordinary citizens, alike. However, it was enough to distract me from the surroundings and use the brake instead of the accelerator. The resultant minor accident caused not much damage to either car. However, it continued to be on my mind throughout the week as it raised the question of the futility of the many plans being suggested for reconstructing the Ministry of the Interior to prevent its malfunction as demonstrated during and before the January 25 revolution. Is it enough to pension off all senior officers who worked as assistants to the former Minister of the Interior Habib el-Adli, who is being tried for corruption and the murder of peaceful demonstrators ,to bring order to the security agency? Is it enough to issue laws legalising and ensuring freedom of expression, demonstration and strikes as long as being conducted in peaceful way? Is it enough to enforce the security agency issue code of ethics for its members to follow in their mission of ensuring social security? If all this would protect the citizens against the brutality of the police, what could protect simple police orderlies from the tyranny and brutality of senior officers who enslave them and treat them in such a shameful humiliating way? Could one expect this young policeman subjected to abuse and humiliation by his senior officer to treat the citizens and even suspects in a civilised way, on the known basis of considering the suspect innocent until proved guilty? The security agency should reconsider its strategy and adhere to morality and justice while dealing with its junior members and citizens alike, if it really seeks a genuine approach to restoring public trust in it as a reputable agency ensuring state and societal security. Otherwise, we would soon wake up to a similar revolt as perpetrated by the Central Security Forces in 1986, especially with the appearance of its signs last week in the Central Security Forces Camp on Ismailia Desert Road close to Al-Obour wholesale market. On a rumour emerging of the death of one conscript at the hands of an officer in the camp, thousands of conscripts and non-commissioned officers massed at the camp and destroyed its gate and some of the utilities of the commander. Some of them even broke out into the highway with their weapons, threatening to use them against the civilians, if the agency did not put an end to the police officers' cruelty against them. It is true that the anger cooled down a bit when they discovered that their colleague was still alive and had just lost consciousness, because of the cruel beating he was subjected to by an officer. However, the embers of fire still lie beneath the ashes and could ignite at any time with the endless maltreatment of police conscripts by their officers. It is true that most of the police conscripts do not possess the requisite skills for their mission yet they cannot be found guilty of their lack of a good education and training for such challenging work. Any plan for reconstructing the Security Agency will remain fruitless as long as it does not touch upon the miserable condition of the police orderlies and conscripts, most of whom are fully ignorant of what laws are they supposes to enforce. Further, they continue to be treated as a mere thick stick in hands of the officers to beat and discipline the people! There is an apparent need for adopting a double-track programme to enable these conscripts to acquire some skills to deal with their mission in accordance with principles of the revolution, together with a programme offering psychological rehabilitation to the officers to behave with some respect for their orderlies and the conscripts they command. Showing some respect and concern for others will not detract from the firmness police officers should assume in carrying out their mission of ensuring security, while, on the other hand, humiliating citizens and conscripts can trigger violence and rebellion at any time.
