Address by President Mohammad Hosni Mubarak on the
Celebration Marking the Police Day
Brothers and Sons of Police,
Officers and Personnel,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
On this day every year, our faithful people celebrate one of the national days
cherished by every citizen of this peaceful country. These are outstanding landmarks on
the road and renewable evidence of this time-honoured people’s power of achievement,
sacrifice and self-denial as well as their ability to courageously protect the supreme
interests of the motherland, foremost of which are the defense of citizens’ security
and
safety, the protection of lives and property and safeguarding rights and duties.
Over years, the police have embodied the well-established values of the Egyptian people
as they shouldered their responsibility, no matter how grave, with full integrity and
honesty, insisting on performing their duty under tough circumstances. They were fully
aware of the priority of fulfilling the homeland’s rights, securing its essential
interests
and safeguarding the dignity of law-abiding citizens who sacrifice their blood for the
sake
of the motherland, do not hesitate a moment to sacrifice all they have for their country
and its people’s happiness.
In performing their duty with full and sustained dedication, policemen were motivated by
a sublime faith in Allah and loyalty to the motherland and strict commitment to duty and
responsibility. This has allowed them to undertake their mission properly and maintain a
clear vision of their national responsibility at various stages of national action.
Naturally, policemen would stand in the same trench, along with the brave armed forces,
in protecting the integrity, national peace and sovereignty of the homeland, facing all
threats or aggression with sure steps, and hopeful and fearless spirit; for God Almighty
has promised victory for His faithful creatures as long as they have good intentions,
healthy feelings and straightforward vision.
The Police have supported the Armed Forces in the battles of liberation against any
aggression. Moreover, the police have also backed the people’s uprising to get rid of
the
foreign occupation and hegemony. Many dutiful martyrs have lost their lives in the
battlefield, thus setting magnificient examples of national awareness and putting the
rights of the homeland above all considerations because Egypt is the ultimate goal and
hope; the cradle of civilization, of which Allah has made special mention in His Holy
Book.
With their national sense and deep loyalty to the nation, the police have been aware of
the basic requirements of struggle at all stages; the necessity of commitment to these
requirements and priorities, creating a suitable atmosphere for securing national
progress against all dangers; as well as allowing the people and their leadership to
realize efficiently and effectively the national goals at all stages. As a result,
successive
stages of construction and development proceeded unobstructed and progress was
sustained in the face of the most fierce challenges.
Commitment to the sovereignty of law is one of the deep-rooted Egyptian values to which
the police have abided and will be abiding by at present and in future, since law is the
decisive and overriding criterion in determining rights and duties, differentiating
between
what is allowed and forbidden, as well as right and wrong.
Thus, justice according to us, is the base of rule and the overriding commitment for all
official institutions, popular organizations and citizens on equal footing, regardless of
their varrying political and religious affiliations, since all are equal before the law,
without distinction between the ruler and ruled, high and low in scale.
This vision has governed and will continue to govern political movement in Egypt and
guides reform progress at all stages towards deepening democracy in theory and
practice, entrenching it into the minds of all citizens as well as in individual and group
behaviour and the day-to-day practice of all parties and public action organizations. This
will also ensure maximum active participation in the political life by all categories of
the
people especially those young men who are concerned with the homeland’s future,
together with its aspirations and dreams.
Related to this is the society’s commitment to create an atmosphere of integrity for
elections, being one of the most significant forms of democratic practice and political
reform. This is the responsibility of those who have got a role to play in nomination and
election. Here, a high level of discipline by both candidates and voters is required.
Resort to force in all its froms should be avoided and judicial control over poll
committees performance should be provided. In carrying out its mission, police respect
human rights and public freedoms. They show no forebearance in the face of any
violation of these rights, freedoms nor any breach of relevant international conventions.
We do not believe there is any conflict or contradiction between these rights and the
state’s right, even its duty, to maintain security and stability within its
territory.
As the country has embarked onto a process of economic reform throughout the past
years, establishing the necessary bases to achieve such great economic revival which we
have been looking forward to and working for, the police now shoulder an additional
responsibility for securing the progress of such overall revival that extends to social
work and cultural creativity. Per se, revival is a multidimentional process with
interlapping and continuing stages where progress is to be achieved simultaneously in all
fields.
Moreover, we should not neglect, even for a second, the importance of providing stability
and security for all the society on every spot of our pure Egyptian soil, without
distiniction between large cities, small villages or remote hamlets. This is a fundamental
prerequisite to achieve equality among citizens in the field of security services. It is
an
essential element to create a favourable climate for economic revival and higher rates of
growth and progress. Over the past decades, the Egyptian police have shouldered a huge
responsibility for relieving the country of the perils of extremism and terrorism. In
conjunction with the state educational and informational institutions and
non-governmental organizations.
They still have to exert accelerated efforts to make sure that the Egyptian youth would
not be exposed, at present or in future, to any trends that would spoil or damage their
power of reasoning, or push them into criminal subversive acts.
Additionally, all must realize that vicious criminal attempts designed to sow seeds of
sedition, hatred into the Egyptian society and undermine its national unity are futile and
will never attain their goals. With its unique cultural background and its integrated
moral
build-up, and rejects the false claims underlying them. Our community has the power to
distinguish between good and bad, right and wrong, true and false.
Here emerges the importance of safeguarding and protecting public property against any
damage, wastage or embezzlement. The police further have an additional responsibility
of enhancing efforts exerted to safeguard public property which is the common ownership
of the people with all its categories. However, this should not detract from the
importance of the basic role maintained by the police in fields related to preventing,
uncovering criminal acts without delay, cooperating with the judiciary authority so that
justice will prevail. Meanwhile, every sinful aggressor will be fairly punished according
to
the provisions of law that are guided by Divine legislations and teachings. Thus every
Egyptian would feel secure about his life, children and property wherever he chooses to
live and work.
It may be useful for all of us to realize that the more fields of work and activity in all
walks of life we have and the faster our national progress proceeds from one stage to
another naturally, the more our problems grow, the more complicated our dealing are and
the more violations of law we have. However, this does not mean any forbearance or
tolerance on our part with this deviant behaviour. On the contrary, this requires more
vigilance and more strict commitment to ensuring justice since failing which socities and
civilization would collapse.
The police have always sought to provide their personnel, together with all branches,
with such resources and capabilities that enable them fulfil their increasing duties with
high efficiency; either by continuous training and exercising or by providing them with
sophisticated equipment and systems. These have allowed them to perform their
message up to the most possible efficient levels and enabled them to upgrade
continuously their systems and methods so as to cope with the changes occuring in the
society where they operate.
Dear Brothers,
We are looking forward to the future with a renewed confidence and an increasing hope,
as history proved that the Egyptian people has an extraordinary ability to make lavish
offering for the sake of their nation.
In addition, Egyptian patriotism has always been the melting pot for both the will of men
and souls of heroes. Concomitantly, the march of revival has never stalled or lost its way
in spite of all hardships.
We are all aware of our responsibility and our way. Thus, we are determined to work
hand in hand as one man for the sake of Egypt and for a better future for our sons and
grandsons.
We are all soldiers in the batallion of national work. No one lags behind or hesitates to
give and sacrifice for the sake of our homeland.
None of us is drifted away by those who endeavour to divert our attention from our
national objectives and the goals generally agreed on by the nation. We are fully aware
that the magnitude of burdens of national work in peace time is no less significant than
in
war time, as peace leads to new vast horizons, where construction flourishes, progress
grows and major transformations in nations’ history come true.
We pray to Almighty Allah to support our march, guard our efforts and guide us to the
best for our nation.
May Allah’s peace and prayers be upon you all.
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