Policemen want higher wages and the dismissal of the minister of interior, Reem Leila reports Downtown streets were blocked for hours on 24 October due to the massive protest of policemen. Thousands demonstrated in front of the headquarters of the Interior Ministry, leading to traffic jams which lasted for several hours. In fact, hundreds of policemen protested in front of security directorates all over the country. The policemen are demanding better salaries, better working conditions and the sacking of Minister of Interior Mansour Eissawi, as well as the laying off of police officers on duty during the time of former minister of interior Habib El-Adli, now in jail on charges of giving orders to shoot protesters during the January Revolution. The police also want an end to military trials of their colleagues. They seek that they and their families be treated in hospitals all over the country, and to own houses as is the case with police officers of higher ranks. Eissawi responded by ordering an end to military trials for policemen who were involved in killing protesters. They will be referred to disciplinary committees instead. Eissawi added that a 15-feddan piece of land has been allocated to build houses for policemen of lower ranks at the 6 October City. In addition, the ministry decided to devote Nasr City Police Hospital to medical healthcare for police and their families. "A committee has been formed to discuss possible means of increasing their salaries in addition to their promotion," Eissawi said. Despite Eissawi's response, protesters continued with their sit-in demanding a timetable and deadline to implement all what the minister pledged. They chanted in front of the ministry to pressure Eissawi to step down. Policemen also warned that if their demands were not met, they would not protect the parliamentary elections to be held on 28 November from anticipated violence by hired thugs. Also, strikers called for the return of former minister of interior Mahmoud Wagdi. Hassan Ibrahim who is a member of the Coalition for Policemen pointed to their insistence on their strike "even if it takes months. We will continue with our strike until all our demands are met," Ibrahim said. Many policemen are demanding the ouster of Eissawi for a civilian minister in order to guarantee his objectivity. Ibrahim believes that the current minister is bias towards high-ranking police officers. "Unlike us they take better salaries, enhanced medical service for them and their families, and have houses all over the country." Angry policeman Refaat Mustafa complained that fresh graduates with high connections are paid double and sometimes triple his salary. "We officers with lower ranks are paid between LE400 and LE600 depending on our years in service," Mustafa said, complaining. Hundreds of policemen in the governorates blocked roads and closed down several police stations. In Daqahliya governorate, 3,000 policemen of both afternoon and night shifts demonstrated in front of Daqahliya security directorate against the treatment of police officers who were working with El-Adli. In Al-Wadi Al-Gadid hundreds of policemen demonstrated in collaboration with their colleagues in Cairo and other governorates. They blocked the main street of the governorate leading to the security directorate. A few hours later, employees of the directorate joined them in their protest. In Hurghada, 700 policemen from the departments of traffic, tourism and Hurghada International Airport and harbour were striking. They threatened to block the railways and halt work in both the airport and harbour. Twelve high-ranking police officers joined the strike, demanding the resignation of the Supreme Council of Police. Strikers demanded to be treated as employees who are working in remote areas, meaning they should receive higher salaries. The situation in Minya governorate was the same as thousands of officers organised a peaceful march in front of Minya security directorate requesting the ministry to pay them 200 per cent in reward incentives, and the scrapping of military trials of their colleagues, in addition to receiving medical healthcare at police hospitals in order to be treated equally with other police officers of higher rank. In Gharbiya governorate, thousands of policemen demonstrated in front of police stations requesting better working conditions. In Port Said and Damietta governorates hundreds of policemen protested in front of their security directorates for the same reason. Hundreds of policemen also took their sit-ins to Cairo International Airport, occupying its terminals. Assistant to Minister of Interior Sayed Shaltout announced in a press conference that Eissawi had complied to almost 90 per cent of protesters' demands, whereas the remaining 10 per cent of their requests will be met later after they are thoroughly studied.
