Tension is growing between the government and the families of those killed during the revolution, reports Mohamed Abdel-Baky On Monday Suez Criminal Court announced the release, on bail of LE10,000, of seven police officers charged with killing unarmed protesters in the early days of the 25 January revolution. Another three policemen are being tried in absentia. The court also announced that the trial would be delayed until 15 September. In response, families of the victims blocked the main Suez-Cairo highway to protest against the court's decision. "There was not enough evidence to keep my clients in police custody for two months. They are being released on bail in accordance with their rights," said the lawyer of several defendants. The court also ordered the Ministry of Interior to provide Central Security Operation Room records relating to instructions given to security personnel during the 18 days of demonstrations that brought down Hosni Mubarak. After the judge delivered his ruling the families of more than 17 victims attempted to break into the courthouse, clashing with security personnel. "This verdict underlines the failure of the Egyptian government to hold accountable security officials involved in killing our sons during the revolution," said Thuraya. Her son Mahmoud was killed on 28 January. Only one policeman has been convicted of involvement in the deaths of more than 846 people killed during the government crackdown on protesters. He was tried in absentia and remains at large. Before Monday's trial security guards had to separate the families of the victims and those of the defendants. In his opening statement, the judge implied that any defendants found guilty would face severe penalties, telling the court that "the blood of those killed will not be spilled in vain". The defendants face charges of killing 17, and injuring more than 350, protesters in Suez during the course of the revolution. Angry relatives of the victims attempted to storm the judge's office in the courthouse but were blocked by police Blocking the Cairo-Suez road paralysed rush hour traffic in eastern Cairo. The highway is the only route to the new cities of Shorouq, Obour, 10 Ramadan City and Haykestep, home to hundreds of thousands who work in the capital. The road also is a major artery to the Red Sea ports of Ain Sokhna, Suez and Ismailia. In response to the unrest, Prosecutor-General Mahmoud Abdel-Meguid ordered the court's decision to be overturned, though only after the defendants were released. The court, however, refused Abdel-Meguid's overturn. As Al-Ahram Weekly was going to print more martyrs' families stepped up their protests in front of the Suez courthouse. Lawyers for the families of the victims questioned the legality of Abdel-Meguid's intervention. "They are trying to deceive the people to pacify them," says lawyer Amin Ramez. Following negotiations with military officials, the families ended their blockade of the highway, returning to Suez where they joined sympathisers who had organised a sit-in in the town's central Arbein Square. They will remain there, says Ramez, until "justice is served". During the revolution Suez was subject to a violent security crackdown. Human rights groups have reported that a number of members of the former ruling National Democratic Party were involved in the murder of protesters. The disturbances in Suez came four days before the massive demonstration planned for 8 July in Cairo. Organisers say Friday's protests will push for fair and speedy trials of former regime members, including senior security officials suspected of giving the orders to open fire on demonstrators. Families of the victims have received nationwide support as they seek justice. Their case was highlighted last Tuesday following clashes in Tahrir Square between central security forces and those seeking justice for the martyrs. Media and rights groups reported the presence of "organised thugs" during the clashes which erupted following an NGO organised event at the Balloon Theatre in Agouza intended to honour those who fell during the revolution. At least 1,140 people, including some central personnel, were injured. Security forces attempted to disperse the protesters with teargas and rubber bullets. Independent television channels broadcast footage of policemen kicking and beating protesters in Tahrir Square. Egypt's ruling military council and interim Prime Minister Essam Sharaf said on Wednesday that the clashes were part of an "organised plot to induce chaos". In the 65th statement posted on its Facebook page, the Higher Council of the Armed Forces (HCAF) charged that the disturbances, which began on Tuesday night, were an attempt to use the martyrs' deaths to incite sedition. In separate statements, both Sharaf and the HCAF called on the public to resist attempts to undermine stability and unity. On Friday Tahrir Square became the venue for an impromptu demonstration as protesters gathered to demand those responsible for Tuesday clashes be held to account. Both the police and military were conspicuously absent from the square. On Sunday about a dozen people were injured when protesters who had vowed to camp in Tahrir until 8 July were attacked by street vendors. Al-Masry Al-Youm reported that some of the attackers had admitted that they were paid to start trouble in the square. They threatened the demonstrators with knives and rocks and set fire to some of the tents using gas cylinders. The unrest last Friday was not limited to Cairo. Protests in solidarity with the martyrs' families were organised in five governorates. In Alexandria 2,000 demonstrators gathered to demand the prosecution of policemen accused of killing protesters. In Ismailia crowds gathered in Shohadaa Square to demand Minister of Interior Mansour El-Eissawi's resignation. In Damanhour, members of the Youth Revolution Coalition, 6 April Movement, and Mohamed El-Baradei Campaign held a silent vigil in Saa Square to demand justice for those who had been killed, while in Qena hundreds gathered to protest against the security forces' violent response to the Cairo demonstrations earlier in the week. Islamic forces were absent from all the demonstrations.
