Demonstrations marking the Intifada's second anniversary are sending a strong message. But will the voice of the people be heard, asks Amira Howeidy It was the third time within a year that activists and political groups dared to make of central Cairo's strategic Tahrir Square a venue for what the 21-year-old Emergency Law strictly bans: street demonstrations. But if a dangerous political climate caused by the assassination of President Anwar El-Sadat in 1981 was the reason for imposing martial law in Egypt for more than two decades, and thus making of demonstrations an exceptionally rare scene, the situation in Palestine and what is expected to be the imminent invasion of Iraq, are driving more and more people to violate the Emergency Law. And stuck between a rock and hard place, the government is obviously allowing them to do so. So, following a four-month period of quiet, anti-American and anti-Israeli demonstrations are once more creating a ruckus in the streets of Cairo, Alexandria and Tanta. From Al-Azhar Mosque following the 27 September Friday prayers, to Alexandria University, thousands demonstrated in solidarity with Palestine and Iraq. On Saturday, 28 September, which marked the second anniversary of the Al-Aqsa Intifada, and the 32nd anniversary of the death of late President Gamal Abdel- Nasser, vigorous demonstrations in Tahrir Square, and at Al-Azhar, Ain Shams, Alexandria and Tanta universities, chanted "With our souls, with our blood we die for you, Palestine" and called for jihad. Although the occasion was Palestinian, the slogans, banners and posters protested war on Iraq and the notion of regime change advocated by the US and UK. "Cairo is Baghdad," read a banner in Saturday's Tahrir Square demonstration which was attended by approximately 2,000 people from across the political spectrum, including activists, intellectuals, artists and students. At least 1,000 anti-riot police cordoned off the area and prevented demonstrators from marching into the streets or to the nearby Arab League headquarters, as had initially been scheduled. However, a delegation of 300 politicians, intellectuals and public figures managed to walk to the Arab League, accompanied by the police, and presented its secretary-general, Amr Moussa, with a petition of demands. The petition demanded the Arab League's full support for the Palestinian Intifada and that it take a strong stance to avert a war on Iraq. Nasserist MP Hamdin El-Sabahi, who was part of the delegation, told Al-Ahram Weekly that the nation's political forces are prepared to escalate their opposition to a war on Iraq. "The moment the first missile lands in Baghdad", he said, "we will not hesitate to go as far as occupying the American Embassy in Cairo." Verbal escalation was indeed felt in the slogans chanted by the crowd. Sloganeering varied between anti-capitalist: "We will not be ruled by the World Bank, we will not be ruled by imperialism," "Cowardly Arab governments, tomorrow we will have our weapons," and "The Saudi initiative is wearing an American veil", to anti-Israeli and anti-American: "The American must leave my country, the Zionist must leave my country" and "Those who bow are cowards, and those who normalise are traitors." Britain's role in the would-be war on Iraq was as passionately attacked by the crowd: "There is no God but God, and Tony Blair is the enemy of God." As both the Israeli and American flags were burned to ashes amidst clapping, cheering and ululations, so was the British flag. For two hours, the factionalism that has marred Egypt's political scene over the past quarter of a century seemed non-existent as Nasserists, communists, Islamists and socialists united against Israel, the US, the UK and "defeated" Arab governments. "Unify your voices!" shouted Kamal Khalil, a leftist activist, veteran of the 1970s student movement, "Your shoulder next to mine, raise your voice! Those who chant don't die." As hundreds of reporters, cameramen, television presenters, photographers and passers-by followed the two-hour-long demonstration minute by minute, so did the head of Cairo's Security Department (CSD). Strict security measures extended around the demonstration to all of central Cairo down to Ramsis Street. Hundreds of armoured vehicles and armoured personal carriers lined up throughout the downtown core. Police dogs were also present. "We're here to protect the demonstration," Major- General Nabil El-Arabi, head of CSD, told the Weekly, "there are only 200 members of the anti-riot police here." Although strict security measures are a primary characteristic of every demonstration, this one reflected tolerance and acceptance. While previous demonstrations were met with police violence, tear gas, beatings, arrests and on one occasion last April, the killing at Alexandria University of a student, Mohamed El-Saqa; the security apparatus, some are arguing, seems to be adopting a more progressive policy. Others believe that public protests against a war on Iraq and Israeli's repression of the Palestinians and their leadership are in harmony with the government's official position and thus serve its interests. President Hosni Mubarak continues to reiterate warnings of uncontrollable regional instability and chaos if Iraq is attacked. Banners lifted at the Tahrir demonstration went further, "Today it's Iraq, tomorrow Egypt" and "Changing rulers is only in the hands of the people, not the hands of the Americans." "I've never in my lifetime felt danger looming as I do now," said Omar Qadri, a 33-year-old civil servant who was taking part in the demonstration, "It's in the air, America is making it clear we're next, and I can feel the danger." By 2pm, school children started to make an appearance. With a paper Palestinian flag in her hand, Hanaa, an eight-year old dressed in a blue and white uniform, hopped behind the rows of anti-riot police, and asked if she'd be beaten up if she stepped in. The solemn faces of anti-riot police ignored the girl who slipped in among the crowd with her friends. A few minutes later, some 100 school children, boys and girls, were leading their own demonstration chanting the national anthem. The grown ups followed as "biladi, biladi, biladi, laki hobbi we fou'adi' (My country, you have my love and heart) soared in the air, perhaps even louder than the surrounding Cairo traffic. Demonstrators burn the British flag in Tahrir Sq in a demo marking the Intifada's 2nd anniversary Photos: Thomas Hartwell Related stories: Obstructing war Eyes on Palestine 'All our destinies' 4 - 10 July 2002 Solidarity struggles on 23 -29 May 2002 In the heart of Cairo 16 - 22 May 2002 Continuing solidarity 16 - 22 May 2002 Crossing to martyrdom 25 April - 1 May 2002 Protest diary 25 April - 1 May 2002 A new political map? 18 - 24 April 2002 Protest diary 18 - 24 April 2002 Solidarity in search of a vision 11 - 17 April 2002 Solidarity 4 -10 April 2002 Street days 4 -10 April 2002 'Intifada fino' 14 - 20 March 2002
